Articles on Debt Management

The Debt Trap: Factors That Have Led Us To Our Debt

We're a nation of borrowers. This reality is quite well illustrated by the personal stories and profiles covered by various media publications on the subject of consumer debt. Rec

A Society of Fear

Society has been organized to make the wage slave/debt slave trap the default path for almost everyone.

3 Ways Paying Off Credit Cards Is Like Playing Beer Pong

Paying off your debt isn't as FUN as playing beer pong, of course, but it's a much better way to think about it than your old wrinkly neighbor would have it.

Worried About Debt? Tips On Managing Your Loans

If you've got a lot of loans under your belt, you'll want to make sure that you're able to manage them well, or risk wrecking your credit by making a late payment somewhere. Deali

5 Ways to Live Better Without Spending More

The most simple-minded measure of your standard of living is how much money you spend: spending more equals living better. Reality is more complex. There are a lot of ways to li

Forgiven Debt Isn't Really Forgiven At All

Thinking of settling that debt with your credit card companies? You might want to think again. While debt settlement offers can be very attractive, there's often a nasty little sur

Debt-Free Living IS Attainable: If You Want It, You Can Have It

Everyone loves talking about getting out of debt. It's easy to imagine the benefits. The trick is realizing that this lifestyle is actually attainable. It's a very real choice.

10 Tricks to Save Money with Credit Cards

The most credit savvy among us have been able to use credit cards to their benefit in order to wisely and optimally save money even while charging on their cards. If you are carefu

Acknowledge You Have a Problem with Debt

Debt limits freedom. It's as simple as that. The process of getting out of debt first starts with acknowledging that it really is a problem. This simple act will radically impro

Wage slave, debt slave

This article has its roots in an article I wrote some time ago that used the terms wage slave and debt peonage—terms that some people objected to. Those making free choices aren't

When to Use Savings to Pay Off Debt

One of the most common questions over on the Wise Bread forum is some variation on, "I have $X in savings but $Y in credit card debt. Should I use the savings to pay down the debt?

Look Out Consumers: Debt Collections Get Scarier

While consumers already have to be on constant alert about so many things involving their personal finances, there are still those that find ways to take advantage of a bad situati

5 Strategies To Wipe Out Your Credit Card Balance

I have a couple of friends who live by their credit cards.  Unfortunately, they both have lower income jobs and live in survival mode, while continuing to participate in one financially [more]

Another path to recovery: higher incomes

Preventing a collapse of the financial system is part of preventing a depression. However, the shorthand term for this--getting the banks able and willing to lend--is misleading.

Can't Get A Bank Loan? 8 Other Ways To Finance Your Business

Starting a business can easily become a money pit. So for those of you thinking about launching a new venture, what financing options do you have? Well, there's the possibility

Best of Personal Finance: Credit Where Credit Is Due Edition

Credit cards are fun for the whole family, until the bills start rolling in and you are expected to hand over your hard-earned money for the stuff you bought on plastic. In this we

What’s the difference? Your Debt Questions Answered

Are you wondering if debt consolidation is right for you? Maybe you’ve heard about the promises that debt settlement offers. Or perhaps you’ve just been curious about the possibi

A champion of savings over spending

We're subjected to constant barrage of unhelpful advice to the effect that what the economy needs is more spending. (The stimulus program is one piece of this.) It's kind of unde

The Economic Stimulus Bill: Will The Heavy Debt Be Worth It?

The economic stimulus bill has been hotly debated, not just in Congress but also on Main Street. Now that we know what will be getting funding from this package, many are wondering

What can you do with $13 extra a week?

On Friday both the House and the Senate passed a new $789 billion stimulus package as a continuation of the efforts by the United States Government to jumpstart the economy. A sig