How-To Guides

Need a better understanding of bad credit and how to fix it? Our finance experts have put together a series of step-by-step guides on a variety of bad credit related subjects.

From the Industry's Top Experts

John Ulzheimer Credit Expert
Erica Sandberg Finance Expert
Ashley Fricker Senior Editor
How to Tell Which Accounts Are Hurting Your Credit the Most

12,342 views

7 min read

How to Tell Which Accounts Are Hurting Your Credit the Most

Pay down your credit card balances. Pay on time. Don’t close your oldest account. Dispute mistakes on... read more »

Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Charge-Off and a Collection on Your Credit Report?

16,764 views

5 min read

Credit Management

Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Charge-Off and a Collection?

Charge-offs and collections are both bad for your finances, but they aren’t the same thing. When banks or lenders designate your account as charged-off, they determine that you likely... read more »

By: John Ulzheimer • 3/31/26

Why Paying Off Collections Doesn’t Always Raise Your Credit Score

12,816 views

7 min read

Consumer Protection

Why Paying Off Collections Doesn’t Always Raise Your Credit Score

Paying off your debt is supposed to make your credit score increase, but what about when it comes to an account that’s in collections? Paying off a collection account should be... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 3/30/26

How to Time Credit Applications to Avoid Credit Score Damage (Step-By-Step)

29,920 views

7 min read

Credit Management

How to Time Credit Applications to Avoid Credit Score Damage

Have you ever thought: “I want a credit card, but every time I apply, I get turned down, and now my credit score is lower!”  This is such a frustrating, yet all too common, complaint.... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 3/27/26

Why Applying for Multiple Loans Can Hurt Your Credit Score

10,725 views

7 min read

Loans

Why Applying for Multiple Loans Can Hurt Your Credit Score

We’ve all had that moment when we decide to get serious about a big purchase. Maybe it’s a new car, a big piece of furniture, or a new shed for your backyard. When it comes to applying... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 3/26/26

How to Get Approved for a Credit Card After a Denial (Step-by-Step)

30,555 views

9 min read

Credit Cards

How to Get Approved for a Credit Card After a Recent Denial

Rejection is awful, but it can be especially disheartening when it comes to your finances. Imagine that you researched all of your options and finally found a credit card that had... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 3/10/26

How to Use a Credit Card With a Low Limit to Build Credit

19,908 views

7 min read

Credit Management

How to Use a Credit Card With a Low Limit to Build Credit

When you’re trying to build or rebuild your credit, starting small with a low-limit credit card may not seem like it will get you very far.  Take a secured credit card, for example. It... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 3/9/26

Which Credit Monitoring Service Should I Use?

18,276 views

7 min read

Fraud Prevention

Which Credit Monitoring Service Should I Use?

This question was posted on Reddit, but over the years I’ve heard versions of it many times:  “Which app is the most helpful for monitoring credit scores? Any suggestions which is most... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 2/16/26

Q&A: Why Do My Credit Scores Look Different Depending On Where I Check Them?

44,270 views

5 min read

Credit Management

Why Do My Credit Scores Look Different Depending On Where I Check Them?

Credit scores look different depending on where you check them because there is no single, universal credit score. Instead, the U.S. market relies on two credit score brands — FICO and... read more »

By: John Ulzheimer • 2/12/26

What To Do When You Can’t Qualify for a Balance Transfer or Personal Loan (Real Strategies That Work)

47,850 views

7 min read

Loans

Can’t Qualify for a Balance Transfer or Personal Loan? Here's What to Do

I get balance transfer offers in the mail all the time, and sometimes I even see these offers in my online dashboard for my credit card accounts. A balance transfer can be a great way... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 1/29/26

With Great Charging Power Comes Great Credit Responsibility — Here’s How to Keep it In Check

27,696 views

5 min read

Credit Management

With Great Charging Power Comes Great Credit Responsibility

When you stop to think about it, being able to borrow massive sums of money with a mere swipe or a click is a superpower. The larger your credit card’s limit, the greater your strength,... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 1/28/26

“Help! My Child Used My Card to Buy Online Games!” — How to Request a Refund & Prevent Future Surprises  

50,544 views

5 min read

Fraud Prevention

What to Do If Your Child Uses Your Card for Unauthorized Purchases

Finding credit card or debit card purchases on your account that you didn’t expect can be alarming, but even more so when you realize it’s your child who ran up the bills.  A parent... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 1/8/26

Paying Off Debt With a Lower Income: What I’ve Learned and How You Can Do The Same

40,500 views

5 min read

Debt Management

How To Pay Off Debt When You Have a Lower Income

Paying off debt can be a struggle, no matter what your financial situation. But if you have a limited income and you’re juggling multiple jobs, it can seem completely impossible. I’ve... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 12/23/25

Q&A: How Long Does a Bankruptcy Stay On My Credit Report — And When Will My Score Recover?

46,563 views

5 min read

Credit Management

Q&A: How Long Will Bankruptcy Impact My Credit?

This is an excerpt from a recent Q&A with renowned credit expert John Ulzheimer. You can see the entire interview on our YouTube Channel. “There are two types of bankruptcies that will... read more »

By: John Ulzheimer • 12/9/25

Fact or Fiction: Can Letting Accounts Go to Collections Improve Your Credit?

51,392 views

7 min read

Credit Management

Can Letting Accounts Go to Collections Improve Your Credit?

In a Reddit thread I encountered recently, a debtor suggests that paying your creditors is a bad idea if you want to improve your credit. The Redditor wrote that they made a “crucial... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 12/3/25

How to Check Your FICO Score and VantageScore for Free

84,643 views

9 min read

Credit Management

How to Check Your FICO Score and VantageScore for Free

When you apply for any form of credit, whether that be a credit card, a mortgage loan, or an auto loan, it is almost a certainty that one or more of your credit scores will be procured... read more »

By: John Ulzheimer • 6/19/25

What is Financial Wellness? Why Money Management is Important to Your Overall Health

100,000+ views

11 min read

Personal Finance

What is Financial Wellness? Why Money Management is Important

I’ve been financially well, and I’ve been stretched thin. Believe me, the former is so much more comfortable than the latter. Sure, there’s the relief in knowing you can pay your bills,... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 4/8/25

What Is the Debt Snowball Method? How the Debt Payoff Strategy Can Keep You Motivated

100,000+ views

7 min read

Debt Management

What is the Debt Snowball Method?

If you are buried under a mountain of debt and don’t know how to get out, the debt snowball method might be a good place to start. The method can help reduce your debt, but it also... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 3/17/25

How Does Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Work? A Guide to the Popular Short-Term Financing Option

91,308 views

11 min read

Loans

How Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Works

Have you ever seen the perfect item online, but your budget just won’t accommodate it right now? That’s the dilemma buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions were designed to solve.  They... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 3/13/25

What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? Understanding Its Role in Homeownership

100,000+ views

9 min read

Loans

A Guide to Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

To some folks, insurance is like a porcupine at the picnic — an unwelcome guest. But mortgage lenders have a very different view of life. They don’t like to take any chances. Instead,... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/31/24

What is Purchase Protection? How Your Card Can Help Reimburse Certain Purchases

100,000+ views

11 min read

Credit Cards

How Purchase Protection Works and Benefits Cardholders

Credit cards and some prepaid and debit cards offer a benefit known as purchase protection to help cardholders replace, repair, or receive reimbursement for items that have been stolen... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 12/30/24

What is Underwriting? How Lenders and Insurers Determine Your Risk Level and Creditworthiness

100,000+ views

9 min read

Financial Education

How Underwriting Helps Lenders Determine Your Creditworthiness

Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all: An underwriter isn’t someone who edits novels. In the financial sense, an underwriter is a professional who helps assess a borrower’s... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/26/24

What is Forbearance? How Temporary Financial Relief Works & Affects Your Credit

100,000+ views

7 min read

Debt Management

How Forbearance Works and When to Request Relief

Now, I assume we’ve all practiced a bit of forbearance, like holding your tongue when your cousin Earl questions your chili recipe. But forbearance can also involve receiving grace from... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/24/24

What is a Balloon Payment? A Guide to Lump-Sum Principal Payments Due at the End of Some Loans

96,481 views

9 min read

Loans

What is a Balloon Payment? A Guide to Lump Sum Payments

When something in the financial services industry sounds too good to be true, I don’t mind saying that there’s usually a catch. For example, some loans offer monthly payments and... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 12/23/24

5 Tricks to Dodge Seasonal Impulse Purchases

100,000+ views

3 min read

Personal Finance

How To Dodge Holiday Impulse Purchases

The holiday season sends many Americans into a buying frenzy, often leading to unnecessary purchases and excessive spending.  According to one study, the average American consumer... read more »

By: Andrea Woroch • 12/20/24

What is a Variable Interest Rate? How Adjustable Rates Work for Loans and Credit Cards

100,000+ views

9 min read

Financial Education

How Variable Interest Rates Work on Loans and Credit Cards

I’ve heard people say that change is one thing you can count on. Anyone who’s taken more than a few trips around the sun can attest to the ever-changing nature of life on planet Earth.... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 12/19/24

What is Secured Debt? When Lenders and Credit Card Issuers Require Collateral

100,000+ views

11 min read

Debt Management

What is Secured Debt? How Financing Collateral Works

Let’s be real — debt isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to shout about from the rooftops. But secured debt can be a great tool for accessing credit, especially when you’re looking... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 12/18/24

What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage? How Interest is Determined and When an ARM is a Good Idea 

100,000+ views

11 min read

Loans

How Adjustable Rate Mortgages Work

I’ve owned my fair share of mortgages over the years, and if memory serves, that first one was adjustable. Now, interest rates were sky-high back then, and that ARM looked mighty... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/17/24

What is Overdraft Protection? How to Protect Yourself From Fees Associated with Overspending

99,972 views

9 min read

Consumer Protection

How Overdraft Protection Works and How to Set it Up

Overdraft protection can save your bacon when you get a bit too free with your debit card, but sometimes the cost is steeper than a jackrabbit’s jump. It ensures your transaction goes... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/16/24

What is a Balance? Breaking Down the Money You Owe Lenders and Creditors

100,000+ views

11 min read

Credit Management

A Guide to Loan and Credit Account Balances

When I first learned about money — dollars and coins, at least — I was intrigued that I could exchange something so inconsequential for toys. But sometimes, I’d see adults purchase... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 12/16/24

What is Debt Forgiveness? How the Process Can Provide Relief, but Sometimes at a Cost 

100,000+ views

11 min read

Debt Management

How Debt Forgiveness Works and Affects Your Credit

Forgiveness is a mighty big concept, isn’t it? You see it figure into everything from Sunday sermons to those 12-step programs to help folks wrangle their addictions.  Now, some things... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/12/24

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