Improve your credit score, manage debt, and understand how credit works. From credit card usage to debt consolidation and credit repair tips, this section gives you tools to strengthen your financial foundation and regain control of your money.
“You can run, but you can’t hide” is never truer than when it comes to money, more specifically to owing money. You can get away with not paying your bills for a little bit, but eventually your creditors, lenders, the IRS, and every other person you owe will all catch up to you. The longer … Read more
Out of all the bills you pay every month, only a few of them are routinely reported to the credit bureaus. For example, credit cards and loan payments are almost always updated on your credit report each month. On the other hand, payments on your utility bills, cell phone, or insurance generally won’t be listed … Read more
Marriage affects many aspects of your life, but credit isn’t necessarily one of them. Marriage itself does not affect your credit. Contrary to a common myth, your credit report doesn’t merge with your spouse’s once you get married. Nor does your marital status affect your credit rating. Single, married, separated, or divorced, your credit rating … Read more
The effects of bankruptcy are devastating and long-lasting. So, if you’ve decided to file bankruptcy, chances are the situation is pretty bad. You’ve likely considered all your options, but before you head to attorney’s office to complete the paperwork, consider them all again. Have you considered debt settlement? Debt settlement has almost as bad a … Read more
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about credit scores is that checking their own credit scores is damaging. And of course, if consumers think they’ll be hurting themselves by checking scores, then they’re also more likely to remain in the dark about where their credit truly stands. Living without a clue of your credit … Read more
Statistics for payday loans are mind-blowing. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, the average payday borrower has nine transactions each year and is in payday loan debt for 212 days of the year. Even though the cost of borrowing a payday loan seems cheap, often $10 for every $100 borrowed, the loans get expensive … Read more
Year-after-year, the debt collection industry tops the FTC’s complaint list. In 2011, the FTC received 117,374 complaints against third-party debt collectors. The complaints the FTC receives may not represent the true number of debt collector complaints since consumers may not realize they can go to federal agency with these types of complaints. Many of those … Read more
Most people realize that credit cards and loans affect their credit score. Even the occasional blemish from an unpaid utility bill won’t surprise many people. But who’d expect medical bills to affect credit scores? To clarify, not all medical bills will hurt your credit score. Particularly, if you receive a medical bill and you pay … Read more
While you can get a free credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com, your credit score isn’t included in the deal. But, you may be entitled to a free credit score after certain credit and loan applications. Credit Score Disclosure Requirement Lenders are required to send credit score disclosure notice to all applicants who are denied credit or … Read more
Bankruptcy has a bad reputation for ruining lives. Truth be told, if you’re considering bankruptcy, life may not be that great right, especially where your finances are concerned. But, bankruptcy’s negative reputation might keep you from filing even though it could be the best solution for your debt. For some consumers, life is actually better … Read more
