Articles by Valencia Patrice Higuera

Valencia Higuera is based in Virginia and she covers budgeting, credit cards, and student loan debt, with expertise in frugal living, general banking, and mortgages. She is a self-proclaimed personal finance junkie. Valencia has contributed to publications and outlets including MSN, The Huffington Post, CBS News, Investopedia, and more. Education: B.A. in English from Old Dominion University.

Should You Use a Personal Loan to Pay for Plastic Surgery? Find out whether it is a good or bad idea to take out a personal loan to pay for plastic surgery (or other types of elective cosmetic procedure). Where to Find Personal Loans for Veterans Photo of Valencia Patrice Higuera Valencia Patrice Higuera Where to Find Personal Loans for Veterans Active-duty military and veterans are eligible to use a VA home loan to purchase a... Should You Use Personal Loans to Pay for Grad School? Photo of Valencia Patrice Higuera Valencia Patrice Higuera Should You Use Personal Loans to Pay for Grad School? Getting a graduate degree can advance your career. This often results in better... How to Get a Personal Loan for a Boat Learn how to buy a boat with a personal loan, which could be unsecured or secured with the boat at collateral in order to qualify for the lowest interest rates. Personal Loan vs. Small Business Loan: Which Is Better? Compare the benefits and drawbacks of using a personal loan or a small business loan. Learn their differences before choosing one for your business. Unsecured Auto Loans: What’s the Catch? Photo of Valencia Patrice Higuera Valencia Patrice Higuera Unsecured Auto Loans: What’s the Catch? Some car dealerships make the car buying experience easier for customers by... Claim 6 Simple Tax Exemptions to Save You Big Photo of Valencia Patrice Higuera Valencia Patrice Higuera Claim 6 Simple Tax Exemptions to Save You Big I wouldn’t trade self-employment for anything, but there is one major... Should You Take Out a Personal Loan to Pay Your Taxes? When you cannot afford to pay the IRS, find out whether a personal loan can help you when you owe taxes. Learn about the costs and penalties of failing to pay your taxes and the IRS payment plan. Compare that situation to borrowing with a personal loan to avoid those higher costs, especially if the interest rates are lower. Tax Abatement: How Does It Help You Save on Property Taxes? Learn about how a tax abatement affects your purchase of a new home or condo because it can offer savings on property taxes depending on the abatement period. Mortgage Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure: What’s the Difference? Photo of Valencia Patrice Higuera Valencia Patrice Higuera Mortgage Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure: What’s the Difference? When you're about to buy a new home, you want to be absolutely clear about the...