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 Minimum Credit Card Payments Can Create Lasting Financial Stress
Financial Stress

How Minimum Credit Card Payments Can Create Lasting Financial Stress

Minimum credit card payments can feel like a lifeline. When money is tight, paying the smallest amount due keeps the account current. That relief is...

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How to Calculate and Improve Your Payment-to-Income Ratio
Payment-to-Income Ratio

How to Calculate and Improve Your Payment-to-Income Ratio

Your payment-to-income ratio is one of the clearest ways lenders decide whether to trust you with new credit. It compares the money you owe each...

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How Your Payment-to-Income Ratio Shapes Your Credit Options
Payment-to-Income Ratio

How Your Payment-to-Income Ratio Shapes Your Credit Options

When you apply for a credit card, car loan, or mortgage, lenders look at more than your credit score. They want to know whether you can handle...

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The Hidden Impact of Medical Bills on Your Credit Report
Medical Crisis

The Hidden Impact of Medical Bills on Your Credit Report

A single trip to the emergency room can change your financial life in ways you never expected. Even with health insurance, a serious diagnosis or an...

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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

Seek help from a non-profit credit counseling agency (like NFCC.org) if you: Can only make minimum payments. Are consistently late on payments. Use credit to pay for essentials like groceries. Feel constant anxiety about your finances. They can provide free or low-cost advice and help you create a Debt Management Plan (DMP).

Yes, scoring models look at both your overall utilization across all cards and the utilization on each individual account. Maxing out a single card, even if others have low balances, can still hurt your score.

Companies typically charge fees based on a percentage of the enrolled debt or the amount saved through settlement. These fees can range from 15% to 25% of the total debt enrolled and are often charged regardless of whether a settlement is successful.

This is a state law that sets a time limit on how long a collector can sue you to collect a debt. The length varies by state and type of debt. Making a payment or even acknowledging the debt can restart this clock.

In most states, yes. Insurance companies often use credit-based insurance scores to set premiums for auto and homeowners insurance. A lower score can result in significantly higher monthly or annual premiums.