We’ve started 2012 on a troubling financial note: credit card interest rates are hovering near record highs.
Credit Cards
Most parents with heavy credit card debt want their kids to avoid the same mistake. But they are not sure how to coach them and, according to a new survey, would love for credit card management to be a required class in high school.
It’s time for New Year’s resolutions: Along with promises to yourself about cutting out the reality TV and hitting the gym more often, there are also some financial goals you should set for 2012. Specifically, there are some goals you should set regarding your credit cards, credit card spending and outstanding balances. Yes, looking at [...]
Did you know there’s a virtual online marketplace where hackers gather to buy and sell the fruits of their criminal labors? Think of Amazon or eBay — except the items customers put into their virtual shopping carts are stolen credit card numbers rather than audiobooks or dusty collectibles. If this sounds infuriating, just wait until [...]
Fewer Americans are defaulting on their credit card bills. That’s good news for our budgets and credit scores, but the improvement is also making credit card issuers happy. Fewer charge-offs means they’re in a better position to pitch more credit cards, so consumers can look forward to a mailbox full of applications in the new [...]
There are a whole host of things that can wreak havoc on your credit score, from maxing out a credit card to having a home foreclosed on or declaring bankruptcy. But people often worry about situations or events that actually have no bearing on their FICO score, says Barry Paperno, consumer affairs manager for MyFICO.com. [...]
Consumer debt figures show it: we’re getting tired of being so darned frugal. Here are five guidelines to keep you from borrowing too much.
What if your credit score included things like rent payments, utility bills and tax obligations? What if it also told lenders if you’d ever borrowed using risky or subprime products? A new type of credit evaluation being rolled out by a company called CoreLogic could include all of these details and more. The company says [...]
Given that most families’ budgets are stretched tight during the holidays, would it surprise you to learn that you have a little more than $200 that you’re never going to use? A new study says Americans “throw away” nearly a third of the credit card rewards they earn over the course of a year. Want [...]
A new study shows that we have debt account aversion, a strong preference to pay off smaller debts first, even when it makes more sense to pay down larger balances on loans with higher interest rates.
Were you sitting and drumming your fingers while waiting for this page to load? Do you think instant coffee takes too long? If you’re impatient, more than just your blood pressure will suffer: You’re also liable to have poor credit, according to a new study.
