Category:
Personal Finance

Hand of woman calculating multiple credit card bills.

Which Credit Card Should You Pay Off First?

By Michael Knisley | December 18, 2024

You’re at the store. You’ve found the perfect purchase. It’s pricy, but so what? You’ve got plastic to pay for it, plastic that’s been burning a hole in your wallet/purse/pocket.…

HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT sign on the page.

How To Get out of Debt When You Are Broke

By Tom Jackson | November 25, 2024

Few feelings are more helpless than trying to dig your way out of debt when you’re barely making ends meet — and you’re just one car repair emergency from disaster.…

Confused man sitting on a couch holding a phone and a credit card.

Why Am I Getting Charged Interest on a Zero Balance?

By Bents Dulcio | November 6, 2024

It can be frustrating to see interest charges on your credit card account when you’re certain you’ve paid off your balance in full. After all, a zero balance should mean…

Woman checking a paper representing a personal loan while holding a credit card.

Using Personal Loans for Credit Card Debt

By George Morris | October 29, 2024

When credit card bills become difficult to handle, there are several solutions. One worth considering is using a personal loan to pay off your credit cards. This strategy is a…

Family financial planning concept.

Financial Planning Process

By Tom Jackson | September 6, 2024

When it comes to money, there’s no better person to listen to for advice than the man whose face is on the $100 bill. “If you fail to plan, you…

3D bank credit card with a block symbol and coins representing closing a credit card with a balance.

Can You Close a Credit Card With a Balance?

By Robert Shaw | August 28, 2024

Credit card offers are as endless as the universe and corny dad jokes. Whether you’re banking, shopping online, or just settling into a seat on an airplane, financial institutions line…

Man holding two credit cards

Can You Pay a Credit Card With a Credit Card?

By Tom Jackson | August 20, 2024

Credit card debt in the U.S. reached a record $1.14 trillion in the second quarter of 2024. Could anyone pay it all off using a giant Visa or Discover card?…

Cartoon man looking to climb coins with a flag at the end to represent financial independence.

How To Become Financially Independent

By Michael Knisley | August 19, 2024

To tell the story of how to become financially independent, let’s start with a big-picture number, and it’s … well, big. As in, $17.8 trillion big. That was the total…

Senior woman working at a bakery

Jobs for Seniors

By Pat McManamon | October 9, 2023

Senior citizens who want to stay busy might enjoy a job that will keep them active and engaged. For some seniors, work may be a necessity. Those without pensions or…

Woman swiping her credit card at the store

What Happens If You Go Over Your Credit Limit?

By Sarah Brady | September 1, 2023

Credit card balances hit record highs in late 2022. If you’re one of the many people whose credit card balance has increased lately, you probably know there are uncomfortable consequences.…

Sources:

  1. N.A. (2023, August 28) What is a credit score? Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-score-en-315/
  2. N.A. (2024, November) Understanding Your Credit. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/understanding-your-credit
  3. Luthi, B. (2022, February 9) What Should My Credit Utilization Ratio Be? Retrieved from https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/credit-utilization-be
  4. N.A. (2023, August 28) What is a debt-to-income ratio? Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio-en-1791/
  5. Rossman, T. (2024, November 20) Current credit card interest rates. Retrieved from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/current-interest-rates/
  6. Boyer, R. (2012, August 7) The ‘snowball approach’ to debt. Retrieved from https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news_articles/2012/snowball-approach.aspx