Self-Help Articles

A Guide to Financially Irresponsible Family Members

It can be awkward to mix family and money issues, whether it's loaning money to a struggling relative or dealing with competitive or irresponsible spending. Feeling frustrated by family-related financial kerfuffles? We created this helpful guide for dealing with family members who seem chronically unable...

Earn More . . . Spend More? The Danger of Lifestyle Inflation

Maybe you finally got a "real" job - one that pays for more than your (very) basic living expenses. Or it could be that your boss decided to reward your decade-plus of hard work with a well-deserved and long overdue raise. Perhaps you just got...

Your Credit Card Is a Budgeting Tool

Budgets are great… for some people. Creating a spending plan by looking at all bills and regular payments can give you a complete picture of your spending and saving habits. And sticking to that plan can really help you keep your finances in check. But let's...

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...