Credit & Debt

Need to know how to write a hardship letter? If you are in a tough position, tell your creditors about it. While there are no guarantees that they will renegotiate your debt, a hardship letter might help.

If you're considering taking out quick cash loans, you'll want to make sure you understand how payday loans work. Quick cash advances can get you through a tight spot, but they are expensive for any long-term or consistent loan situation.

Make Credit Bureaus and Creditors Accountable for Their Errors!

If you get a notice from a collection agency and you do not believe the debt is yours or don't think the credit agency can prove it is yours, you want to send a debt validation letter.

Learning how to improve FICO scores could save you a lot of money.

An essential part of winning the overall war of personal finance is to manage and eliminate credit card debt. Managing and eliminating credit card debt means more than just making your minimum payments on time. Your goal should be to minimize debt and maximize available credit, so it's there when you need it.

When you're trying to manage your student loan repayment, not to mention any other debts you may have, several strategies can yield positive results. The key to repaying your loans successfully is to be proactive and choose the right strategy for your circumstances.

When you're choosing a bank, location and service should be your first considerations and minimizing fees should be a priority. By knowing what to look for, you'll discover that there's a real difference between banks and learn how to choose a bank that's best for you.

A good FICO credit score is one of the most important aspects of a healthy financial situation. Knowing what affects your FICO score and why a good one is so important gives you great financial freedom and can save you a great deal of money.

Here's what you need to think about once you're living debt-free.

As long as you know how online banking works and how you plan to use it, you can find the banking account that best meets your financial needs, but it's still a good idea to choose a bank with both online and physical banking or open separate accounts, one with an online bank and another at a bricks-and-mortar institution.

Opening a checking account can be particularly difficult when you have bad credit; though they are precious few, you have some options. In response to the flood of applicants with bad credit, a number of banks are offering second chance or bad credit checking accounts.

Learn the advantages and disadvantages to banking online.

Knowing when to file bankruptcy is a difficult decision.  Filing bankruptcy may or may not make sense for your personal situation, depending on a variety of factors.

You may be tempted to avoid a used-car dealership when buying a car because, let's face it, not all used-car dealers have a great reputation. Buying a used car gives you an asset that is much more resistant to depreciation, and some models hold their value better than others. However, you still need to know the ins and outs of how to buy a used car from a private party.

Discover ways to improve your credit score without the help of a consumer credit agency.

What is a FICO Score? Many lenders rely on a FICO score so it's important to understand how they work for you

If you don't want to get ripped off, you need to know the questions to ask when buying a used car. The more information you have about that car, the warranty and the dealer, the better off you will be.

The cost of a college education can mean years of student loan debt for many, but through student loan forgiveness programs, some or all of a graduate's student loan can be forgiven. While there are certain conditions that apply, for those who take advantage of the various programs, it can be a cost-effective solution to reducing student loan debt.