This is part one in a two part series about credit card debt and where we actually stand as a nation when you consider the pure numbers. You have probably heard figures like “The average American carries more than $8,000 in credit card debt on average.” But what does this figure mean, exactly? This is [...]

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• How to Negotiate with Credit Card Companies to Reduce Your Debt Today's article is a guest post by Andrew Wang... With consumers facing tough times in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, it's a good opportunity to discuss the possibility of getting your credit card debt sorted. Most people assume credit card companies care only about the profits they......
• What You Need to Know Before Going Into Debt Let’s face it, if you want to get ahead in today’s world, you’re going to need to go into debt, at least a little. The key is managing your debt properly and avoiding common traps. Not all debt is bad, even if we have been trained to think that it......
• How Much Debt is Too Much? The average American is currently carrying at least some form of debt, even if it is small. We live in a society where overspending is common and credit card debt has become a right of passage. In many cases, you need to be in debt in order to start building......
• 3 Credit Lessons from the Economic Crisis Governments are meant to lead by example, regardless of whether they intend to or not. Sometimes they give us examples of what not to do as well as examples of what to do. Wall Street executives also happen to be unwitting role models to people all over the world. Still,......
• Why is it Bad to Cancel a Credit Card? Unless the idea of streamlined credit you have in your head is having 8 credit cards in a single wallet, then chances are good that you have considered canceling some of the cards you do not use much. The truth about canceling credit cards: Do unused credit cards hamper you......

Continue reading → The Truth about Credit Cards and Debt pt 1

Your credit score is a vital number that determines how businesses and financial institutions treat you. Everything we do financially has an effect on our score, for good or bad. What surprises many people is how seemingly minor or harmless activities can have a big, negative impact. Described here are how a few can drop [...]

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• Getting Out of Debt Quickly pt 2 This is part 2 of a 4 part series on getting out of debt quickly. Make sure that you read all four parts in order to get the most out of this sequence of hints on getting yourself or your family out of the debt trap. Next you are going......
• Understanding your FICO Score pt 2 ... Continued from part 1: There are five different categories of data that this information can be grouped into. There are specific percentages that reflect how important each individual category is when it comes to determining your overall FICO score. New Credit Accounts This category also includes the number of......
• The Dos and Donts of Credit Scores Pt 2 In an earlier post we talked about the Do's for good credit, so now it's time to consider the Don'ts! A credit score is a really important indicator on how likely you will be to default on a credit card or a loan. Your credit score is determined by a......
• How to Improve your FICO Score It is important for you to understand that trying to raise your FICO score is quite similar in nature to losing weight. There is no quick fix and it is absolutely going to take time. Quick fix efforts for improving your credit score can most certainly back fire if you......
• What Determines a Credit Score pt 1 Here is some basic information on what you need to know about credit scores and what goes into determining your credit score. What is responsible for determining my credit score? Your credit score has become a very important focal point for a variety of things. Your score is now the......

Continue reading → Seemingly Harmless Activities May Harm your Credit

Many consumers are finding that even though they have had the same credit card for years, and have paid the balances off completely every month, their monthly statements are suddenly appearing with a surprise: An interest rate hike by as much as three percentage points.
Some consumers are not worried about these interest rate hikes because [...]

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• The Truth about Credit Cards and Debt pt 1 This is part one in a two part series about credit card debt and where we actually stand as a nation when you consider the pure numbers. You have probably heard figures like "The average American carries more than $8,000 in credit card debt on average." But what does this......
• Paying off Debt in 9 Steps pt 1 Throwing away your bills and shredding your credit card payment reminders simply is not going to make the problem go away. Debt is going to hover over you until you find a way to deal with it. Interest will continue to compound, and payments will continue to climb until you......
• Using Credit Cards to Make More Money When it comes to credit cards, most of us think of them as a way to get things we really want right now. We may not actually "need" these things, but we sure do want them. Whether it's a new couch, a new stereo or even a new wardrobe, we......
• Saving Money with Your Credit Cards pt 1 When it comes to personal budgeting, we tend to try to think of ways that we can cut corners while cutting down on any frivolous expenses in our lives. What many people are not apparently aware of however is that you can actually make use of credit cards to help......
• Don't Close These Credit Cards A lot of people tend to close out their credit card accounts if they get too far into debt with their creditors. Apparently they have some kind of notion that this will make the debt go away, when this could not be further from the truth. Not only is this......

Continue reading → Consumers Need to Exercise Caution as Credit Card Rates Climb