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.
Virtually all Americans and people around the world are being affected by the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19). For many, it means incomes have been drastically reduced or even eliminated with no warning. Federal relief is on the way, but it will take some time for everyone to receive funds. Fortunately, many creditors are taking steps to assi...
When it comes to credit cards, making your payments on time every month is one of the most important things you can do to maintain good credit. But if you’re only making the minimum payment every month, you’re setting yourself up for years of payments. And it could potentially damage your credit in the long run — even if you always pay on tim...
Many consumers plan to receive a tax refund every year. They use it for a variety of things, including paying down high-interest debt. So it’s no surprise that most would rather not wait too long to receive those funds. That’s were tax refund advance loans come in. These loans allow tax filers almost immediate access to their anticipated refund...
As 2019 comes to a close, we thought it would be interesting to see which blog posts you clicked and shared the most. It is always our goal to bring you financial information and education you can use to help you save money and reach your financial goals. Let’s take a look at the top blog posts for the last year: Helping Veterans W...
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...
COVID-19 Update