All articles tagged: “Lessons”

(93 total)

Guide

24,435 views

7 min read

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

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... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/24/24

Guide

37,904 views

11 min read

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

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... read more »

By: Choncé Maddox • 12/18/24

Guide

19,726 views

11 min read

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

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... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 12/16/24

Guide

25,830 views

11 min read

What is an Annual Fee? Why You Pay Them on Credit Cards and Other Financial Products

Why Some Financial Products Charge an Annual Fee

No bones about it: When it comes to annual fees, I’m a choosy customer. Maybe I’m just cheap, but you better believe I scope out these fees... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/12/24

Guide

27,036 views

7 min read

What is a Late Fee? How Missing Payments Can Cost Money and Inflict Credit Damage

What is a Late Fee? How Missing Payments Impacts Your Credit

Some people consider punctuality to be a virtue. But nobody’s perfect. We’ve all arrived at an occasion or two later than we would have liked.... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 12/9/24

Guide

34,566 views

9 min read

What is a Credit Limit? How Your Credit Past & Income Determine How Much You Can Borrow

What is a Credit Limit and How is it Determined?

I remember when I was just a kid, Mama sat me down, looked me straight in the eye, and told me I could be anything I wanted — the sky’s the... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 12/4/24

Guide

37,440 views

7 min read

What is the Truth in Lending Act? How the Law Protects Consumers from Harmful Lending Practices

How the Truth in Lending Act Protects Consumers

Your credit report is like a window into your financial history for all lenders to see. It’s only fair we have a law that turns the tables on... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 11/21/24

Guide

42,112 views

9 min read

What Does it Mean to Prequalify for a Credit Card or Loan?

What Does it Mean to Prequalify for a Credit Card or Loan?

When I got my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, I was so excited. It was my first Tier 1 credit card, and getting approved for it felt like a... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 11/6/24

Study

36,135 views

5 min read

Holiday Giving Trends: Survey Finds 28% of People Are Donating Time Over Money Due to Finances

Survey: 28% Donating Time Over Money Due to Finances

The holiday season is synonymous with giving. People give gifts to loved ones, share sweets with friends, and donate their time or money to those... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 11/4/24

Study

32,955 views

3 min read

Survey: Over 50% of Americans Think Maintaining Adult Friendships is Expensive

Survey: Over 50% of Americans Think Friendship is Expensive

Who doesn’t yearn for days on the playground with childhood friends? The only criteria for playing with others and forming bonds were proximity... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 10/24/24

Study

44,346 views

3 min read

Study: More Than Half of Americans Worried About Shipping Delays This Holiday Season

Study: More Than Half of Americans Worried About Holiday Shipping Delays

Many of us are guilty of tracking our online purchases a little too closely once we see that shipping notification. As the holidays near, more... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 10/23/24

Guide

54,522 views

9 min read

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and How Does It Affect You?

What is the FCRA and How Does It Affect You?

There was a time when we held little power over our credit history or how our private information was accessed or distributed. We had few rights... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 10/1/24

Guide

62,328 views

7 min read

What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

You may find it hard to believe there was ever a time when banks routinely turned down women who applied for credit cards and loans — even when... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 9/30/24

Study

34,596 views

7 min read

Study Finds the Average American Experiences 22 Financial Microstressors Each Week

The Average American Experiences 22 Financial Microstressors Each Week

What are the things that keep you up at night? You know, those little stresses and anxieties that burrow into your thoughts like a splinter. For... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 9/12/24

Guide

52,740 views

11 min read

What is a Prepaid Card? A Look at the Pros, Cons, and Financial Benefits

What is a Prepaid Card? Pros, Cons, and Financial Benefits

A prepaid card works like a traditional debit card but doesn’t require a bank account. Instead, consumers load money onto the card before using... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 7/29/24

Study

57,035 views

5 min read

Survey Reveals Americans Are Reducing Air Conditioning Use To Beat Rising Energy Costs

Survey: Americans Reduce Air Conditioning to Lower Costs

Air conditioning has become an essential feature in American homes, providing relief from the sweltering summer heat and contributing to comfort... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 7/18/24

Guide

79,884 views

13 min read

What is a HELOC? Everything to Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit

Everything You Need to Know About a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

For many, the Great American Dream still is home ownership. Owning your home can provide profound emotional benefits and a sense of security. It... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 7/11/24

Guide

100,000+ views

13 min read

What is Credit Counseling? How a Professional Can Help You Better Manage Debt

What is Credit Counseling?

Credit counseling is a service that provides help from a professional to better manage your money and debts. Counselors can help you plan to pay... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 6/19/24

Study

96,509 views

3 min read

Evaluating Earning Discrepancies in Relationships Across the U.S.

States with the Largest Earning Discrepancies Between Partners

Finances can strain relationships. Whether deciding how much to spend on a major life purchase together or determining who should pay the tab on... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 6/12/24

Study

92,036 views

3 min read

More Than Half a Million Couples Won’t Get Married This Year Due to Financial Constraints

Financial Constraints Impact Weddings Across America

In a significant blow to the wedding industry, recent research conducted by BadCredit.org reveals that an estimated 580,862 couples will not be... read more »

By: Jon McDonald • 6/6/24

Guide

69,780 views

9 min read

How the Consumer Credit Protection Act Protects Borrowers

How the CCPA Protects Borrowers

The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) is a federal law in the United States enacted on May 29, 1968. It includes four titles that focus on... read more »

By: Eric Bank • 5/29/24

Study

100,000+ views

9 min read

10 Best Free Financial E-Books for 2023

10 Best Free Financial E-Books for 2023

There’s no shortage of financial advice on the web. It’s not an exaggeration that for every recommendation you read or watch online, you can find... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 9/13/23

Blog

100,000+ views

5 min read

The Corps Network Empowers Youth With Service and Career Development Opportunities

How The Corps Network Empowers Youth and Shapes Careers

The Corps Network is a nonprofit organization that supports community-based conservation efforts in the United States. Its 150... read more »

By: Jordan Sprogis • 7/13/23

Blog

100,000+ views

5 min read

The Minimalists Podcast: Create Space for Intentional Living and Healthier Money Habits

The Minimalists Podcast Helps Build Healthier Money Habits

If you think minimalism is only about finding room for furniture and emptying junk drawers, think again. In the hands of Joshua... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 5/31/23

Blog

100,000+ views

5 min read

The Food Recovery Network: Hundreds of Student-Led College Chapters Fight Community Food Waste

The Food Recovery Network: Student-Led College Chapters Fight Food Waste

When students at the University of Maryland realized campus food safety policies designed to protect them resulted in copious... read more »

By: Mike Senecal • 5/4/23