debt management

U.S. credit card debt shrank 5% in the second quarter from a year ago, approaching 10-year lows. It's not just due to banks, which have written off uncollectible debts. Learn how consumers are taking control of their finances and how you can too.

In my New York Times bestseller, Zero Debt, I outline 30 strategies that I used to get out of debt and how anyone else can do the same thing. Here are five of the simple strategies that will help get you on the path to being debt free – as well as some resources to help you get started: 1....

Too many of us rely on ballpark estimates to track our finances, but when it comes to money, there's no need to wing it: Several new online tools debuted at the Finovate Conference this week that can help take the guesswork out of figuring out how much you have, owe or are owed.

In the past year, millions of Americans have significantly cut their use of credit cards in an effort to take control of their financial lives. But some people are taking an even more radical step -- going cold turkey on plastic and paying for everything with good ol' cash.

If you're struggling to pay your credit card bills each month, getting help from a credit card hardship program may sound like the perfect solution. But getting into one and reaping the benefits are easier for some cardholders than others, and there are myriad factors that come into play. Still,...

A debt management company that misled consumers about its for-profit status agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle claims brought by 20 states, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced. "AscendOne used nonprofit credit counseling agencies as a front to take advantage of consumers," McKenna...

Tax-resolution scams are on the rise as unethical companies peddling tax-relief services prey on people who owe back taxes. Here's what you need to know before you sign up for any tax-resolution services. Even better, here's why you should avoid most such firms.

Many Americans are desperate to relieve their debt burdens. Here are some good options for whipping your debt into a manageable condition.

Next month, debt settlement firms will no longer be able to collect advance fees from consumers seeking to escape their credit card debts. In the meantime, unlucky debtors are reporting losses as the firms begin to go belly up, taking their fees and deposits with them.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday. Dear Ken and Daria, Without our knowledge, our 23-year-old daughter ran up $5,000 worth of credit card debt on three different cards. She defaulted and now the collection agencies are coming...