3 Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Finances Worth $8,000 to You
With tax season over, now's a great time to spring-clean your finances. These three simple moves could put more than $8,000 in your pocket over the course of the next year.
paying down debt
Which to Do First? Pay Down Debt or Save for a Rainy Day
Millions of Americans have heavy debts and limited savings, so when a rare bit of spare cash appears, they face a conundrum: Should they pay down debt or build up savings?
This Couple Bounced Back From $160,000 of Debt in 3 Years
For most people, tackling the average $8,000 we carry in credit card debt seems like an unbearable task. What if you had 20 times as much to worry about?
This Couple Learned the True Cost of Living Beyond Their Means
Travis and Vonnie Pizel made a good living, but 10 years into their marriage, bad spending habits had put them $109,000 in credit card debt. Here's how they got out.
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.
His Financial Goals: Saving More and Paying Down Debt
Everyone has things they want to improve about their financial lives -- and we in the AOL newsroom are no exceptions. So we asked money expert Jean Chatzky for advice on how to reach our goals. Today: A real estate editor who wants to save more and owe less.
Build Your Emergency Savings: 25 Ways to Make Extra Money
It's a personal finance rule of thumb: Have enough of an emergency savings cushion that you could get by without income for 3 months. But in this economy, who can save that much? You can -- and we've got 25 ways to help you find the extra cash to make it happen.
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.
To Pay Off Credit Cards, She Made a U-Turn, and Became a Trucker
Meet Holly Bridges. After a long haul spent living on her credit cards and getting further and further into debt, the young woman made a big change to steer herself away from financial ruin: She became a long-haul truck driver.
13 Financial Resolutions for Retirees in 2013
Being retired means not having to worry about waking up early to get to work. But retiring doesn't mean its time to quit worrying about making your money work as hard as it can. As we begin 2013, we offer these 13 financial resolutions designed specifically for retirees.
13 Financial New Year's Resolutions to Keep in 2013
When it comes to keeping New Year's resolutions, plenty of us don't have such great track records. But most people who made financial resolutions in 2012 kept them, which makes them a smart addition to your annual ritual. To set the stage for your success in 2013, here are 13 resolutions to consider.
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.
How These Teachers Paid Off $48,610 in Credit Card Debt
It started when they were newlyweds. Dawn and David Van Dyke, both teachers, accumulated a mountain of credit card debt during years of spending beyond their means. Here's how they got their family out from under it.
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.
17 Steps to Make Your Money Last a Lifetime
Living to 100 is expensive, but taking time to run through this annual checklist will help you afford it. Here are 17 steps to a more secure financial life: