How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Credit After Debt
You made the last payment. Maybe it took two years, maybe it took five, but the balance finally hit zero. You expected to feel triumphant, and you do, for about…
The Real Cost of Making Only Minimum Payments on Your Credit Card
You pay the minimum every month because that is what fits in the budget right now. The balance barely moves. You start to wonder if you are actually making progress…
How Long Does It Take to Pay Off $30,000 in Credit Card Debt
You added it all up last night, and the number was bigger than you expected. Thirty thousand dollars, spread across three or four cards, each one with its own due…
Should You Refinance Your Student Loans? How To Decide
Your loan servicer sent another rate alert, or maybe a friend mentioned cutting their payment by $150 a month. Now you are staring at your own balance, wondering if refinancing…
When to Stop Using Credit Cards Entirely
You put the card away after the holidays. You used it again for the car repair in March. By June, it was back in your wallet for "just this one…
Should You File for Bankruptcy? What to Consider Before You Decide
You have run the numbers more times than you can count. You have tried the snowball, called your creditors, and picked up extra shifts. And the debt is still there,…
When to Consolidate Your Debt (and How to Know You’re Ready)
You have heard the word everywhere. A credit card offer mentions it. A bank ad promises it will simplify your life. A friend swears it saved them. But nobody explains…
Federal vs. Private Student Loans: Key Differences That Affect Your Payoff Plan
You pull up your loan servicer accounts to make a plan, and the numbers do not match what you expected. Some loans have a fixed rate. Others seem to move…
Pay Off Debt vs. Invest: How To Choose The Right Move For Your Finances
You finally have $200 left over at the end of the month. Your credit card balance is still sitting there, but so is that voice reminding you that retirement will…
Balance Transfer vs. Personal Loan: Which Saves You More Money
You pulled up your credit card statement, saw the interest charge line, and felt that familiar drop in your stomach. You know you need a different plan than minimum payments,…
Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Settlement: What to Know Before Deciding
Two pieces of mail showed up this month. One was from a company promising to cut your credit card debt in half. The other was a pre-approved personal loan offer…
Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: Which Payoff Method Is Right for You
You've decided to get serious about paying off debt. You know you need a strategy. But now you're staring at two approaches, the debt avalanche vs. the debt snowball, and…