Lifestyle and Budget

A business owner has unpaid credit card debt worth thousands. Should she settle, file for bankruptcy or something else?

If you drop an inactive credit card to save on annual fees, should you ask for a credit limit increase on other cards to mitigate damage to your credit score?

The promise of fast and easy credit repair can be misleading to young grads navigating and learning the process of building credit firsthand. Here’s what credit experts say young adults need to be on the watch for and how they can maintain a health credit score. 

Before you file for divorce, you'll want to file for bankruptcy. But there are other steps, too.

Depending on how the average is measured and who's doing the measuring, Americans are either doing pretty well when it comes to managing our credit cards, or horribly

These mistakes are more common -- and costly -- than they seem.

When a card is canceled, the only way it can hurt your credit score is by reducing your credit utilization ratio -- or if you behaved badly with it

When a card is canceled, the only way it can hurt your credit score is by reducing your credit utilization ratio -- or if you behaved badly with it

If you want to settle a debt with a collector for less than owed, do it safely and permanently by following these steps

Sure, you can help a relative overwhelmed by debt. Help her negotiate, consolidate -- but be careful about taking that debt on yourself.

One issuer gave you a $500 limit while another gave you a $1,000 limit. Want to know why?

If you're carrying a large debt load, a cash-out refinance can help put you on a better path.

If your business is failing and you default on several credit cards, the issuers of your other cards will know about it and may cut you off -- but you have ways to escape the jam.

When an old debt resurfaces as you're trying to make a credit comeback, getting it listed as paid in full does the most benefit to your credit, but the most harm to your cash flow

If you already filed Ch. 7, you can file Ch. 13 to help bring your mortgage current, but be careful.

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

If a spouse is serving out a prison sentence, but left behind card debt--who is responsible to pay it off?

Peer-to-peer loans -- made by individuals to other individuals -- are booming as a debt consolidation tool. Though they can be a deal, they aren't for everyone. 

Don't give up hope on getting a mortgage just because your credit score is not perfect.

Taking on new credit cards to get sign-up bonuses and then canceling the cards will ding your credit score, and your ability to get a loan.