Lifestyle and Budget

Data breaches have become a common event in today's world--but it's important for consumers to take them seriously.

Taking out a new mortgage is one possible way to reduce your large debt burden.

Forging a spouse's signature here and there may be OK, but never on a credit card or loan application, and not if it's done secretly.

If you're trying to recover from bad credit, will canceling old cards and opening new cards improve your credit score?

Paying the minimum amount could leave you in debt forever. Here's the way to pay it off feasibly.

After you default on a loan, collectors often try to puff up the debt, heaping interest and fees atop the balance you already owe. How bad can it get?

Ignoring medical bills could leave your credit in more pain than you went to the doctor for.

If you just got new plastic, but a more attractive offer comes in the mail, would it be OK to cancel the first card and apply for the second?

By fully understanding the nature of store credit cards, you can make the right decision when asked to apply for one this year at the checkout counter.

Some people mistakenly believe that when a debt is charged off, the obligation to pay disappears. Not so. 

When a review of your credit report says you have too many card accounts open, will your otherwise stellar credit take a nosedive if you cancel some?

Some lenders are using alternative data to measure the risk of consumers with poor credit.

Trying to refi if your home wasn't reaffirmed in bankruptcy? It can have consequences.

Mobile banking is a fast and convenient way to conduct financial transactions, but it can also leave your personal information exposed.

If you're served with a summons for unpaid debt, where you live will determine whether a creditor can recoup funds through wage garnishment

If you have one credit card that's close to maxed out every month, having a mix of other types of credit will help soften any credit score damage.

If you defaulted on credit card debt years ago, so long ago that the debt is off your credit report, what are your chances of getting a new card with the same issuer?

If you want to start building credit but don't want to get a credit card -- or simply can't-- don't give up. 

Rising interest rates have been pretty scarce over the past 30 years, but these tips can help your finances adjust nicely.

What happens when a daughter finds out her mom used her name to open a joint account without her permission or knowledge?