The average American has more than $9,000 in credit card debt. While having a credit card isn’t a bad thing, letting credit card debt pile up over time can place an enormous strain on your finances. Take a look at the articles, Q&A’s, blog posts and videos we have linked to this topic for ideas on how to handle credit card debt and your personal finances.
Debt Management Program Can Help Avoid Bankruptcy
Do you feel like your debt is overwhelming or out of control? It may be worthwhile to enroll in a debt management program rather than filing for bankruptcy. While both a debt management program and bankruptcy look bad on your credit report, a bankruptcy makes for worse credit. Learn what to look for when choosing a debt management program.
What Makes A Credit Score And How To Raise Yours
Consumers now have easy access to their credit reports and credit scores. However, now that they can access all the information, it's up to the consumer to understand what makes up their credit score, and to know how to improve the credit score. Paying on time, the length of your credit history, and how much debt you carry will help creditors determine whether they should give you more credit or not.
Co-Signing Mortgage Loan Means You’re Responsible
What should you do if a friend wants you to co-sign a loan? Is there a way to co-sign a mortgage loan and not be financially responsible if your friend can't make the mortgage payments? There's no way for you to co-sign a loan for your friend and not be fully responsible if the debt goes bad.
Credit Card Debt: Pay Off And Improve Credit Score
After making numerous credit mistakes, can you consolidate your debt and improve your credit score? A debt management program probably won't help you pay off the debt and instead may lower your credit score. Ilyce's advice: get a second job, pay off the debt and improve your credit score.
Pay Off High-Interest Credit Cards First
You should always pay off your high-interest, non-deductible debts first. When you prepay a debt, you're effectively earning the interest rate the debt carries on each dollar. Once your debts are paid off, you start savings the cash you would have paid each month to service the debt. Consider using your tax refund to pay credit card debt, or take out a home equity loan with a lower interest rate than your credit cards.
Personal Finance Management: Pay Credit Card Debt Before Car Loans
If you have extra cash, what should you pay off first to boost your personal finances: credit card debt or car loans? Ilyce recommends paying off high interest credit card debt with extra cash before car loans and other loans. Credit card debt usually has higher interest than a car loan, so paying off credit card debt first and prepaying a car loan later is the best first step to personal finance management.
Previous Marriage Results In Bad Credit
A newly married couple is confronted with significant debt from a previous marriage. They may be able to clean up her credit, but the husband needs to be careful her bad credit doesn't drag his down. He needs to keep his credit separate and not use his wife's credit to qualify for a home loan or credit card, until her credit is cleared up.
Recent Death Reveals Credit Card Debt
What happens to your credit card debt after you die? When you die, and there are no assets in the estate, the debts die with you as long as no one else held those credit cards.
Transferring Credit Card Balance Is Smart Move
A couple wonders if transferring their credit card balance to a lower rate card will hurt their credit score. Transferring a balance to save money and paying off the debt is the best strategy. Transferring a balance shouldn't lower your credit score, especially if it means paying off your debt sooner and cheaper.