Debt Management

So, your friend who promised to pay you back as soon as he got his paycheck is now avoiding you like the plague. Why is this happening and how can you avoid it in the future?

By Alia Hoyt

The last thing you want for your child is to have their identity stolen before they're old enough to open a credit card. The good news is there are ways to protect them from financial fraud.

By Cherise Threewitt

You've lost your job and gotten behind with your rent. You know your landlord is looking for you. What's the best way to handle this and avoid eviction?

By Dave Roos

If you need money in a hurry, there are numerous ways to get it. But many quick loan options come with serious drawbacks.

By Patrick J. Kiger

A personal loan is a great way to pay for small-scale home renovations, but for bigger jobs, a home equity loan or line of credit may be a better option.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Lenders don't ask your reason for wanting one, but our experts discuss some typical motivations for taking out a personal loan.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Taking out a personal loan can be a great way to fulfill a short-term goal or finance a dream, but there are definitely some mistakes to avoid.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Personal loans generally are installment loans that can be obtained without collateral. They have many uses and may be cheaper than running up a big credit card balance.

By Patrick J. Kiger

U.S. Federal law mandates that you get a free credit report each year through a government website. But lots of copycat websites have sprung up offering the same information for a charge. How can you be sure you're on the right page?

By Dave Roos

Credit monitoring bureau Equifax was hacked and is offering fraud monitoring services for free. But experts say they're pretty useless.

By Dave Roos

The amount of available income you have after taxes, or disposable income, makes all the difference in whether you can file for bankruptcy.

By Laurie L. Dove

Some people end up filing for bankruptcy due to credit card debt, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get a credit card again.

By Laurie L. Dove

Filing bankruptcy doesn't mean losing every single asset that you own; some of your assets may be considered exempt by the court.

By Laurie L. Dove

If you get behind on your bills due to a specific life event, a hardship letter can help convince your creditors to help you get back on track.

By Laurie L. Dove

Deciding to file for bankruptcy is difficult enough. Now you have to figure out the terminology used to describe your debts.

By Laurie L. Dove

U.S. citizens aren't the only ones who can file for bankruptcy in the U.S., but it sure can complicate things if you file and you're living in the country illegally or applying to become a citizen.

By Laurie L. Dove

Getting a flu shot while you have the flu makes no sense, and so does planning to protect your assets after you've already entered into bankruptcy. Here's what to do beforehand.

By Laurie L. Dove

Have you ever wondered how courts find out about your expenses and income during bankruptcy proceedings? That's asset discovery in action.

By Laurie L. Dove

It's difficult, but not impossible. Ready to learn how you might secure a loan after a bankruptcy?

By Laurie L. Dove

After one spouse declares bankruptcy, the other one could be left paying off the debts. Wait, really?

By Laurie L. Dove

Current hiring trends and practices can create catch-22 scenarios for those looking for work post-bankruptcy. Could your career be affected?

By Laurie L. Dove

If you're lucky, you'll never have to know about bankruptcy. But sometimes, even lucky people get dealt bad hands. If you're wondering whether to declare bankruptcy, here are 10 things you should know before doing the deed.

By Dave Roos

Even though you're declaring bankruptcy, you sure hate to part with your family jewelry or that expensive, new telescope. Could you hide your assets, or is that considered fraud?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

After many Target customers had their credit card information stolen in fall 2013, the store chain offered them free credit card monitoring for a year. But does this service really help protect against identity theft?

By Dave Roos

Long popular in Europe, Latin America and other parts of the world, chip and PIN credit cards are now becoming the norm in the U. S. What took them so long to catch on in America and do they really lessen credit card fraud?

By Dave Roos