credit and debt relief in the form of a broken staircase
American credit card debt has been on the rise. One swipe and you're all paid

Americans Can’t Stop Swiping Their Credit Cards

September 19, 2018 | Gideon Grudo

We’re twice as likely to add thousands to our debt than anything to our savings.

Young business children make faces holding lots of money. Teach your kids about money.

Want to Teach Your Kids About Money? Show Them Your Mistakes

September 18, 2018 | Dori Zinn

Parents tell kids to do as they say, not as they do when it comes to money.

Worried man showing empty wallet. Bankruptcy concept. Bankruptcy among Americans, 65 and older, is three times higher than what it was in 1991.

Older Americans Are Ending Up Bankrupt

September 17, 2018 | Dori Zinn

They can’t afford to work and live to make ends meet.

debt settlement vs. debt management. Set of 100 dollar bills as background for money theme.

Which Is Better If I Make Good Money: Debt Settlement Or Debt Management?

September 12, 2018 | Steve Rhode

A reader has serious debts, but he also has a new job with a big salary.

Confused couple receiving on line news sitting in a desk at home

Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses: Are They Worth It?

September 11, 2018 | Deb Hipp

Opening a new credit card to get a good deal could cost you more in the long run.

Kelsey Bell sits in her car with toy snake (illustrated)

Does Debt Cause Mental Illness?

September 10, 2018 | Brandon Ballenger

Experts say there’s a definite relationship between debt and depression. But we don’t like talking about either one.

Illustration of an ice pop with credit card information. A depiction of a credit freeze.

FREE Credit Freezes For All! It’s Now A Law

September 10, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

Thanks to the worst data breach ever, we all get an amazing new crime-fighting tool.

Shallow depth of field of accountant calculating financial data

Why Do I Have to Pay Taxes on a Debt That’s Been Written Off?

September 5, 2018 | Jacob Dayan

A reader has a taxing question and gets a taxing answer.

Woman with head in hands feeling anxiety and depression over finances.

5 Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Depression Over Finances

September 4, 2018 | Deb Hipp

Got the blues from being in the red? Here’s how to take control of your finances and feel better.

Parents pay for student loans: student loan paperwork

Parents Are Footing the Student Loan Bill

August 28, 2018 | Dori Zinn

They’re paying despite finding college costs more stressful than their mortgage payments.

Can you get a perfect credit score? Traffic sign'good credit' traffic sign in front of clear sky.

Can You Get a ‘Perfect’ Credit Score?

August 24, 2018 | Brian O'Connor

And is it really worth the effort?

Are Colleges Failing to Prepare Their Customers?

Are Colleges Failing to Prepare Their Customers?

August 22, 2018 | Joe Pye

Year after year students graduate unprepared to earn a living.

Can I Pay Off My Student Loans By Betting On Sports?

Can I Pay Off My Student Loans By Betting On Sports?

August 22, 2018 | Jacob Dayan

A reader plans to do just that, but he wants tax advice first. He’ll get more than he bargained for.

Woman Stressed and Happy about Money

Surprise to No One: Debt Causes Stress, And Money Makes You Happy

August 17, 2018 | Joe Pye

Half of Americans say their financial situations scare them.

man with a laptop has a credit card and he's sorting out his debts

Our Credit Cards Reveal More Than Our Debts

August 6, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

You can learn a lot about people from their plastic.

Erasing Debt with accredited debt relief

How Does Accredited Debt Relief Work? Is It For Real?

August 1, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

A reader thinks getting out of debt is too good to be true.

Lecture hall with only a few young students in student loan debt

College Enrollment Is Down, And It’s Not a Bad Thing

July 25, 2018 | Joe Pye

The costs stress people out, and most are relying on loans to pay for school.

Broke Male doctor interacting with broke child patient in ward at hospital

Broke Doctors Want to Help Broke Patients

July 23, 2018 | Joe Pye

They’re most willing to work in poverty-stricken areas.

Bankrupt defined in the English dictionary

What Can I Do To Avoid Bankruptcy?

July 18, 2018 | Steve Rhode

A reader is scared to death of bankruptcy. But it might be a new lease on life.

Car salesman shining a new car to finance with yellow cloth, dressed in a white suit.

2018 Is a Bad Year to Finance a New Car

July 16, 2018 | Joe Pye

The average loan amount and monthly payments are at record high numbers.

Cartoon guy cutting ball and chain of debt

8 Ways to Break Free of Debt — From Easiest to Hardest

July 13, 2018 | Joe Pye

Lose your debts in a way that works for you.

A young couple looks at a bill with the highest credit card debt balance they've seen

Where Is Credit Card Debt Highest And Lowest?

July 12, 2018 | Joe Pye

It’s gone up in Florida and down in California this past year.

A woman calling about debt relief

Ask The Expert: What’s The Difference Between “Debt Relief” And “Debt Settlement”?

July 11, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

A reader is confused by these similar-sounding terms, but they’re very different.

Shot of a group of cheerful university students on graduation day unaware of looming student debt

College Grads: Don’t Let Student Loans Ruin Your Credit

July 10, 2018 | Joe Pye

A missed payment is the No. 1 way to lose points on your credit score.

Woman having debt problems

The Dreaded Debt Relapse: 4 Ways to Avoid It

July 10, 2018 | Deb Hipp

If you paid off your debt once, only to run up twice as much later, don’t be too hard on yourself. You can still learn from your mistakes.

Young women on phone with credit card company.

If I Pay Off My Credit Card, When Will My Credit Score Go Up?

July 4, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

A reader can pay off her credit card now, but she’s not sure it’s worth it.

Students are inside a university campus working on getting out of student loan debt

7 Tips for Getting Out of Student Loan Debt Faster

July 3, 2018 | Deb Hipp

How to create a hard-hitting plan to get rid of those student loans for good.

man paying for clothes in one of the highest retail store credit card debt cities

Which City Has The Highest Retail Store Credit Card Debt?

July 3, 2018 | Joe Pye

The Lone Star State likes shopping more than learning.

Credit union credit cards are available at credit unions nationwide

Credit Unions Offer Cheaper Credit Cards Than Banks

July 2, 2018 | Joe Pye

The average credit card has at least four fees, and they add up faster.

Couple managing debt

Americans Have More Debt Than Ever — $1 Trillion More

June 26, 2018 | Joe Pye

The total amount of consumer debt is now a trillion dollars higher than during the Great Recession.

Excited woman reading good news in a letter in a desktop at office

7 Ways Fixing Bad Credit Can Change Your Life

June 21, 2018 | Deb Hipp

Not everything that comes with a good credit score is obvious.

Young businesswoman checking credit score on laptop at office.

More Americans Are Checking Their Credit Scores

June 18, 2018 | Joe Pye

A study released today says the more we check, the more we know what makes up our score.

The Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C raising rates

Why You Should Care About The Fed’s Latest Rate Hike

June 18, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

If you don’t pay off your credit cards every month, you’ll probably pay more.

Katie from Chain of Wealth

Katie Ignored Her Student Loan Debt

June 13, 2018 | Brian Bienkowski

But it wouldn’t go away until she turned and faced the truth with help from a friend.

Debt and mental health connections in the brain

Does Debt Cause Brain Damage?

June 11, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

A new study says the lower your socioeconomic status, the greater the changes in your brain.

Worried woman reading a letter sitting on a couch in the living room at home.

Can I Get Turned Down For Debt Consolidation Loans Because I Have Too Much Debt?

June 6, 2018 | Howard Dvorkin, CPA

A reader wants to get rid of her debts, but she doesn’t know how.

Women gets keys to new car.

New Car Loans Hit Record High This Year

May 25, 2018 | Joe Pye

Auto experts recommend buying used or leasing new.

Graduation cap and cash sit on top paper reading

What Graduate Degrees Make The Best Financial Investments?

May 21, 2018 | Joe Pye

The student debt burden to call yourself doctor outweighs its average income.

Ruth from

For Ruth, Getting Out of Debt isn’t Only About Money

May 16, 2018 | Brian Bienkowski

It’s also about tension, conflict and controlling your “money blueprint.”

Couple in loungers on a tropical beach at Maldives

5 Ways Saving For a Vacation Helps You Spend Less

May 15, 2018 | Deb Hipp

You don’t have to max out your credit card to enjoy that hard-earned vacation.

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