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.

What to Know About the Discover Free FICO Score Program Find out whether you should use the free FICO score program from Discover. Learn how it works, who can use it, and what it costs. Pay Off Your Student Loans or Open an IRA: What Should You Do? Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake Pay Off Your Student Loans or Open an IRA: What Should You Do? Paying off student loans and saving money in an individual retirement account... 6 Extreme Ways to Get Out of Debt for Good Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake 6 Extreme Ways to Get Out of Debt for Good When you've got a big black cloud of bills hanging over you, it takes a toll on... How to Invest $100 a Month Wisely If you have an extra $100 in your budget, deciding where to put it can be tough. Fortunately, we've got the inside scoop on how to invest $100 a month. The True Cost of Lying On Your Mortgage Application (Even the 'White Lies') Telling a few white lies on your mortgage application may seem harmless enough but it comes with some expensive consequences if you're found out. Mortgage Closing Costs and Fees Explained Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake Mortgage Closing Costs and Fees Explained What are closing costs? In a nutshell, closing costs are the fees that have to... How to Pay For Study Abroad and Avoid Debt Photo of Rebecca Lake Rebecca Lake How to Pay For Study Abroad and Avoid Debt Studying abroad can be a life changer but it's not one that comes... 3 Lies the Media Uses to Try to Scare You Into Saving More News headlines are always full of stories about how people just aren't saving money but media scare tactics alone aren't enough to drive up the savings rate. 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...