LatePayments

How Much Will One Late Payment Hurt Your Credit Score?

Oops! You open your credit card statement and discover you forgot to make last month's payment. Or a collections agency calls about a bill you didn't even know you had. How bad is it? How much does a single late payment affect your credit score?

7 Small Mistakes That Will Hurt Your Credit Score

Most people understand that a bankruptcy or foreclosure will tank their credit score, but there are plenty of small mistakes you can make that will turn a good score into a mediocre one. Here are seven of the more common errors, plus tips on how to avoid them.

5 critical money mistakes to avoid this year