Ashley Fricker

Senior Editor
Ashley Fricker

About the Author

Ashley works with a team of finance experts and journalists who develop in-depth industry profiles and advice articles read by more than 15 million Americans. Her years of experience reporting on consumer credit scores and reports positions Ashley to make smart recommendations on ways to improve one’s credit and avoid predatory lending. She often serves as an expert source on financial topics for national media outlets, including CNN Money, MarketWatch, Money Matters, ABC News, Kiplinger, and NBC News. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Latest Posts

Worked On 450 Articles To Date

Blog

416 views

3 min read

Illinois BNPL Law Targets Fees, Interest, and Disputes

Illinois BNPL Law Targets Fees, Interest, and Disputes

Buy now, pay later loans can look like an easy way to cover groceries, rent, or everyday purchases when money is tight. But Illinois lawmakers... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 7/1/26

Guide

425 views

5 min read

How to Track Credit Score Changes (Without Obsessing Over Them)

How to Track Credit Score Changes (Without Obsessing)

How often do you check your credit scores? If you look at them at least once a month, you’re more on top of them than most Americans.  That’s... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 7/1/26

Blog

234 views

3 min read

Social Security Benefit Cuts Could Hit Americans by 2032

Social Security Benefit Cuts Could Hit Americans by 2032

Social Security benefits could be cut by 22% in 2032 unless Congress steps in with legislation to keep the program fully funded. The Old Age and... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 6/30/26

Study

720 views

9 min read

Best States to Save for a Home Down Payment in 2026

Best States to Save for a Home Down Payment in 2026

Saving for a down payment on a home has become one of the biggest financial hurdles facing Americans. While incomes vary from state to state, so... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 6/29/26

Guide

4,544 views

7 min read

How to Organize Your Debts Before Starting DIY Credit Repair (5 Steps)

How to Organize Your Debts for DIY Credit Repair

Whenever I’ve talked with someone about credit repair over the years, inevitably, the biggest hurdle they face is getting started. Debt and bad... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 6/19/26

Guide

3,402 views

5 min read

4 Reasons Why Credit Reports Sometimes Show Old Debts as New (And How to Fix It)

Why Credit Reports Sometimes Show Old Debts as New

No matter how bad your credit is now, there’s an off-ramp in the future. Federal law prohibits credit bureaus from reporting most negative... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 6/18/26

Study

6,650 views

7 min read

1 in 3 Americans Would Have a Baby for $1,000 — Even Though It Costs $300K to Raise One

1 in 3 Americans Would Have a Baby for $1,000 — Even Though It Costs $300K to Raise One

Despite a $1,000 government incentive, most Americans remain hesitant to have more children. A recent BadCredit.org study finds that 1 in 3... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 6/11/26

Guide

11,685 views

11 min read

How to Use “Credit Utilization Zones” to Target Credit Score Increases

How to Use Credit Utilization Zones to Target Score Increases

When it comes to credit, I think I’ve heard all the rumors and partial truths by now. This myth is among them: “The only way to have a high... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 6/4/26

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