How to find free money for college
Free money for college sounds far-fetched, yet every year students across the country leave financial aid sitting on the table. In fact, an estimated $24 billion in financial aid, including grants...
View Article9 ways to avoid student loan debt
For parents and students alike, college is a big and exciting step. But for most families, college also means debt. Recent statistics show more than 44 million people have $1.5 trillion in student...
View ArticleHow to get rid of your debt for good
Americans have debt, and lots of it. Consumer debt has been growing for years. Last year, the figure approached a staggering $14 trillion. A lot of that debt is coming from mortgages, but student...
View Article5 keys to successful debt consolidation
Just as there are many reasons why people end up in debt, there are many ways to handle getting out of debt. One option is debt consolidation, which means rolling up several of your debts into one,...
View ArticleDo you know the difference between good and bad debt?
Not all debt is created equal. As counterintuitive as it may sound, some debt can be good. While you may strive to live debt-free, that isn’t necessarily the rosy paradise of financial freedom that...
View ArticleCredit card data in 2019: Understanding the trends
Many of the numbers surrounding credit card debt trends are not moving in a favorable direction. Credit card debt held by all Americans topped $1 trillion for the first time in 2018, and since then,...
View ArticleWhat the national debt means for your children (and your children’s children)
When you turn on the TV or pick up your phone, it sometimes seems like the old axiom “no news is good news” has taken on a new meaning. Gun violence, climate change, inadequate or overly expensive...
View ArticleCan being an authorized user on someone else’s credit card help build your...
Building up good credit can be a daunting task, especially if unfortunate circumstances have brought your credit score down. But luckily there are a variety of things you can do to push your credit...
View ArticleIs your debt time-barred? A state-by-state guide to debt statutes of limitations
Hearing from a debt collector can understandably make you feel very uneasy. That’s especially true if it’s about an old debt. Maybe you thought the debt was long forgotten or it had already been paid....
View ArticleStates where people have the most & least student loan debt
In 2019, student loan debt in the United States hit $1.6 trillion, the highest it’s ever been, according to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. But that debt doesn’t affect all...
View ArticleWhat is the snowball method of paying off debt?
There’s something very satisfying about crossing off items on your to-do list. The snowball method of paying off debt benefits from this bit of human psyche. Here’s how it works and how to know if...
View Article6 ways to prevent holiday debt
Because holiday gifts aren’t always a line item in a budget, it’s easy to see why last-minute purchases can end up on a credit card. And while it’s tempting, it’s best if you can avoid doing this at...
View Article6 ways to dig yourself out of holiday debt
The holidays are done, the gifts have been unwrapped and all you’re left with in the new year is a big fat credit card bill. From gifts to holiday parties to flights to family, it’s easy to spend more...
View ArticleFeeling trapped by a debt relief provider? Here’s what to do
Debt relief can sound incredibly positive when you’re finances are underwater and you can’t see your way to paying off your debt. Sometimes it can be so appealing, in fact, you wind up working with a...
View ArticleWhat are credit card hardship programs and how do I know if I’m eligible?
Financial issues happen to the best of us. Even if you’ve never missed a credit card payment before, you might fall behind if you lose your job, get sick or have a big expense pop up. A few missed...
View ArticleHere’s how one family paid off $109,000 in credit card debt
For Brian Brandow, carrying credit card debt was normal. He thought it was simply what people did. After all, everyone he knew had some credit card debt, so how could it be so bad? But this mentality...
View ArticleHere’s the average credit card debt in every state
Credit card debt in the United States is on the rise: It hit $807 billion in the first quarter of 2019, a 29% increase over 2015, according to Experian. Credit cards are also becoming an increasingly...
View ArticleVisa vs. Mastercard: What’s the difference and how do I choose?
Crack open your wallet and pull out your credit cards. We bet there’s a very good chance at least one of them is a Visa or Mastercard. Here’s the difference between them and how to choose the right...
View ArticleI’m underwater on my house: What does that mean and what are my options?
Swings in the housing market can translate to windfall profits — or devastating losses. And it’s difficult to predict which way the wind will blow. If you do find yourself underwater on your house,...
View ArticleIs it possible to lower your credit card interest rates?
Believe it or not, you can call your credit card company and ask them to lower the interest rate on your card. Even more surprising? They might actually do it. A CreditCards.com survey found that of...
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