Are You OverExtended?

Are you managing your debt, or is it managing you? Practical guidance for managing personal debt and credit.

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  • Spending more than paying off
  • Trouble paying bills
  • Buying without down payments
  • Maxed out credit lines
  • Retirement not properly funded
  • No payoff strategy
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Recent Articles

How to Lower Your Debt-to-Limit Ratio Before It Hurts Your Credit
Debt-to-Limit Ratio

How to Lower Your Debt-to-Limit Ratio Before It Hurts Your Credit

Your debt-to-limit ratio compares the balances on your revolving accounts to their total credit limits. If you have a $5,000 limit and owe $1,500...

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How to Avoid For-Profit Debt Relief Traps That Make Your Debt Worse
For-Profit Debt Relief

How to Avoid For-Profit Debt Relief Traps That Make Your Debt Worse

When you fall behind on credit cards or personal loans, offers from for-profit debt relief companies can seem like a lifeline. They promise to cut...

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How to Avoid Debt Settlement and Protect Your Credit
Debt Settlement

How to Avoid Debt Settlement and Protect Your Credit

Debt settlement may sound like a quick fix, but it usually means the problem has already gone too far. Settlement is when you or a company tries to...

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How to Lower Your Credit Utilization Without Opening a New Card
Credit Utilization

How to Lower Your Credit Utilization Without Opening a New Card

Credit utilization is one of those phrases that sounds more complicated than it actually is. In plain terms, it’s the percentage of your available...

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Popular Articles

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Video

Consumer Credit Tips

Each video breaks down one practical way to get out from under debt and stay there — straightforward advice on credit, budgeting, and the habits that keep you from getting overextended again.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

While scores above 670 are considered "good," focus on steady improvement. Moving from a "Poor" score (below 580) to a "Fair" score (580-669) is a significant first milestone that opens up more options.

The stress of medical debt can exacerbate health issues, create anxiety, and lead to avoidance of necessary care, creating a cycle of worsening health and financial problems.

Many believe that making only minimum payments is sufficient, not realizing how long it takes to pay off debt this way or how much interest accumulates. Others see credit as "free money" rather than a future obligation.

The skills and habits developed through budgeting—intentional spending, planning, and delaying gratification—create a foundation for building wealth, investing, and achieving financial goals long after the debt is gone.

A credit report is a detailed record of your credit history compiled by bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Lenders use it to assess your risk as a borrower, impacting your ability to get loans, rates, and terms.