Credit & Debt

Know When to Say WhenStudent loans, credit cards and mortgages; it's no wonder that millions of Americans find themselves buried in debt at a young age. The problem with debt is that once you've dug a hole, it's often difficult to climb out of it, especially when you factor in interest charges that exceed your minimum payments each month....

Smart Quiz: How to Pay Off Debt With The Best Short Term Results?Bankruptcy Avalanche Method Snowball Method Winging ItAnswer: Snowball MethodBeing stuck in a cycle of debt is overwhelming. The bad news is it won't go away on its own. The good news is, you can take progressive steps to tackle it and hopefully get it paid off...

Smart Quiz: How Long Does Negative Information Stay on Your Credit Report?Seven Years Ten Years Forever Until PaidAnswer: Seven YearsYour credit score is one of several factors that go into determining final approval on a new line of credit. If you happen to have something negative on it, like a late payment or a past bankruptcy, it can...

Smart Quiz: When Should You Cancel an Unused Credit Card?You Should Never You Should Always If It Has a Fee If High Interest RateAnswer: If It Has a FeeBetween paying down debt and boosting your credit score, balancing finances can be challenging. The ultimate goal is to have enough buying power to make big purchases at a stellar...

Smart Quiz: Assuming Timely Payments, What Impacts Your Credit Score the Most?New Credit Credit Utilization Frequency Credit History Credit Utilization RatioAnswer: Credit Utilization Ratio Your credit score is important, whether you need or want credit or not. It isn’t just used to assess financial credibility anymore, but responsibility in general. From potential employers to insurance companies and banks, a...

Smart Quiz: Which of These is Not a Credit Bureau?Credit Karma Equifax Experian TransUnionAnswer: Credit Karma A lot of people use Credit Karma to track their credit activity, but it is not a credit bureau. Credit Karma is a private site that does offer valuable information and tools. And while you may be able to review items and see...

Ready To Reduce Your Debt? Start With Your Credit Cards As of August 2018, Americans owed a staggering 830 billion dollars in credit card debt. With a population of around 327 million people, that works out to over $2,500 for every man, woman and child in the country. Of these people, approximately 43 percent have a balance that carries over from...

Smart Quiz: Which Choice Is Most Likely to Determine a Person's Net Worth at the Prime of Their Life?Lifestyle Decisions University Attended Political Orientation Career DecisionsAnswer: Lifestyle Decisions Knowing how much you are "worth" is one way to measure your wealth. The college you go to won’t mean anything if you don’t pay off your debts or get a...

Smart Quiz: What is the Best Way to Remove Negative Information From Your Credit Report? Negotiate Terms File a Dispute Pay Off Debts Wait One YearAnswer: Negotiate Terms Most people think that filing a dispute is the best way to remove negative information from your credit report, but that’s not as reliable as negotiating terms. Banks quickly deny disputes, but...

Smart Quiz: One of the Most Common Frauds Against Debit and Credit Cards is...Skimming BIN attack Card not present Identity TheftAnswer: Card not present You’ve probably heard at least one horror story about someone trying to use their debit card and finding it declined for insufficient funds; or someone who has received a dreaded call from the bank to...