Terms of Use: Your Get out of Debt Step-by-Step Roadmap You've heard the old saying, live within your means. Easier said than done for some. The important thing is that you've reached a point where you realize your life would be a lot less stressful if you didn't have bills to worry about. Short of winning the lottery, what can you do? Here's help. Four rules to live by: 1. Be realistic! If you are spending $500 a month now on food, don't expect to cut your grocery bill t  More...

Terms of Use: With annual fees and interest rates on credit cards, you may be wondering whether to close out an account you're not using. Some are also concerned about identity theft as well as the need to simply control the amount of debt. Whatever your reason for considering closing a credit card account, here are some things to consider: If you close out a credit card that has an unpaid balance on it, your available credit (or credit limit) on that card goes to zero. Your credit score look  More...

Terms of Use: When the amount of debt you have seems impossible to ever repay, one of the options you may consider is filing bankruptcy. This option, of course, should never be entered into lightly. Be sure that you have researched the pros and cons, and that you have considered alternatives to taking this drastic step. Discharging your Debts Having your debts erased is called getting a discharge of your debts. A discharge is actually a court order that proclaims that you do not have to pa  More...

Terms of Use: It is almost always better to insure yourself against income loss or death by purchasing regular life or disability insurance instead of credit insurance . When you finance cars, consumer goods, mobile home sales, and residential mortgages, salespeople may try to sell you four types of credit insurance: • credit property: insures against damage or loss to whatever item secures the loan • credit life: pays the loan balance in case of death • credit disability/accident and heal  More...

Terms of Use: Friendly looking people proclaiming the benefits. Smiling representatives, extending a hand. The ads for payday loans and check cashing services are appealing and perhaps you've been tempted to check them out. What is a payday loan? Payday loans are usually small, short-term, high-rate loans intended to get you cash before payday. The idea is that once you receive your paycheck, you'll pay off the loan. These loans may also be called cash advance loans, check advance loans or p  More...

Terms of Use Tax refund loans, also called instant refund loans , or refund anticipation loans , target lower income consumers, but many other moderate-income families fall victim to these offers, as well. For a loan fee ranging from $30 to $115, you receive a loan for the amount of your refund (usually up to $5,000) within one to two days. When your refund is received in a special bank account set up by the lender, the loan is repaid. Cash-strapped taxpayers have paid outrageous loan, a  More...

Terms of Use Times are tough and many people find themselves out of work and struggling to pay the bills. Faced with not being able to make the next payment on a car loan, you are concerned with how long it will be before the lender repossesses your vehicle and whether there are any other options. What do you do? 1. Inform Yourself Find your loan agreement and read it carefully. One of the clauses will detail exactly what happens if you miss a payment. Your state's law may restrict   More...

Terms of Use The credit card you pick can save you money Table of Contents: Credit Card Interest Rates How Much Will You Pay? Credit Card Shopper's Checklist Deciphering the Application Glossary For More Information Smart consumers comparison shop for credit, whether they're looking for a mortgage, an auto loan, or a credit card. Comparison shopping is important because it could save you money. When you're looking for a credit card, be sure to consider the costs and terms. They c  More...

Terms of Use The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides a wide range of protections for individuals entering, called to active duty in the military, or deployed servicemembers. It is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on the family members of those deployed servicemembers. When does the SCRA protect me? Most SCRA protection begins the day you receive your orders to active duty or dep  More...

Terms of Use: Consider and compare all terms, including the following, before you select a card: Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - the cost of credit as a yearly rate. Free or Grace Period - allows you to avoid any finance charge by paying your balance in full before the due date. If there is no free period, you will pay a finance charge from the date of the transaction, even if you pay your entire balance when you receive your bill. Fees and Charges - most issuers charge an annual fee; some al  More...