How Bankruptcy Works

It's bad enough when an individual has to file for bankruptcy, but filings by high-profile companies like Adelphia can have a big impact on the economy. What exactly does it mean to file for bankruptcy?

How Blink Technology Works

Credit cards using "contactless" technology allow you to pay for stuff by holding the card near a special reader instead of swiping it or handing it to a clerk. Find out how "blink" technology works.

How Credit Cards Work

These days, more people buy with credit than with cash, and most of them have the credit card debt to show for it. Learn all about credit cards, from the magnetic stripe to how you can get rid of that high-interest balance.

How Credit Reporting Agencies Work

Credit reporting agencies collect your credit history from credit card companies, banks, mortgage companies and other creditors to create an in-depth credit report. But how is that report used?

How Credit Reports Work

Like it or not, your credit score is a major factor in your financial well-being. But what do those numbers on your credit report really mean? And how will they impact your financial future?

How Credit Scores Work

Do you know your credit score? If not, you should find out – and we’ll explain why. In this article, we'll examine how your three-digit credit score is used and how it affects what you pay for credit, insurance and other life necessities.

How Debt Consolidation Works

Life without debt sounds good. Can debt consolidation, or taking out one new loan to pay off all your other loans, help you reach that lofty financial goal?

How Debt Works

The world is drowning in debt, and experts fill the airwaves with doomsday predictions. What exactly is this monster called debt that's sucking up all of our income, ruining our credit scores and making politicians sweat? Is debt always a bad thing, or is a little debt necessary?

How Foreclosures Work

You saved up your money, got a home loan, got the keys and moved in. But now you've lost your job and you can't pay up. What happens to your house? Maybe foreclosure -- but there are ways to avoid it.

How Interest-only Loans Work

Interest-only loans let you afford a nice house and make low payments. But there's a catch -- once you have to pay up, circumstances may not be in your favor.

Is there such a thing as a free credit report?

You've seen TV commercials and pop-up ads promising free credit reports. But are these offers legit? And if credit reports are free, why don't more people request them?

What is the average credit score and why?

Many people wonder where they've gone wrong with their credit score. Was it charging a pack of gum with a credit card? A steep mortgage? Where does everyone else stand in terms of credit?

What one thing will improve your credit score the most?

A low credit score can prevent you from getting the car, house or job of your dreams, but there's one surefire way to boost that three-digit number.

What's the one thing I can do to hurt my credit score the most?

With all the media attention the subprime mortgage crisis is getting, you may be wondering how your own line of credit is faring. What common mistake might be wreaking havoc on your credit?

How does a magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card work?

When you swipe your credit or debit card through a reader, you start a process that involves the store you're at, your bank and ultimately your financial well-being. How does that little stripe send so many messages?