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Credit

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  2. Credit and Debt
Credit Card Industry Laws
Credit Card Industry Laws

Article

Credit

Why Your Credit Utilization Ratio Matters
Why Your Credit Utilization Ratio Matters

Article

Credit

Dealing with Rising Credit Card Interest Rates
Dealing with Rising Credit Card Interest Rates

Article

Credit

Maintaining Good Credit
Maintaining Good Credit

Video

Credit

Building a Credit History
Building a Credit History

Video

Credit

How Credit Card Utilization Impacts Your Credit Score
How Credit Card Utilization Impacts Your Credit Score

Article

Credit

What Is a Credit Reference?
What Is a Credit Reference?

Article

Credit

Understanding Credit Card Interest
Understanding Credit Card Interest

Article

Credit

Are Credit Card Balance Transfers Worth It?
Are Credit Card Balance Transfers Worth It?

Calculator

Credit

The Ins and Outs of Your Credit Score
The Ins and Outs of Your Credit Score

Article

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How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?
How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?

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Credit

Lower Your Credit Card Rate
Lower Your Credit Card Rate

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  • Financial Calculators
    • Auto Calculators
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Home Equity Calculators
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    • Debt Calculators
    • Budget Calculators
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  • Financial Advice
    • Credit and Debt
      • Credit
        • About Those Interest-Free Offers
        • Alternatives to Pay Day Lenders
        • Are Credit Card Balance Transfers Worth It?
        • Are Credit Repair Services Worth It?
        • Boosting Your FICO Score
        • Building a Credit History
        • Building a Credit History
        • Building a Credit Reputation
        • Calculating Annual Percentage Rates
        • Canceling a Credit Card
        • Choosing a Credit Card
        • Closing Down a Credit Card Account
        • Comparing Credit Cards
        • Consumer Reporting Agencies
        • Cosigning a Loan
        • Credit Card Industry Laws
        • Credit Repair Scams
        • Credit-Building Loans
        • Dealing with Rising Credit Card Interest Rates
        • Evaluating Credit Card Reward Programs
        • Evaluating Credit Card Reward Programs
        • Fee-Based vs No-Fee Credit Cards
        • Good Reasons to Borrow Money
        • How Credit Card Utilization Impacts Your Credit Score
        • How Credit Cards Work
        • How Lenders Evaluate Borrowers
        • How Loan Amortization Works
        • How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?
        • How is a Credit Report Used?
        • Important Credit Card Terms
        • Keeping Track of Your Credit Score
        • Living a 'Credit-Free' Life
        • Loan Basics
        • Lower Your Credit Card Rate
        • Maintaining Good Credit
        • Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards
        • Maximizing Credit Card Rewards
        • Repairing Your Credit
        • Secured vs. Unsecured Loans
        • Should You Transfer Account Balances?
        • Smart Purchases to Make on Credit
        • The Fair Credit Reporting Act
        • The Ins and Outs of Your Credit Score
        • The Pros and Cons of Retail Credit
        • The True Cost of Buying on Credit
        • Travel Reward Programs
        • Understanding Car Leases
        • Understanding Credit Card Interest
        • Understanding Credit Score Ranges
        • Understanding Your Credit Report
        • Using Credit Cards Responsibly
        • Watch Out for Payday Loans
        • What Do You Know About Credit?
        • What Is a Credit Reference?
        • What Makes My Credit Score Go Up and Down?
        • What Your Credit Score Means
        • Why Your Credit Utilization Ratio Matters
        • Your Annual Credit Report Review
      • Major Purchases
        • Budgeting For Your Big Day
        • Buying Your First Electric Car
        • Buying an Engagement Ring
        • Buying or Leasing a Vehicle
        • Calculate a Loan Payment
        • Calculate a Vehicle Payment
        • Compare Monthly Payment by Term
        • Compare Two Vehicle Loans
        • Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Requirements
        • Financing a Home Solar Project
        • Financing a Major Purchase
        • Getting Ready to Borrow
        • How Rooftop Solar and Net Metering Work
        • Low Rate or Cash Back?
        • Making a Major Purchase
        • Maximize Your Car's Trade-In Value
        • Purchase or Lease a Vehicle
        • Purchasing a Vehicle
        • Reading a Car Window Sticker
        • Selling Your Car
        • Shopping for Home Appliances
        • The Best Time to Buy
        • The Cost of Borrowing
        • Understanding Car Subscription Services
        • Understanding Interest on Loans
        • Using Home Equity for a Major Purchase
        • Vehicle Affordability by Loan Term
        • What it Means to Borrow Money
      • Debt
        • Accelerating Repayment on a Loan
        • Add to Your Monthly Payment and Save Money
        • After You've Paid Off Your Credit Cards
        • Avoiding the Minimum Payment Trap
        • Can Credit Counseling Help?
        • Consolidating Debt with Home Equity
        • Consolidating Your Debt
        • Consumer Protection Laws and Medical Debt
        • Cures for a Debt Hangover
        • Dealing with Credit Score Fallout
        • Dealing with Large Medical Bills
        • Dealing with a Spouse’s Credit Issues
        • Debt Consolidation
        • Debt Payoff Strategies
        • Debt Ratios and Debt Loads
        • Debt Terminology
        • Good Debt, Bad Debt
        • How Long Will It Take to Pay Off a Credit Card?
        • If You Can't Repay Your Loan
        • Increase Your Monthly Payment
        • Look Closely at Debt Consolidation Offers
        • Make Bi-Weekly Payments
        • Making Minimum Payments
        • Making Only Minimum Payments
        • Managing Debt
        • Meet a Debt Payoff Goal
        • Paying Off Debts with the Snowball Strategy
        • Prioritizing Your Loans for Quicker Payback
        • Protect Yourself from Predatory Lenders
        • Refinancing an Auto Loan
        • Save or Pay Off Debt?
        • The Avalanche Debt Repayment Method
        • The Avalanche Debt Repayment Method
        • The Debt Snowball Method
        • The Difference Between Debt and Credit
        • The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
        • The Life Cycle of Debt
        • The Pros and Cons of Loan Protection Insurance
        • Understanding Your Debt
        • Use a Lump Sum to Pay Down Debt
        • Use a Side Hustle to Pay Off Debt
        • What Happens When You Don't Repay Your Debts
        • What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?
        • Your Debt Collection Rights
    • Money Management
      • Banking
        • A Financial To-Do List When You Move
        • Accessing Financial Services as an Immigrant
        • Are Paper Checks Still Relevant?
        • Automating Your Finances
        • Avoiding Non-Sufficient Fund and Overdraft Fees
        • Balance Your Checking Account
        • Balancing a Checking Account
        • Banking Basics
        • Check-Cashing Services
        • Closing a Bank Account
        • Debit or Credit Card?
        • Digital and Mobile Wallet Basics
        • Exchange Rate Basics
        • Financial Basics for Service Members
        • Finding the Right Checking Account
        • Getting Organized for Bill Payment
        • Going Cashless
        • Going Green With Your Finances
        • How Safe is Your Money?
        • How the Federal Reserve Controls Interest Rates
        • Introduction to Online Billpay
        • Money Transfer Options
        • Opening an Account
        • Paying Your Bills
        • Peer-to-Peer Payment Tools
        • Private Banking Basics
        • Putting Money in a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Account
        • Safe Practices for Mobile Banking
        • Selecting the Products That Are Right for You
        • The Basics of Mobile Payments
        • The Benefits of Online Banking
        • The Benefits of Prepaid Cards
        • The Pros and Cons of Cash Advances
        • Using a Checking Account
        • Using a Debit Card
        • Using a Savings Account
        • Watch for Gift Card Scams
        • What Are Tiered-Rate Accounts?
        • What Do You Need in Your Wallet?
        • What Is Decentralized Finance (DeFi)?
        • What Is Open Banking?
        • What Is a Cash Management Account?
        • What is a Cryptocurrency?
        • What is a Demand Deposit?
      • Budgeting
        • 25 (Almost) Pain-Free Budget Cuts You Can Make
        • AI-Powered Budgeting Tools
        • Are There Leaks in Your Finances?
        • Budgeting Basics
        • Budgeting on Irregular Income
        • Buy Now, Pay Later Apps
        • Calculating Your Disposable Income
        • Challenge Your Budget Cutting Skills
        • Coping with Inflation
        • Discretionary Income vs. Disposable Income
        • Don’t Let the Holidays Bust Your Budget
        • Envelope Budgeting in the Digital Age
        • Getting By on a Minimum Wage Job
        • Having a Plan
        • Household Cash Flow Tracker
        • How Much Am I Spending?
        • Level-Pay Utility Plans
        • Measuring the Cost of Living
        • Monthly Credit Card Management
        • New Year? New Budget Resolution
        • Popular Budgeting Methods
        • Putting Together Your Budget
        • Reducing Food Waste at Home
        • Ridesharing Basics
        • Roommate Finance Management
        • Save, Share, or Spend
        • Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund
        • Starting a Budget
        • Staying Frugal without Becoming Cheap
        • The 50/30/20 Budget Rule
        • The Benefits of Personal Financial Management Tools
        • The Minimalist Model
        • The No Spend Challenge
        • The Zero-Based Budgeting Method
        • Try the Envelope Budgeting Method
        • Understanding Your Income and Expenses
        • Understanding a Shoestring Budget
        • Using Budgeting Apps
        • What to Do With a Financial Windfall
        • Why Budgets Fail
        • Why Do Budgets Fail?
        • Your Budget and Higher Food Prices
      • Building Wealth
        • Assessing Your Tolerance for Risk
        • Calculate Your Net Worth
        • Diversifying While Investing
        • Do You Need a Financial Advisor?
        • Investing for Your Goals
        • Investing in ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)
        • Investing in Stocks
        • Researching Investments
        • Save to be a Millionaire
        • The Benefits of Asset Building
        • The Benefits of Compounding
        • Understanding Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
        • Watching Your Money Grow
        • What Does It Mean to Invest?
        • What Is an Asset
        • What is a Mutual Fund?
      • Saving
        • Becoming a One-Car Family
        • Budgeting a Savings Plan
        • Building a Rainy Day Savings Fund
        • Building an Emergency Fund One Step at a Time
        • Bump-Up CDs vs. Step-Up CDs
        • Calculate Your Savings at Maturity
        • Compare Two CDs
        • Creating a Savings Mindset
        • Determining Your Savings Need
        • Finding Affordable Travel Options
        • Finding Money to Save
        • Get S.M.A.R.T.
        • How Christmas Clubs Get You Ready for Christmas
        • How a Smart Home Can Save You Money
        • Is it Time to Use CDs for Investing Again?
        • Keep Your Winter Energy Bills Under Control
        • Laddering Strategies for CDs
        • Little Cuts to Save You Money
        • Performing a Home Energy Audit
        • Preparing Holiday Meals on a Budget
        • Protecting Your Savings From Inflation
        • Repair or Replace it?
        • Save Towards a Goal
        • Save for a Rainy Day
        • Saving Money When You Join a Gym
        • Saving Money
        • Saving Money with Meal Prep
        • Saving for a Rainy Day
        • Saving if You're Underbanked
        • The Difference Between Spending Less and Saving Money
        • The Impact of Saving More
        • The Wonders of Compound Interest
        • Types of Savings Goals
        • U.S. Savings Bonds
        • Understanding Micro Savings
        • Understanding Your Savings Options
        • Understanding the Savings Deposit Program (SDP)
        • Upcycling Basic Household Items
        • Use Direct Deposit to Build Savings
        • Using a Sinking Fund to Save
        • Watching Your Money Grow
        • What Is an ABLE Account?
        • What Is an Add-On CD?
        • What Will My Savings Be Worth?
        • What are You Saving For?
        • What to Do With a Lump Sum of Money
      • Spending
        • Are Clothing Subscription Boxes Worth It?
        • Are Food Delivery Services Right for Me?
        • Are You Eating Away At Your Paycheck?
        • Are You Maximizing Your 'Cash Back'?
        • Are You Under the Influence?
        • Avoid These Car Leasing Mistakes
        • Categorizing and Tracking Your Expenses
        • Comparing Products Online
        • Curing Bad Overspending Habits
        • Cutting the Cable and Saving Money
        • Dealing With High Gas Prices
        • Dealing with Dynamic Pricing
        • Do Grocery Delivery Subscriptions Make Sense?
        • Don't Let Coupons Make You Spend More
        • Don't Let DIY Projects Empty Your Wallet
        • Extended Warranties & Service Contracts
        • Find the Best Christmas Shopping Deals
        • Finding Online Coupons
        • Gas Mileage Savings with a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
        • Generational Spending Habits
        • Getting Out of a Car Lease
        • Grocery Shopping Tips for Singles
        • How Inflation Impacts Your Finances
        • How Overspending Can Derail a Budget
        • How Peer Pressure Can Destroy Your Finances
        • Hybrid, Electric or Gas?
        • Is Your Mobile Phone Bill Out of Control?
        • Leading a Car-Free Life
        • Making Sustainable Food Choices
        • Preventing Lifestyle Creep
        • Prioritizing Expenses During High Inflation
        • Reducing Your Spending
        • Saving Big by Buying Used
        • Saving Money While on Vacation
        • Saving on Back-to-School
        • Shopping Strategies for Holiday Deals
        • Solar Energy Options
        • Splitting Expenses on a Group Trip
        • Standards for Tipping
        • Taking a 'Staycation'
        • The Art of Splitting a Check
        • The Rising Costs of Streaming Services
        • The True Cost of Convenience Spending
        • Tracking Subscriptions: How to Help You Cancel and Save
        • Tracking what You Spend
        • Use Price-Matching to Save Money
        • What Is Social Commerce?
        • What is Surge Pricing?
    • Family Finances
      • Life Events
        • Becoming Financially Independent
        • Becoming a Parent
        • Building a Cash Wedding Registry
        • Considering a Financial Caregiver
        • Creating a Power of Attorney
        • Employed Again? Do These Things First
        • Estate Planning
        • Getting to Zero Waste
        • How Do Living Wills Work?
        • If Your Spouse-to-be Has Serious Debt Problems
        • Is Your Significant Other a Tightwad?
        • Lending Money to Family or Friends
        • Liquidating a Loved One's Estate
        • Making Financial Preparations for Maternity Leave
        • Making Your Home a Vacation Rental
        • Managing Your Child Care Expenses
        • Saving Money by Moving Back Home
        • Searching for Unclaimed Money
        • Should You Get a Prenup?
        • The Costs of "Returning to School"
        • The Financial Side of Dating
        • What is Financial Therapy?
      • Identity Protection
        • Am I Being Phished?
        • Child Identity Theft
        • Common Phone Scams
        • Consumer Privacy
        • Consumer Privacy
        • Credit Freezes vs. Fraud Alerts
        • Credit, Debit and Fraud Prevention
        • Digital (or Virtual) Credit Cards
        • How Credit Card Dumps Work
        • How to Spot a Money Wiring Scam
        • Identity Protection Services
        • Identity Theft and Fraud
        • If You're a Victim of a Data Breach
        • Keeping Your Mobile Phone Secure
        • Make Sure Your Home Network is Secure
        • Medical Identity Theft
        • Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
        • Protecting Your Home When You're on Vacation
        • Protecting Your Identity While Traveling
        • Protecting Your Personal Information
        • Protecting Yourself On Social Media
        • Scammers and the Coronavirus
        • Shopping Safely Online
        • Spotting Elder Fraud
        • Spotting Health Insurance Scams
        • Stop the Robocalls!
        • Take Advantage of Two-Step Authentication
        • Understanding the "Dark Web"
        • Using a Password Manager
        • Website Password Strategies
        • What Is Carding?
        • What Is Skimming?
        • What Is an Advance-Fee Loan Scam?
        • What is Synthetic Fraud?
        • What is a Spoofing Attack?
        • What’s Your Password Strategy?
      • Insurance
        • Adjusting Your Life Insurance
        • Auto Insurance and Teen Drivers
        • Calculate Your Disability Insurance Needs
        • Calculate Your Life Insurance Needs
        • Calculate Your Long Term Care Needs
        • Check Your Insurance Knowledge
        • Choosing the Right Deductible Amount
        • Dropping Collision from Your Auto Coverage
        • Factors That Impact Life Insurance Premiums
        • Finding the Right Auto Insurance
        • Health Savings Account or Traditional Health Plan?
        • How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
        • Insurance Tips for Homeowners
        • Insuring Your Property
        • Is Pet Insurance Right for You?
        • Is Travel Insurance a Good Idea?
        • Reach Your Health Savings Account Goal
        • Reviewing Your Medical Bill
        • Save for Long Term Care
        • Should You Take the Travel Insurance?
        • Term vs. Whole Life Insurance
        • The Advantages of Health Savings Accounts
        • The Homeowner's Insurance That's Right for You
        • The Value of Your Future Earnings
        • Tips to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premiums
        • Understanding Home Hospital Care
        • Understanding Insurance Premiums
        • Understanding Roadside Assistance Insurance
        • What Insurance Policies Do I Need?
        • What Is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance?
        • What Is FAIR Plan Insurance?
        • What Is Final Expense Insurance?
        • What Is Umbrella Insurance?
        • Your COBRA Health Insurance Rights
      • Kids and Money
        • 2024 Child Tax Credits
        • 2025 Child Tax Credits
        • 2026 Child Tax Credit
        • Allowances and Children
        • Are Kids Sports Draining Your Bank Account?
        • Getting Your Child's Finances 'Move-Out' Ready
        • Homeschooling During COVID-19
        • Introducing Your Teen to Banking
        • Investing for Teens
        • Keep Working or Stay at Home?
        • Learning to Save
        • Paying for Good Grades
        • Preparing Financially for a Special Needs Child
        • Preparing Your Teen for Their First Job
        • Raising Financially Literate Children
        • Spare Change
        • Spending on Your Child
        • Teaching Kids About Money
        • Teaching Smart Spending
        • Teaching Your Child to Count Money
        • Teaching Your Children about Gift Buying
        • Teaching Your Teen About Financial Risk
        • The Cost of Homeschooling
        • Things Your Grade Schooler Should Know About Money
        • Things Your High Schooler Should Know About Money
        • Things Your Middle Schooler Should Know About Money
        • Things Your Pre-Schooler Should Know About Money
        • Understanding Money
        • Understanding a Small Saver Certificate (SSC)
        • What Is a Custodial IRA?
      • Financial Crisis
        • A Death in the Family
        • Are You Prepared Financially for a Natural Disaster?
        • Avoiding Costly Car Repair Mistakes
        • Avoiding Tax Penalties
        • Dealing with a Home Foreclosure
        • Helping Your Parents with their Finances
        • Housing Relief Options and COVID-19
        • In Case of Medical Emergency
        • Making a Comeback from a Financial Setback
        • Managing Debt When You Are Unemployed
        • Managing Your Finances After a Job Loss
        • Mortgage Relief Scams
        • Paying for Rehab and Addiction Treatment
        • Preparing Financially for a Climate Changing World
        • Preparing for an Economic Downturn
        • Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy
        • Reselling Your Stuff
        • Revisiting Your Budget During a Crisis
        • Selling a Home That is Financially Underwater
        • Should You Get a Second Job?
        • Suddenly Unemployed
        • Weathering a Financial Crisis
        • When Your Home is a Money Pit
        • When You’re Short On Money
    • Workplace Finances
      • Employee Benefits
        • Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependent Care
        • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
        • Hourly and Salaried Employment
        • Medical, Prescription, Vision and Dental Plans
        • Navigating Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs)
        • Negotiating a Job Offer
        • Quality of Life and Wellness Benefits
        • Relocation Assistance
        • The Basics of Working from Home
        • The Benefits of Union Membership
        • The Financial Impact of Job Hopping
        • The Financial Impact of Relocating for Work
        • Tuition Reimbursement
        • Understanding Employee Benefits
        • Understanding Paid Time Off (PTO)
        • Understanding Parental Leave Policies
        • Utilizing Childcare Benefits
        • Utilizing Job Training Programs
        • What Is a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)?
        • What Is a Severance Package?
        • What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
      • Paycheck Planning
        • 2023 Paycheck Planning
        • 2024 Paycheck Planning
        • 2025 Paycheck Planning
        • 2026 Paycheck Planning
        • Asking for a Raise
        • Dealing with Expense Reimbursement
        • Direct Deposit and Paycheck Allocations
        • Filling Out a W-4 Form
        • First Paycheck? Do These Things First
        • Gross and Net Income: What's the Difference?
        • If You're a 1099 Employee
        • Juggling Multiple Jobs
        • Quarterly Taxes for Gig Workers
        • Setting up Tax Withholding
        • Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
        • Understanding Company Bonuses
        • Understanding Pay Statements
        • Understanding Payroll Taxes
        • Understanding Performance-Based Pay
        • Understanding Your Pay Statement
        • Understanding Your Paycheck
        • Understanding Your W-2 Form
        • Using Pay Transparency in Salary Negotiations
      • Retirement Plans
        • 2022 & 2023 Maximum 401(k) Contribution Limits
        • 2023 & 2024 Maximum 401(k) Contribution Limits
        • 2024 & 2025 Maximum 401(k) Contribution Limits
        • 2025 & 2026 Maximum 401(k) Contribution Limits
        • 401(k) Calculator
        • An Overview of 401(k) Plans
        • Are You Eligible for a 403(b) Plan?
        • Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
        • How Do Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Work?
        • Reviewing Your Retirement Plan
        • Should You Withdraw Funds from Your 401(k)?
        • Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plans
        • Taking Your Retirement Plan with You
        • Traditional 401(k) or Roth 401(k)?
        • Types of Retirement Plans
        • Understanding Matching Contributions
        • Understanding Pension Plans
        • What is a Defined Benefit Plan?
        • What is a Profit-Sharing Plan?
    • Your Home
      • Renting
        • Can You Rent an Apartment Without Credit?
        • Finding a Roommate
        • Furnishing Your New Space
        • Going from Homeowner to Renter
        • Housing Scams to Avoid
        • How Much Should You Spend on Rent?
        • Living with Roommates
        • Managing Moving Expenses
        • Qualifying for Your First Apartment
        • Renter Mistakes to Avoid
        • Renting Your First Apartment
        • The Basics of Renting
        • Understanding Your Rights as a Renter
        • What to Know Before Breaking a Lease
      • Buying a Home
        • Additional Financial Home Buying Obligations
        • Affordability Trade-Offs When Buying a Home
        • Are You Ready to Buy a Home?
        • Building a Home Buying Team
        • Buying a Home from a Family Member
        • Buying a Home with a Friend
        • Buying a Vacation Home
        • Buying vs Renting a Home
        • Down Payment Assistance Programs
        • Down Payment Strategies for First-Time Home Buyers
        • Estimating a Home's Market Value
        • Finding a Real Estate Agent
        • Finding the Right Home
        • Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
        • Going from Renting to Buying
        • Home Affordability
        • Home Affordability
        • House, Townhome, or Condo?
        • How Home Construction Loans Work
        • How Housing Costs Impact Finances
        • Is a "Tiny Home" the Answer?
        • Landscaping on a Budget
        • Making an Offer on a Home
        • Proceeds from Sale of a Home
        • Rent or Buy?
        • Saving for a Down Payment on a Home
        • Tax Implications of Home Ownership
        • The Costs of Selling a Home
        • The Home Buying Process
        • The Pros and Cons of an HOA
        • Tools Worth Spending Money On
        • Understanding Housing and Debt Ratios
        • Understanding Your Debt-to-Income Ratio
        • What's the Deal with Timeshares?
        • Working with Real Estate Professionals
      • Mortgages
        • 15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgages
        • About Private Mortgage Insurance
        • Adjustable Rate Mortgage Analyzer
        • Being Pre-Qualified vs. Being Pre-Approved
        • Buying Down an Interest Rate with Points
        • Buying a Home in a High Rate Market
        • Calculate Home Closing Costs
        • Calculate a Mortgage Payment
        • Can Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments Save You Money?
        • Closing on a Home
        • Compare Two Mortgage Loans
        • Compare a Bi-Weekly Mortgage to a Monthly Mortgage
        • Debt-to-Income Calculator
        • Down Payment Calculator
        • FHA Mortgage Basics
        • Finding a Mortgage
        • Fixed Rate vs Adjustable Rate Mortgages
        • Getting Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance
        • Getting the Lowest Mortgage Rate
        • How Escrow Accounts Work
        • Key Mortgage Terms
        • Know When to Lock-In a Mortgage Rate
        • Loan Amount Calculator
        • Maximizing a Home Appraisal
        • Mortgage Loan Modification Options
        • Paying Off Your Mortgage
        • Qualifying for a Mortgage
        • Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?
        • Types of Mortgages
        • Understanding Mortgages
        • Understanding VA Loans
        • Understanding a Deed of Trust
        • Understanding the Federal Home Loan Bank System
        • What Is a HomeReady Mortgage?
        • What Is a Jumbo Loan?
        • What Is a USDA Home Loan?
      • Home Equity and Refinancing
        • Building Equity in Your Home
        • Calculate a Home Equity Line of Credit Payment
        • Calculate a Home Equity Loan Payment
        • Cash-Out Refinancing or a Home Equity Loan?
        • Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit?
        • Home Equity Loans vs Lines of Credit
        • Is it the Right Time to Refinance Your Home?
        • Paying Off a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit
        • Refinancing Your Mortgage
        • Should You Refinance Close to Retirement?
        • Should You Refinance Into a Shorter Term Mortgage?
        • The Equity in Your Home
        • The ROI of Home Improvement Projects
        • Time to Refinance?
        • Understanding Home Equity
        • Using the Equity in Your Home Wisely
        • Using the Equity in Your Home
        • What Now for Home Equity?
    • Paying for College
      • Saving for College
        • An Overview of 529 Plans
        • Are Online Degrees Worth It?
        • Choosing Between College and Retirement Savings
        • College Savings Plan Options
        • College Savings Plans
        • Explaining Stackable Credentials
        • How Community Colleges Save You Money
        • Minimizing College Application Expenses
        • Save for College
        • Saving for Your College of Choice
        • The "2K Rule" for College Savings
        • The Costs of Education
        • The ROI of Education
        • The True Cost of a College Education
        • The Value of Education
        • Vocational and Technical Training
      • Financing College
        • Comparing Your Financial Aid Offers
        • Expected Family Contribution
        • FAFSA and You
        • Financial Aid
        • Financial Tips for College Freshmen
        • Financing a College Education
        • Finding Scholarships
        • Graduating from College Debt-Free
        • How Much Student Loan Debt is Too Much?
        • Making Informed Decisions
        • Maximizing Your Financial Aid Package
        • Misconceptions Surrounding Financial Aid
        • Private Student Loans
        • Saving Money on College Textbooks
        • Should College Students Have Credit Cards?
        • The Challenge of Working Your Way Through College
        • Understanding Student Loans
        • Will Your Choice of Major Payoff Financially?
      • Repaying Student Loans
        • COVID-19 and Your Student Loans
        • Claiming Your Student Loan Forgiveness
        • Credit Building Tips for New College Graduates
        • Employer-Sponsored Repayment Programs
        • How to Quickly Pay Off Your Student Loans
        • Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Living with High Student Loan Obligations
        • Now That You've Graduated: Repaying Your Student Loans
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Refinancing Strategies for Student Loans
        • Repaying Student Loans
        • Student Loan Forgiveness
        • Student Loan Repayment Options
        • Understanding Income-Share Agreements
    • Retirement Planning
      • Saving for Retirement
        • 2022 & 2023 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
        • 2023 & 2024 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
        • 2024 & 2025 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
        • 2025 & 2026 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
        • Explaining Payroll Deduction IRAs
        • Factoring Family Into Your Retirement Plan
        • Getting Your Retirement Back on Track
        • Gig Worker Retirement Strategies
        • How Much Do You Need to Retire?
        • How Much Will You Need for Retirement?
        • Important Retirement Savings Milestones
        • Off to a Late Start? Catch Up Strategies for Retirement
        • Retirement Planning Checklist
        • Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid
        • Retirement Saving Basics
        • Retirement Savings Strategies
        • Retirement Tax Planning
        • Save for Retirement
        • Spend It or Invest in an IRA?
        • The Basic Principles of Retirement Planning
        • The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) Method
        • The Pros and Cons of an Early Retirement
        • What are My IRA Options?
      • Social Security
        • An Overview of Medicare
        • Estimate Social Security Benefits
        • Getting By on Social Security
        • How Cost of Living Adjustments are Calculated
        • How are Social Security Benefits Calculated?
        • Social Security Benefits
        • Social Security Survivor Benefits
        • Social Security and Your Retirement
        • Social Security and the Self-Employed
        • Special Situations to Consider Before Starting Social Security
        • Understanding the Ticket To Work Program
        • When Should I Start Collecting Social Security?
        • Your Social Security Number & Card
      • Living in Retirement
        • Buying a RV for Retirement
        • Don't Miss Out on Senior Discounts
        • Down-Size Your Home, Right-Size Your Life
        • Extend Your Retirement Budget with the Gig Economy
        • Finding a Caregiver
        • Have You Saved Enough for Retirement?
        • How Long Will My Retirement Savings Last?
        • In Retirement
        • Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?
        • Managing Your Retirement Funds
        • Relocating for Retirement
        • Required Minimum Distributions
        • Restructuring Your Budget for Retirement
        • Retirement Account Withdrawal Strategies
        • Retirement Income Estimator
        • Stretch Your Retirement Budget
        • Supplemental Healthcare Coverage in Retirement
        • Supplementing Your Retirement Income
        • Working in Retirement
    • Small Business
      • Starting a Business
        • Business Startup Basics
        • Buying an Existing Business
        • Creating a Business Plan
        • Leasing Space for Your Business
        • Location, Location, Location
        • Naming Your Business
        • Partnership Pros and Cons
        • Saving to Start a Business
        • Sizing the Market
        • Sources of Start-Up Funding
      • Business Finance
        • Accepting Payment
        • Basic Accounting Statements
        • Business Debt Consolidation
        • Business Finance 101
        • Business Lines of Credit
        • Business Loan or Line of Credit?
        • Calculate a Business Loan Payment
        • Effective Receivables Collection
        • Establishing Credit
        • Extending Credit To Your Customers
        • Financial Ratio Analysis
        • Financial Ratios
        • Getting a Business Loan
        • Keeping Your Business & Personal Finances Separate
        • Lease or Buy Equipment
        • Managing Cash Flow
        • Projecting Your Cash Flow
        • Purchase or Lease Equipment?
        • Repaying a Business Loan
        • Small Business Administration Loans
        • The Basics of Budgeting
        • Using Credit Cards for Financing
        • Working With Outside Investors
        • Working with Factors
      • Business Management
        • Accounts Receivable Analysis
        • Becoming the Boss
        • Business Inventory Requirements
        • Determine Your Working Capital Requirements
        • Gross Margin Analysis
        • Laws and Local Ordinances That Impact Your Business
        • Managing Vendor Relationships
        • Managing Your Inventory
        • Managing a Business
        • Money Management
        • Organization Structures
        • Providing Great Customer Service
        • Recordkeeping Basics
        • Sales Volume Required to Break Even
        • Selecting the Right Technology and Tools
        • The Value of Your Business
        • Time Management
        • Valuing Your Business
      • Growing Your Business
        • Affordable Marketing Strategies for Startups
        • Branding Your Business
        • Calculate Customer Lifetime Value
        • Calculate Your Conversion Rate
        • Calculate Your Direct Mail ROI
        • Calculate Your Email Marketing ROI
        • Creating a Marketing Plan
        • Creating an Online Presence
        • Direct Marketing Basics
        • Gaining a Competitive Advantage
        • Growing a Business
        • Internet Marketing Basics
        • Measuring the ROI of Your Marketing Budget
        • Optimize Your Sales Pipeline
        • Pay-per-Click Advertising ROI
        • Pricing Strategies
        • Selling Your Products Online
        • Social Media Marketing
        • Understanding Customer Lifetime Value
      • Employment Basics
        • Attracting and Retaining Quality Employees
        • Compensation Basics
        • Creating an Employee Handbook
        • Effective Employee Communications
        • Employment Basics
        • Hiring Your First Employee
        • Maintaining a Work/Life Balance
        • Negotiating with Prospective Employees
        • Required Employee Benefits
        • Running a Virtual Company
        • Total Employee Compensation Package
        • Training and Educating Employees
        • Using Contractors Instead of Employees