Lifestyle and Budget

The Affordable Care Act may give more people access to health insurance, but experts don’t expect it to help solve a major problem in this country: medical bankruptcies. And it's not the uninsured that are getting buried under the debt. 

The number of consumer defaulting on their credit card payments is expected to remain near historical lows for the foreseeable future.

They sound similar, but they're not. Here's what you need to know.

This is the year you are going to become debt free. Here's how.

When your FICO credit score is just 70 points shy of a perfect score, is it really worth the effort to push it all the way to the top?

Settling your own debts instead of hiring someone else can save you money and put you in the power seat, but it's not for the fainthearted.

The metal content in the Chase Sapphire Preferred card makes it hard to destroy with scissors or a shredder. So how can you safely dispose of it when it's time?

A heavy debt load is always a burden, no matter your age. But paying off debt gets harder when you're on a fixed income.

Living paycheck to paycheck can make it hard to pay off debt and clear up charge-offs on credit reports--but it can happen.

Some financial "experts" claim that carrying a small balance on your credit cards is good for your credit score. It's time to kiss that myth goodbye.

The lien on your home came from your ex. Now that you're divorced, shouldn't it go away?

So the guy at the airport lounge was saying how a debt elimination firm cost just $49 to cut all debt. It's real, right? 

Unemployed, but getting Social Security? Credit may not be the answer if you want to stay out of debt.

It can be easy to overspend during the holidays, here's what to do if you find yourself swimming in massive credit debt.

Experts say that 2014 will be the year that the traditional magnetic stripe credit card will start to slowly make its exit in the U.S.

Experts say that 2014 will be the year that the traditional magnetic stripe credit card will start to slowly make its exit in the U.S.

Many business cards require excellent credit -- but what qualifies as 'excellent' depends on the scoring system.

With FICO scores in the low 600s and numerous hard inquiries on his credit reports, will card issuers accept or reject his card application?

If you have more than just a missed payment or two, American Express gives itself the right to cancel your account for any reason.

Starting a business at age 20 often requires credit--but it can be hard to establish credit at that age.