A new poll from Bloomberg suggests that almost half of Americans would have a hard time affording a $100 emergency, like a speeding ticket, medical bill or other unexpected expense. Many Australians are in similar situations as well. Consider the idea that maybe this says less about people's financial habits than it does the garbage economy.

More companies are popping up that offer social data to help lenders, landlords and other providers gauge your creditworthiness. In other words, they use your online presence to make decisions about your application.

With the holiday season nearing full swing, your family time is about to be dialed up to the max -- which can be great on one hand, but a bit agonizing on the other. Because let's face it: For every relative you're glad to catch up with, you've got another one asking you uncomfortable personal questions -- and you may already be strategising how to emerge unscathed from being cornered by Great Aunt Martha. It's no wonder that psych pros see holiday gatherings as a legit source of stress for many of us.

Getting hit up for a loan can make you feel like you're stepping into a minefield. In today's economy, it's easy to understand how someone can find themselves in a dark place financially. On the one hand, you want to help out a loved one who's in need.

On the other hand, you've heard the stories about loans gone wrong, with friendships ruined and families torn apart. Also, you may be depleting funds that you might need yourself, says Irene S. Levine, PhD, psychologist, author and producer of TheFriendshipBlog.com. Even if you're sure that the asker will pay you back, it's hard to know if you should proceed.

Your cousin has been having financial troubles and has reached out to you for a lump sum of money to ease the burden. He said he'd pay you back when he is able to. Flash forward three years and his money problems seem to have evaporated but you still haven't seen a cent of the money he was meant to return to you. Is it legal to sue someone, especially someone you have a close relationship with, over unpaid loans?

We've all had that one friend who never seems to pay us back. Instead of bugging your friend, go out to lunch and bring up the loan when the bill comes.

Starting, managing and growing your business will likely be one of the toughest challenges you’ll ever face. But the rewards are clear. Financially, and if all goes to plan, for your lifestyle. Here are some tips, tools and ideas to help you strategically consider your day-to-day cash flow and your goals for future growth.

Hey Lifehacker, I'm in the process of asking my bank for a loan secured against a property I own. I'm wondering: why do they always ask me for my rates notice? What does this tell them? Why would they want that when they can do a simple search and see I own the property in question?

We all have them. The one friend who is suddenly in a tight bind and needs to borrow money for unforeseen expenses and needs the money in a hurry. They may not be able to ask family, and instead they come to you in hopes they can get some funds without a fuss.

Overextending your bank account when buying a new car can leave you in a lurch if a financial crisis strikes before it's paid off. Be sure to use the simple 20/4/10 rule to avoid taking on a bigger car loan than you can comfortably absorb within your budget.

Dear Lifehacker, I bought a new car last year, and got financed by the dealer at about 6 per cent, which at the time I thought was good. I noticed they are now having a sale with 1 per cent finance. Is it too early to try and renegotiate my loan? Thanks, Over Charged

Dear Lifehacker, I've racked up a fair bit of credit card debt, and while I'm slowly paying it off, it's a pain wrangling multiple bills with different interest rates. My credit union is offering debt consolidation loans with a lower rate than any of my cards -- should I take that, use it to pay off all of my cards, and only have one, low-interest bill to pay every month? Thanks, Trying to Dig Out