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- Credits
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- Some nontravelers cite inflation as a reason for staying home
- More about Ladder
- How much interest will I earn on $10,000?
- How to open a joint account
- How to find another company's EIN
- Pay your bill in full every month
- States that have estate taxes, inheritance taxes or both:
- Cheap car insurance in Texas for 20-year-olds
- Options when 3% down is a challenge
- Chase Total Checking®: $300 bonus
- More about these investment expenses
- Additional QuickBooks resources
- Best for comprehensive coverage: Cigna
- Do I have to pay California state tax?
- 5. Scooter’s Coffee
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- Compare cards
- How much does underinsured motorist coverage cost?
- More about Ethos life insurance
- Why you might want a joint credit card account
- How many parks are in Disney World?
- 3. IRS imports tax information
- Factors that affect your conventional loan payment
- Best car insurance in New York for having few customer complaints: The Hanover
- Other ways to get financial assistance
- How many banks have collapsed?
- How to consolidate private student loans
- Set a timeline
- What does a construction loan cover?
- Questions to ask before applying for a personal loan
- Can United miles be used on other airlines?
- How to open a brokerage account
- Fines and legal actions: Wells Fargo’s recent history
- Don’t count on this student loan forgiveness yet
- What else you need to know
- Today’s rates for specific kinds of mortgages
- About USAA's travel insurance benefits
- How much does inland marine insurance cost?
- How does an unsecured loan work?
- Why is the IDR account adjustment happening?
- More ways to take charge of your budget
- 2. Free tax software
- Additional education tax breaks
- Additional child tax credit
- How much does Medigap Plan G cost?
- More small-business data from NerdWallet
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Alternatives to regular savings accounts
- What to do after you consolidate defaulted loans
- Should I take a lump sum payment or annuity payments?
- 2. Categories that are taking the year off
- Is my money safe in a high-yield savings account?
- Use rewards points for home-related items
- Does pre-qualification affect your credit score?
- What happens if I exceed my 401(k) limit by mistake?
- Tax deductions for self-employment
- Buying bundles: the Works and the Perks
- How to redeem rewards on the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 5. Ignoring the out-the-door price
- Diversifying with index funds
- Premium card changes
- Special rules for the divorced
- 5. Contact the seller or visit a dealership
- 5. Skip comprehensive and collision coverage for an older car
- Step 3: Choose your lender and loan
- Types of life insurance trusts
- Additional functionality
- How to get Thimble insurance
- 6. Pay off the balance
- 5. Get help with saving for a down payment
- W-4 form 2024
- Should you claim early Social Security benefits?
- Why is the 10-year Treasury yield important?
- Now move on to the budgeting
- Employ tax-efficient investing strategies
- Quick tips on avoiding Reg D related fees
- Mattress-buying tips
- What is a prepayment penalty?
- What’s not covered
- How to store the Bitcoin you buy
- Google Pay
- What's next?
- More about Lemonade
- 3. EarnIn: Best for large advances
- What can you invest in with a Roth IRA?
- How to invest in dividend stocks
- How to preserve your U.S. credit profile
- Auto-Owners
- Get more help with monthly budget planning
- Watch out for capital gains taxes
- Best for local support: Blue Cross Blue Shield
- 5. Online savings accounts
- The long straddle
- Get a credit-builder product or a secured loan
- 4. The deal faces regulatory hurdles
- How do you get a second mortgage?
- 3. The Rapid Rewards earning structure
- What's next?
- Interest rate
- 4. Consider a co-signer
- Should I refinance my car?
- Protections: Shopping and travel benefits
- What do closing costs include?
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- 4. Delay impacts some state financial aid forms
- How e-closings benefit mortgage borrowers
- 6. Travel insurance can protect you even more
- How has the Marriott points value changed over time?
- How to unfreeze your credit with Equifax
- Some are traveling for concerts, weddings this summer
- How to lease a car
- How do construction loans work?
- Home equity loan and HELOC rates
- Having a rainy day fund can help strengthen and maintain financial health
- How does credit utilization affect my credit score?
- Xoom
- How to invest in AI stocks
- Payments and credits
- Return protection
- What is the difference between an inheritance tax and an estate tax?
- Drop the judgment
- What will count toward IDR forgiveness?
- How to search for award availability
- ONE VIP Visa Prepaid Card
- Pre-tax vs. Roth 401(k)
- 5. It charges foreign transaction fees
- Universal life insurance vs. whole life insurance
- Changing your passport name after marriage recapped
- 4. Know when to leave it to the pros
- What to do if you lost your passport abroad
- ‘Stacking’ underinsured motorist coverage
- Pros and cons
- Some alternatives to joint credit card accounts
- Best life insurance company for applicants with HIV: Guardian
- Upgrading with cash
- When are New York state income taxes due?
- May
- 5. Legoland military discount
- What affects the cost to rent an RV for a week
- Do the math on high-yield savings
- Compare the best savings and money market accounts
- Making the right choice for your pet
- Managing expectations
- Other options for building credit
- What is a good DTI ratio?
- Inflation is decelerating
- 6. Are you doing a hard credit check on me today?
- Does insurance cover abortions?
- Texas city-specific business grants
- Best homeowners insurance in Texas for consumer experience: Nationwide
- 6. Raise your deductible
- What is California's standard deduction?
- 6. Cafe2U
- Co-signing isn’t forever
- LLC payroll taxes
- Withholding tax vs. estimated tax
- Does the IRS charge interest on payment plans?
- How to improve your odds of graduating to an unsecured card
- Can you collect SSI and Social Security disability or retirement benefits?
- Are you subject to Rule 144?
- Frugal home expenses tips
- What kind of investment is Bitcoin?
- Average certificate of deposit rate: 1.81% for one-year CDs
- Know discounts, downsides of store-specific cards
- How to increase your pre-qualification amount
- What are fleet cards?
- What plans are best for seniors?
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- Buying extra life insurance coverage
- How to freeze your child’s credit
- Who is Thimble insurance a good fit for?
- Universal vacation packages
- How to find the 2024 W-4
- When to expect your child tax credit refund
- National grants available to Florida small businesses
- Are 10-year Treasury notes a good investment?
- 2. Certificates of deposit
- Premium checking accounts
- Do I have to pay New York state income tax?
- How do I deal with lottery taxes?
- AKC coverage options
- Best car insurance in New York for ease of use: State Farm
- Benefits of a larger down payment
- How did we determine the value of Marriott Bonvoy points?
- Credit union personal loan rates
- Are Roth IRAs insured?
- Joint accounts for teens
- Other Roth IRA rules
- How to change or cancel an EIN
- Getting your Frontier baggage and other fees waived
- Should you use a personal loan to build credit?
- 3 ways to avoid inheritance tax
- Chase Private Client Checking℠: Up to $3,000 bonus offer
- Quick start guide: How to invest in index funds
- 6. Inspect and test-drive the car, if applicable
- Get more 'boots on the ground'
- Writing call options vs. writing put options
- Small-business diversity statistics
- How much does universal life insurance cost?
- Final thoughts on flying economy class on Iberia
- Growth stocks vs. dividend stocks
- No-closing-cost mortgages
- 5. Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces EFC
- Compare the best CD accounts
- How much is renters insurance in Texas?
- Strategies for keeping your credit utilization low
- How to compare personal loans
- How did we determine the value of United miles?
- Brokerage accounts are taxable accounts
- Credit cards help build credit
- Investments for money you need in 2 to 3 years
- New charges
- Prepare to forgive
- Switching is no longer an option for most
- 5. The bigger the company, the higher the interest rates
- 7. Consider usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance
- Step 4: Gather loan documents
- What part of my income gets taxed by California?
- Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
- Compare Roth 401(k) vs. traditional 401(k)
- Buy Medigap Plan G during Medigap open enrollment
- The importance of tax withholding
- Who should skip the SENTRI Pass
- Pick your coverage limits
- Why did First Republic Bank fail?
- Other military discount ticket options
- How much to rent an RV for one week
- Getting the most from your pre-qualification limit
- Tips to qualify for a personal loan
- How to find AI ETFs
- How do fleet cards work?
- Is it time for you to switch to a better plan?
- Tips to find cheap flights any day of the week
- How to reduce or avoid the federal estate tax
- 6. High-yield checking accounts
- 7. Do you charge for an interest rate lock?
- HELOC requirements
- EveryDollar, for simple zero-based budgeting
- 7 ways to reduce your 401(k) taxes
- 5. Use collateral to secure the loan
- How to calculate your monthly payment
- What’s next?
- 3 tips to control central air conditioning installation costs
- How to avoid extra costs from a trip delay
- How do you buy Vanguard Index fund shares?
- Try a worksheet or app
- How much should you put down on a house?
- PayPal
- Travel and shopping protections
- Federal student loan consolidation
- Claiming tax-deductible donations on your tax return
- 4. Varo: Best for existing bank customers
- Delta Comfort Plus
- Is a credit-builder loan good for my situation?
- How to get inland marine insurance
- Maximum and average DTI ratios by mortgage type
- Next steps
- Where are abortions available?
- Will parent PLUS loans qualify?
- Full list of the best home insurance companies in Texas
- Use a co-signer
- 7. Biggby Coffee
- 4. The value of Southwest points
- Do I have to update my W-4 every year?
- Alternatives
- 2024 child tax credit news update
- Days in the cycle
- How do you buy 10-year Treasury notes?
- 6. Pell Grant award expands
- What mortgage lenders get out of e-closings
- 7. Your travel card may already include travel insurance benefits
- June
- Compare the best checking accounts
- American Express® Gold Card airport lounge access recapped
- Roth IRA eligibility rules
- Who should get a home equity loan
- You don’t need to have $10,000 to take advantage of compound interest
- Country Financial
- Fees across U.S. airlines
- Some helpful links from the IRS
- Best for low-cost plan availability: Humana
- Consumer behavior is changing
- When should you freeze your credit?
- Food and beverage
- Alternatives to Thimble insurance
- Florida resident discount for Universal Orlando Resort
- Is Plan G the best Medicare Supplement Insurance plan?
- What are the fees for an IRS payment plan?
- How to form a PLLC
- How to minimize the tax impact of a bonus
- Best life insurance company for consumer experience: Northwestern Mutual
- 3. Bonds
- How to cancel a Planet Fitness membership
- Book an award flight instead
- What is New York state's standard deduction?
- Pay with savings to avoid interest
- How to get a construction loan
- When not to use a credit card
- Interest charges
- Chase checking account referrals: Up to $500 bonus
- If you inherit or bequeath something, watch out for capital gains tax
- 8. Will I have to pay mortgage insurance?
- The long strangle
- 7. Determine which warranties are right for you
- Am I a resident for California state tax purposes?
- 3. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- How to get a home equity line of credit
- Reconsideration for PSLF applications
- LLC self-employment taxes
- Do you have to report your passport lost or stolen?
- Calculating capital gains tax on a home sale
- Is the SENTRI Pass worth it?
- Full list of the best car insurance in NY
- If you want to buy military theme park tickets
- Best uses for a high-yield savings account
- Average cost of renters insurance in Texas by city
- How to get a loan from a credit union
- How to apply for a personal loan
- The bottom line
- MoneyGram
- Smart strategies usually involve some delay
- 8. Check insurance costs when buying a car
- FamZoo Prepaid Card
- Status match to Carnival
- Do you pay tax on T-notes?
- Seller-paid closing costs
- American Express® Gold Card
- Are interest rates fixed on savings and checking accounts?
- 3. A brand-new category: 'Best cards for staying at home'
- Why did Silicon Valley Bank fail?
- Bitcoin and volatility
- How long does it take to get pre-qualified for a mortgage?
- Compare the best banks, credit unions and cash management accounts
- Who should get a HELOC
- How to earn more interest in a savings account
- Will my servicer know if I qualify?
- How much does homeowners insurance cost in Texas?
- Become an authorized user
- 8. Dunn Brothers Coffee
- How to evaluate dividends
- How to adjust your Form W-4
- 6. Find the right lender
- Small-business industry statistics
- Why do I need a business credit score?
- If you want to obtain a SENTRI Pass
- Other considerations to determine your down payment
- What to do with the Bitcoin you buy
- Pros and cons of investing in semiconductor stocks
- Brokerage accounts vs. IRA
- Investments for money you need in 3 to 5 years
- Cons of a credit freeze
- Which type of life insurance should I put in a trust?
- Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
- What's next?
- Next Steps
- Other types of universal life insurance
- What to do if you lost your passport the day before a flight
- What are the best Vanguard index funds?
- Keep budgeting and communicating
- Am I a resident for New York state income tax purposes?
- July
- Average money market account rate: 0.66%
- What to do if you’re not approved
- How often do savings rates change?
- Interest-based passive income ideas
- Could we be in an AI bubble?
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Should you get a secured or unsecured personal loan?
- Step 5: Submit your application and get funded
- 5. How to earn a Southwest Companion Pass
- How much can you borrow with a HELOC?
- LLC sales taxes
- How to finance central air installation
- Could I lose my money in a checking or savings account if the bank fails?
- 7. Application available in more languages
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- Why you can trust NerdWallet
- Venmo
- Charitable contributions 2023
- 5. Dave: Best for repayment flexibility
- Compare the best bank accounts for students and kids
- What happens if I’m denied?
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Can I travel to get an abortion?
- 8. Negotiate the best price
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- How do I get my business credit score?
- Disney World vs. Disneyland resorts
- The bottom line
- What to know about Texas renters insurance
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- What’s a spousal Roth IRA?
- What are the best dividend stocks?
- Other ways to sell clothes online
- Fleet fuel cards: benefits and drawbacks
- Chase Business Complete Checking℠: $400 bonus offer
- There’s no wage-price spiral
- 9. What will my monthly payment be?
- Best for extra perks: Aetna
- Your readiness to buy a home
- Universal life policy riders
- Best life insurance company for coverage amounts: New York Life
- How to get started
- How to consolidate federal loans
- How to boost your personal loan approval odds
- How to open a high-yield savings account
- Summary of the best banks and credit unions of 2024
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- Best of the Blues: Highmark
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- 9. Coffee Beanery
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- Will you owe capital gains taxes on your home sale?
- Should I have my checking and savings accounts at the same bank?
- 8. Fewer questions
- Age restrictions
- The Hanover
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- 6. The valuable extra benefits
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- August
- How to buy semiconductor stocks
- 10. Do you have an origination fee?
- Business card changes
- Stock market crashes in history
- Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard
- LLC tax forms and deadlines
- Wait for the right Carnival cruise offer
- How to find the best universal life insurance company
- Citi Premier® Card
- Waiting periods
- Lounge benefits
- Credit cards and elite status can improve your overall experience
- Western Union
- The synthetic long
- Get credit for the bills you pay
- 9. Maximize trade-in value, if applicable
- Who can access your frozen credit reports?
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Important considerations when opening a Roth IRA
- Small-business outlook statistics
- Can I apply for an IRS payment plan myself?
- More about the card
- The bottom line
- How to avoid capital gains tax on home sales
- 9. You can list more colleges
- Walmart2Walmart
- 6. MoneyLion: Best for existing customers
- Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: What's the difference?
- How to sell clothes online
- How to get a USAA travel insurance plan
- The cheapest home insurance in Texas
- Amenities
- 10. Cafe Barbera
- State child tax credits
- More about the card
- The difference between interest rate and APY
- Are conventional 97 LTV loans better than FHA?
- DTI isn't a full measure of affordability
- What to know about Chase checking account bonuses
- 11. What other costs will I pay at closing?
- Can I get a refund?
- Getting the timing right
- After deciding
- 4. GetYourRefund.org
- California resident discount for Universal Studios
- Is getting a HELOC a good idea?
- Tips to find the right Florida small-business grant for you
- Which small business internet service is right for you?
- If you’re trying to compare Disney World vs. Disneyland size
- AKC pet insurance rates
- 11 ways to prevent identity theft
- What happens if I can’t open a savings account?
- Next steps
- Should you invest in AI stocks?
- Fuel card vs. business gas credit card
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- 7. The wait
- Earn an audience, and earn more in the long run
- Best life insurance company for permanent life insurance: Pacific Life
- What’s happening with Silvergate Capital Corp.?
- September
- How to shop for Medicare Advantage plans
- Travel accident insurance
- 12. How — and how often — will I be updated on the loan’s progress?
- 10. Make the purchase
- Are dividends taxed?
- What is the $500 credit for other dependents (ODC)?
- 10. Sibling discount removed
- Hotel-friendly benefits
- 11. The Human Bean
- One-time IDR account adjustment for PSLF borrowers
- LLC tax tips for business owners
- What happened to Credit Suisse?
- The bottom line
- 13. Do I have to sign all the paperwork in person?
- What to know about Texas homeowners insurance
- Practice good credit habits
- California state tax credits
- The bottom line on how to prepare for a stock market crash
- Next steps
- Child tax credit vs. child and dependent care credit
- What is credit card consolidation?
- 7. SoLo Funds: Best for peer-to-peer cash advances
- What determines Texas renters insurance rates?
- How to open a Roth IRA in 4 steps
- Nationwide
- If your DTI is high
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- How to transfer points from other programs to British Airways
- Best for low-cost plans: Humana
- Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
- If you're considering applying for a Southwest credit card
- Become an annual pass holder or season pass holder
- Walmart MoneyCard
- W-4 calculator
- Book your discounted Carnival cruise
- Other ways to make money
- Taxes on bonuses: The bottom line
- 4. Money market funds
- What’s the difference between face value and cash value?
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Western Union
- National grant programs available to Texas small businesses
- PocketGuard, for a simplified budgeting snapshot
- How taxes on real estate, rental, and investment sales work
- October
- How the FDIC calculates national rates
- If you’re considering an upgrade to Delta Comfort Plus
- 12. PJ’S Coffee
- How does credit card consolidation work?
- Discounts
- Investing
- Does your business need a fleet fuel card?
- Cheapest for 30-year-old drivers
- Are Chase bank promotions worth it?
- 14. How long until my loan closes?
- Can't finance before you sell?
- Is it better to get a home equity loan or line of credit?
- Best life insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- Are other banks are in trouble?
- How to choose among the best ways to send money internationally
- What else to know about Form W-4
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- What to know before shopping for car insurance quotes.
- 5. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
- Reconsideration for rejected PSLF applications
- Is there an over-55 home sale exemption?
- State availability
- 8. Klover: Best for no-fee advances
- Check your credit scores and reports
- 13. Brioche Doree
- 5. Mutual funds
- NYC income tax rates
- Should I take my money out of the bank?
- November
- How to get to the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills
- Prosper® Card
- Credit card rewards
- What to do if you can’t keep up with your HELOC payments
- Is consolidating credit card debt a good idea?
- OK, what's next?
- Services
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- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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- Zelle:
- State Farm
- Additional Visa Infinite benefits
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- 14. Xpresso Delight
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- If you're looking for a cheap Carnival cruise
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- 6. Index funds
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- Best among startups: Devoted Health
- Honeydue, for budgeting with a partner
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- December
- Pros and cons of loan apps
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There’s no universal formula for getting approved for a personal loan. Requirements such as credit score and income vary by lender, and some online lenders consider nontraditional data, like free cash flow or education level.
But loan companies have one thing in common: They want to be paid back on time, which means they approve only borrowers who meet their requirements. Here are six tips to boost your chances of qualifying for a personal loan.
on NerdWallet
1. Clean up your credit
Your credit score is a major consideration on a personal loan application. The higher your score, the better your chance of approval.
Check your reports for errors. Common errors that may hurt your score include accounts incorrectly reported in your name, closed accounts reported as open and incorrect credit limits, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
You can get your credit reports for free once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com. With evidence to support your claim, dispute any errors online, in writing or by phone.
Get on top of payments. If you’re not already, be vigilant about making on-time payments toward all your debts, paying more than the minimums when possible. This will benefit your payment history and credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of your available credit that you’re using. Together, your payment history and the amount of debt you owe make up 65% of a FICO credit score.
Request a credit limit increase. Call the customer service numbers on the back of your credit cards and ask your creditors if you can get an increase without a hard credit check. You have a better chance if your income has risen since you acquired the card and you haven’t missed any payments.
2. Rebalance your debts and income
Loan applications ask for your annual income, and you can include money earned from part-time work. Consider increasing your income by starting a side hustle or working toward a raise at your full-time job.
Also, do what you can to pay down debt.
Boosting your income and lowering your debt improves your debt-to-income ratio, the percentage of your monthly debt payments divided by monthly income. Not all lenders have strict DTI requirements, but a lower ratio shows that your current debt is under control and you can take on more.
3. Don’t ask for too much cash
Requesting more money than you need to reach your financial goal can be seen as risky by lenders and may make it harder to get approved.
A larger personal loan also squeezes your budget, as higher loan payments impact your ability to meet other financial obligations, such as student loans or mortgage payments. Use the calculator below to estimate your potential monthly payment on a personal loan based on your desired loan amount and repayment term.
Personal loan calculator
4. Consider a co-signer
If you have a fair or bad credit score (below 690), adding a co-signer with stronger credit and income can increase your chances of approval.
Lenders may be more inclined to approve a loan application with a co-signer, because it provides an additional person who is legally responsible for repaying the loan.
Make sure anyone you ask to co-sign a loan fully understands their obligations and the risks before agreeing.
» COMPARE: Personal loans with a co-signer
5. Use collateral to secure the loan
You may have a better chance of loan approval if you apply for a secured loan. A secured loan requires you to pledge an asset that you own — typically a vehicle or savings account — as collateral that the lender can take if you don’t repay the loan as agreed.
Secured personal loans are less risky for lenders than unsecured loans, because they can use the pledged asset to recoup any losses. Not all lenders offer secured loans, but those that do may have less stringent requirements or charge lower interest rates for secured loans.
» MORE: Best secured personal loans
6. Find the right lender
Some lenders disclose their minimum credit score requirements, loan amounts and whether they offer options like co-signers.
If you meet a lender’s minimum qualifications and want to see estimated rates and terms, you can pre-qualify for a personal loan. Pre-qualifying usually triggers a soft credit pull, which does not impact your credit score.
» MORE: Best personal loans
Pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare rates and terms. The best loan option has low interest costs and monthly payments that fit into your budget.
on NerdWallet
on NerdWallet
on NerdWallet