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

The Credit Habits That Actually Matter in Your 30s
30s

The Credit Habits That Actually Matter in Your 30s

Your 20s were about getting started. Maybe you opened your first card, took out a car loan, or finished paying off student debt. Now, in your 30s...

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How Credit Card Hardship Programs Can Keep You Out of Debt Trouble
Financial Hardship Programs

How Credit Card Hardship Programs Can Keep You Out of Debt Trouble

When your income drops or a large unexpected expense hits, the monthly credit card minimum can suddenly feel impossible. Missing a payment leads to...

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How to Dispute and Reduce Your Medical Bills
Healthcare Debt

How to Dispute and Reduce Your Medical Bills

Getting a large medical bill in the mail can feel like a punch to the gut. You already went through the stress of the treatment or procedure, and now...

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How High Credit Card Balances Eat Away at Your Financial Cushion
Reduced Financial Flexibility

How High Credit Card Balances Eat Away at Your Financial Cushion

Every middle-class household knows the feeling of running a little short at the end of the month. Maybe you put groceries on a credit card, or you...

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Popular Articles

Will a Debt Management Plan Stop Creditor Calls and Collection Efforts?
How Buy Now Pay Later Can Quietly Raise Your Debt-to-Income Ratio
Medical Debt and Your Credit Score: What Middle-Class Consumers Need to Know
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

Typically, no. These are not considered credit accounts by traditional scoring models. However, if you use a rent-reporting service or certain newer credit scoring models, these payments may be recorded, but they are not factored into the "credit mix" category in the same way.

No, this factor requires time and patience. The best strategy is to keep your oldest credit accounts open and active (with a small, recurring charge paid off monthly) to maintain a long average account age.

Yes, but paid medical collections are removed immediately. Unpaid medical debt must wait 365 days before appearing, giving you time to address it.

You are entitled to a free annual report from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com. Many banks and credit card issuers also provide free FICO score monitoring.

A DMP does not involve a new loan. Instead, it is a repayment arrangement facilitated by a third party. Debt consolidation involves acquiring new credit to pay off old debts. A DMP is often a better option for those who cannot qualify for a low-interest consolidation loan.