Personal Finance
7 Ways to Track Monthly Expenses
When you start tracking your expenses each month, you can separate your spending into three categories: needs, wants and savings.
Personal Finance
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Personal Finance
How to Save Money on Groceries: Strategies That Actually Work
Visit the grocery store less often and make your shopping more strategic when you go.
Personal Finance
Credit Score vs. Credit Report: What’s the Difference?
One is your full history. The other is a single number calculated from it. Think transcript vs. GPA — and once that clicks, the difference between credit scores and credit reports gets a lot easier to follow.
Personal Finance
Who Can Access Your Credit Report or Score?
It's not just potential lenders that can check you out. Insurers and employers also may access your report or score.
Personal Finance
How to Dispute a Hard Inquiry on Your Credit Report
You can't remove legitimate hard inquiries, but you can check your credit report and dispute inquiries you don't recognize.
Personal Finance
Return Policy Guide: What to Know and Which Stores Stand Out
It's wise to keep receipts, but retailers with some of the best return policies may not require them.
Personal Finance
What Is a Credit Score and Why Is It Important?
A credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that is calculated using information from your credit reports. Your credit score is used by lenders to determine the kinds of financial products and rates you are eligible for.
Personal Finance
No Credit Score Doesn’t Mean a Zero Credit Score
If you have no credit history, you have no credit score — but not a zero credit score.
Personal Finance
Use a Credit Score Simulator to Road-Test Financial Decisions
A credit score simulator can help you see which actions, like paying down a particular balance, can help most.
Personal Finance
700 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad?
A 700 credit score falls into the good range. Find out what you credit score can get you, and how to improve your credit.
Personal Finance
How to budget money in 5 steps
Divide your income among needs, wants, savings and debt repayment.
Personal Finance
Does Applying For a New Credit Card Hurt Your Credit?
A new credit card will cause a small, and temporary, dip in your credit score at first. To come out ahead: only apply if you’re likely to qualify, keep spending the same and pay your bill on time each month.
Personal Finance
How Length of Credit History Affects Your Credit Scores
How long you've had credit affects your score. But paying on time and not using a lot of your limit matter more.
Personal Finance
7 Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
Small changes could add up to big savings on your cell phone bill.
Personal Finance
55 Places to Get Free Things on Your Birthday
Read our list of places to sign up for free food, discounts or bonus rewards during your birthday month. Redditors shout out Starbucks, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Jersey Mike's as faves.
Personal Finance
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Debt?
The statute of limitations is a law that restricts how long a creditor has to sue you for payment on a delinquent debt. This period, which varies by state, is usually around three to six years.
Personal Finance
Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It?
Checking your own credit score won’t lower it. That’s because it’s considered a soft inquiry — a type of credit check that has no impact on your score.
Personal Finance
Missed a Payment? Here’s How It Affects Your Credit and What to Do Next
Paying a bill 30 days or more past the due date could drop your score and stay on your credit reports for up to seven years. Here's what you can do to help limit the damage.
Personal Finance
Here’s What to Do with Those Gift Cards You Don’t Want
Unwanted or partially used gift cards don’t have to go to waste. Learn how to exchange, sell, donate or repurpose them — plus tips to avoid scams.
Personal Finance
Wage Garnishment: How It Works and What You Can Do
Wage garnishment is when a portion of your income or bank balance is legally withheld to settle a debt.