How to Pay Off Student Loans When You're Totally Out of Luck
Maybe you're out of a job, aren't earning enough, or simply don't know where to begin. What do you do if you can't pay back your student loans? Here's a guide:
paying down debt
The Surprising Downside of Cutting Up Your Credit Cards
Cancelling credit cards is a good way to help get your spending under control. But closing down those accounts could actually hurt your credit score.
How We Got Rid of $136,000 in Debt in 21 Months
Jennifer and Levi Ennis thought their debt levels were normal -- then they got a financial health wake-up call. And the way they chose to get debt-free was anything but usual.
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.
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:
11 Personal Finance Equations Everyone Needs to Know
Math class may have seemed pointless back in the day, but it turns out all those equations are quite useful when it comes to solving money problems. We've rounded up 11 equations that you could be using every day to get your finances on track, and keep them there.
Do You Have More Debt Than the Average American?
A new study shows that individual debt is falling at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. But not everyone is contributing positively to that statistic, and many Americans are still struggling with overwhelming debt.
10 Personal Finance Tools That'll Put You in Control of Your Money
These 10 smart websites and apps make it much easier to track your savings and spending -- which can be a big help in keeping your budget on track and your financial goals in sight.
What Happened When This Guy Paid His Student Loan in Cash
Last week, a Reddit user posted a photo of a $114,000 student loan bill-paid in cash-that elicited thousands of comments. Since then, the anonymous alum has stepped forward as Alex Kenjeev, a 2009 law school graduate of the University of Toronto.
Former Olympic Rower Turned to Minimalism to Pay Down $82,000 in Debt
Rachel Jonat spent most of her young adult life dreaming of Olympic medals and crossing finish lines. But the games came and went, and she began a new chapter as a wife and mother -- facing $82,000 in debt.
How I Paid Off $27,000 in Credit Card Debt in Two Years
Getting your finances under control on a tight budget is hard, But as Dana Burgess shows, it can be done. Here's how she racked up $63,000 in credit card debt, how she's digging her way out, and how she learned to enjoy living on less.
5 Lesser-Known Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
Credit scores affect many aspects of our lives -- more than you may think. Paying bills on time and staying well below your credit limits are sure-fire ways to build and maintain good credit. But there are some lesser-known strategies to boost your score as well.
Should You Cash in an Annuity to Pay Off Your Debts?
Stacy is on a fixed income. She could free up more cash if she paid off her credit cards and mortgage. Should she cash in an annuity to make that happen? DailyFinance's Laura Rowley explains the key factor Stacy should consider in making the decision.
3 Ways to Make the Most of a Payroll Tax Cut
Although the Senate has blocked action on Obama's $447 billion jobs bill, parts of it may yet get enacted, including an extension and expansion of a payroll tax cut that would put hundreds of dollars more a year in the pockets of ordinary American workers. Here are three smart ways for you to earmark that cash for your future.
Will the Layaway Revival Come Back to Bite Retailers?
Layaway became obsolete in the bubble years, an anachronism from bygone times when many consumers couldn't access credit. In today's rough economy, layaway is making a comeback for the holidays. But for investors who hold certain retail stocks, this may mean lumps of coal in their portfolios.
What to Do When Credit Card Bills Devour Your Paycheck
Credit card debt is tough to avoid -- and tougher to escape. We received an email from a reader who owes $20,000 on her cards, and spends a third of her income on those payments. Credit expert John Ulzheimer offers a legitimate method for her to reduce monthly costs and get out of the red.