Terms of Use If you want to repair your credit, begin by paying off old debts and correcting any issues on your credit report. Perhaps you've been tempted by the credit repair advertisements you've seen that promise to fix your credit report. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing you can't do yourself (free!) that a credit repair clinic can legally do (for a fee!) to fix your credit report. To request a free copy of your credit report, check out the related link below  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 can  More...

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 U se High debt and misuse of credit cards make it tough to save for retirement. Money that goes to pay interest, late fees, and old bills is money that could earn money for retirement and other goals. How much debt is too much debt? Debt isn't necessarily bad, but too much debt is. Add up what you pay monthly in car loans, student loans, credit card and charge card loans, personal loans - everything but your mortgage. Divide that total by the money you bring home each month. The r  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: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to those who collect debts owed to creditors for personal, family and household debts, including car loans, mortgages, charge accounts and money owed for medical bills. A debt collector is someone hired to collect money owed by you. A debt collector may not: Contact you at unreasonable times or places, for example, before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree, or at work if you tell the debt collector your employer disapproves  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: 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: Prepaid debit cards are cards that have been loaded with a dollar amount that you draw down with each purchase. They are not tied to a checking account, so there is no worry about overdrawing your account and the fees that may be assessed for doing so. Prepaid debit cards may be just the thing for those who do not have a checking account or for those who have gotten into debt using a credit card. Unlike credit cards, prepaid debit cards don't charge interest on purchases either,  More...

Terms of Use: If you can't make your mortgage payments, your lender can foreclose on your home. Foreclosure is a process that can begin immediately and will result in your losing your home. Most lenders, however, will allow you to miss a couple of payments before starting foreclosure proceedings. If you're at risk of missing a mortgage payment, contact your lender immediately. While the process of foreclosure can take several months, be aware that the process itself will be a costly   More...