Debt Management

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?

By Jane McGrath

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.

By Jane McGrath

Do you pay just the minimum on your credit card balance each month? If your credit limit keeps getting raised, beware: You might be a revolver.

By Dave Roos

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?

By Dave Roos

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?

By Dave Roos

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.

By Charles W. Bryant

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.

By Charles W. Bryant

These days, more people buy with credit than with cash. Learn all about credit cards, from the numbering system to how you can get rid of that high-interest balance.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

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?

By Jacob Silverman & Ed Grabianowski

Tired of all that time-consuming swiping at the register? Credit cards using contactless technology allow you to pay for stuff by holding the card near a special reader instead of handing it to a clerk or wondering if you slide it with the stripe facing up or down.

By Ed Grabianowski

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.

By Lee Ann Obringer

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?

By Lee Ann Obringer