Using credit wisely can keep you from going into unmanageable debt. Learn how using credit wisely can help you when you need to buy a house, a car or other large purchase.
As consumers become increasingly aware of the dangers of high-interest payday loans and car title loans, a new type of loan is quickly gaining popularity. Sub-prime borrowers are now flocking to online installment loans. At first glance, they may seem like a more manageable option, since the loans are designed to be paid back over time, rather than...
When money is tight, a credit card cash advance can seem like an easy solution. But it comes at a cost. In many cases, a cash advance comes with a higher interest rate than that for credit card purchases. And there’s no grace period; the interest begins to accrue right away. When you begin to see a cash advance for what it really is — a short-t...
When managed responsibly, credit cards are a useful financial tool. But problems can arise when consumers come to rely on credit cards to pay for everyday purchases, or to fund a lifestyle they can’t truly afford. To avoid unmanageable debt, some consumers choose to skip using credit cards at all, while others keep one card strictly for emergenci...
When it comes to establishing and maintaining a good credit history, one term you’ll hear frequently is credit utilization. But what exactly does that mean, and why is it important? Let’s take a look at what it is and what it means for you. What is Credit Utilization? When calculating a credit score, the credit bureaus take five factors i...
Establishing and maintaining a positive credit history is necessary to reach a number of important milestones, including buying a vehicle, purchasing a home and financing an education. Yet, many people don’t understand the basic building blocks of a credit history. Let’s take a look at the fundamentals of building a credit history. Manag...
Struggling with credit card debt is frustrating enough. But when you add in a stressful life event such as job loss, serious illness or a natural disaster, trying to pay those bills every month can become overwhelming. That’s where a credit card hardship plan may be able to help. Sometimes called assistance programs or hardship cases, these progr...
Having a vehicle repossessed is a shocking occurrence. Suddenly, you’re left without transportation to get to work, school and run necessary errands. Although it’s an unfortunate situation, it’s not a hopeless one. If you act quickly, you may be able to get the vehicle back. Here are some steps to take if your vehicle is repossessed. ...
Would you be able to spot it if you were headed for a financial meltdown? For most of us, as long as we’re keeping a roof overhead, putting food on the table and paying our bills, we feel like we’re doing OK financially. But sometimes you have to look a little deeper. It’s possible to be doing all these things and still be headed for a financ...
Credit reports and scores have an impact on many aspects of consumers’ financial lives, so it’s no surprise that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding them. Misunderstanding credit reports and scores and their impact can limit consumers and even lead to making less-than-ideal financial choices. Are you ready to let go of misinformation a...
No matter how long you’ve been working at it, finally getting out of credit card debt is one of the best feelings. It’s a huge achievement and something to be proud of. But what happens now? When you finally achieve this goal that once seemed impossible, it can be challenging to know what to do next, or how to maintain that success. Following t...