Self-Help Articles

Debt Default: What Is it? How Can You Prevent it?

Your car note fell behind the refrigerator. You got busy with work and didn't remember to schedule your online student loan payment. You were down with the flu for a week and totally forgot to pay your credit card bill. We get it. These things happen....

How to Rebound from Missed Credit Card Payments

For whatever reason, you've missed your credit card payment… for the past four months. At first, maybe you just forgot to send in your monthly payment. Then you misplaced your next statement. You couldn't afford the minimum amount on your third bill. And by month...

10 Quick Tips for Shaping Up Financially

It’s March, and you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolution to get in shape. Well, maybe you’ve sidestepped your goal of losing five pounds or making it to the gym three days a week or biking to work instead of driving… But that...

Are You Financially Stable? Let’s Check!

The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States. Those folks know a little something about financial stability. They talk about it in terms of an economic system that can absorb all the ups and downs in nation’s economy at any moment: “It...

Canceling a Credit Card? What to Consider, and How to Do It

You’re fed up with XYZ bank, for whatever reason, so you’re planning to close your account and get rid of that credit card. Maybe you just don’t use ABC credit card anymore, now that you have a different card with better incentives. Or maybe you’ve...

What are Your Most Pressing Money Matters? Take This Quiz to Find Out

When you see your doctors during checkups, they normally ask a series of general questions that help them make assessments about your physical health and mental well-being. It’s important information to have and analyze to get a total and complete picture of your health. The same...

Less is More: Low-Limit Credit Cards Can Help You Build or Rebuild Credit

Diving into the world of credit cards can be daunting for those new to the game, such as young people trying to establish a solid credit history or older folks who’ve shied away from using plastic to pay for everyday purchases. You might wonder how...

You Asked. We Answered. Common Credit Card FAQs

We work with credit for a living, and we’ve heard just about every credit card-related question out there. In this post, we’ll answer some of today’s most common credit card questions. So, does checking your credit score actually hurt your credit? Why are some credit cards...

10 Credit Freeze FAQs

Concerned about a recent data breach? Worried about identity theft? Looking for a little extra peace of mind? A credit freeze might be exactly what you’re looking for. This free (that’s right, free!) service makes it harder for scammers to ruin your good name –...

Common Money Mistakes Parents Make

As any parent can tell you, kids are expensive. It can be tough balancing the needs and wants of a growing family with things like savings, retirement, and budgeting. And, unlike other aspects of parenting, it can be tough to get good advice about the...