credit card debt

10 Reasons Why You're Not Feeling Better About the Economy

The Dow is cruising at new highs, 236,000 jobs were created in February, consumer confidence is up, and Americans are feeling secure enough to take on new debt again. But if you're feeling somehow left out of the party, you aren't crazy. Things are still far from golden.

5 Extreme Ways People Paid Off Their Credit Card Debts

We all know the usual ways people try to save or generate more money to pay off their debts -- but some people go to extremes to escape those IOUs. We asked credit counselors across the country to share some of the more dramatic approaches their clients have used to get out of debt.

Most Americans Have More Savings Than Credit Card Debt

A recent survey shows that a majority of Americans have more money in their "emergency funds" than the owe on their credit cards. But if most people have more savings than credit card debt, how come it also feels like the majority of us are broke?

Money Troubles: Who's Hurting the Most in Today's Economy

The sluggish economy has made money tighter across the nation, but, no surprise, the pain isn't being shared equally. A recent survey from Bankrate asked Americans how they're feeling about their finances, and reveals which groups are struggling the most.

Americans Still Aren't Saving Enough

Many Americans are still failing to sock away enough money to pay for retirement -- or emergencies for that matter, according to a survey. Only half of respondents reported good savings habits, including having a spending and/or saving plan in place.

Family Fraud: When Mom Steals Your Identity

Identity theft is bad enough when it's a stranger committing the crime. But it gets even more complicated when the perpetrator is a relative. And that scenario is far more common than you might guess.

Money Resolutions Revisited: 3 Tales From the Financial Trenches

If you're one of the millions of Americans who made a financial New Year's resolution, after almost a month, you might need an inspiration boost. So, check out these stories of three real people on the way to achieving ambitious financial goals this year.

11 Easy and Great Ways to Save Money in 2013

With the prospect of higher taxes and federal budget cuts looming on Dec. 31, here are 11 easy ways you can save money and/or put a few extra dollars back in your pocket in 2013.

Year-End Debt Checkup: Make Sure Yours Is Healthy Debt

Not all debt is created equal. And even in today's low interest rate climate, too much of the wrong kind of debt can quickly snowball. So as you consider your overall financial picture, make sure you only take on healthy debt -- and even then, only if you can afford it.

The Surprising Generation that Has a Handle On Its Finances

We all know that we should save more and spend less, but we don't always follow that advice. When you break down our responses to the financial crisis by generation, however, some interesting patterns emerge -- and you probably wouldn't guess which generation is doing the worst at financial wellness.

You're Late: Credit Card Debt Rises - and So Does Delinquency

Americans cranked up their use of credit cards in the third quarter, racking up more debt than a year ago, while also being less diligent about making payments on time. But though delinquency is rising, it's still significantly below historic norms.

Shedding $120,000 in Credit Card Debt Saved Her Life

When Franny Bostick thinks back on where she and her husband Jim were six years ago, with more than $120,000 in debt on 13 credit cards, she shudders. They not only faced financial ruin, but she also was on her way to a potentially catastrophic health crisis. But they turned it around. Here's how.

Credit Card Debt Payoff: How She Shed $32,000 in 22 Months

In 2008, when the foreclosure crisis was raging, Simone Griffin spent her days counseling homeowners behind on their mortgage payments, and her nights worrying about the precarious state of her own finances: $32,000 in debt on two credit cards. Then came her "scared straight" moment.

This Couple Paid Off $92,000 in Credit Card Debt in 5 Years

It was 2005, and Jerry Bailey and his wife, Sue, had rung up approximately $92,000 in charges on their 17 credit cards. But when the minister from Jackson, Mich., realized how deep a hole they had dug for their family, the couple chose a hard path -- working to pay off every cent.

Where Does Your Spouse's Credit Card Debt Go When They Die?

When a husband or wife dies, it's not just the emotional issues that can be overwhelming; the financial issues can be, too. Here are three important financial actions no widow or widower should delay taking -- and the answer to the pressing question in the headline above.

For Richer, Not Poorer: 6 Reasons to Cut Your Wedding Cost in Half

Financial advisor Nicole Seghetti has counseled many young couples, and never once has she heard newlyweds say they wish they'd spent more on their wedding. Mostly, they wished they'd spent far less. Here are the six most common things they'd rather have saved that cash for, and how much further it would have gotten them.