Articles by Rebecca Lake

Rebecca is a writer for MyBankTracker.com. She is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF) and an expert in consumer banking products, saving and money psychology. She has contributed to numerous online outlets, including U.S. News & World Report, and more. Education: B.A. in Political Science and Government from University of South Carolina; MS. in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Charles Southern University.

Should You Contribute to Your 401(k) or Pay Down Your Mortgage? Paying off your mortgage ahead of schedule makes sense when you're trying to free up extra cash but investing offers a bigger bang for your buck. What I’ve Learned So Far About Buying a Home Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake What I’ve Learned So Far About Buying a Home Buying a home is the major financial step, and it’s not something you can go into... Why Defaulting on Student Loans is a Bad Idea? Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake Why Defaulting on Student Loans is a Bad Idea? If you read the news, you've no doubt heard of Lee Siegel and his recent defense of... 6 Private Student Loan Facts Lenders Avoid to Emphasize Financing a degree can be a wise investment but if you're in the dark about these private student loan facts, you could be setting yourself up for trouble. What You Should Do During Your Student Loan Grace Period Learn about the steps you can take during your student loan's grace period in order to ensure that you're prepared to repay your college debt and save money. Comprehensive Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake Comprehensive Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Saving an emergency fund or buying a home can be tough when student loan payments... How to Pay Off $100,000 in Student Loans Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake How to Pay Off $100,000 in Student Loans Got an overwhelming student loan debt balance? You're not alone. So-called... What Are Interest-Only Repayment Plans for Student Loans? Learn how interest-only repayment plans work when it comes to student loan and find out if it is the right way for you to manage student loan debt. 5 Strategies How to Finance a Gap Year Before College Taking a break between high school and college is an opportunity to discover your passion but you may need to take a crash course in gap year finance first. What to Do When Your Online Bank Goes Under Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake What to Do When Your Online Bank Goes Under Finding out that your online bank has failed isn't exactly the greatest news, but...