Case Study: From Maxed-Out to Debt-Free – The 14-Month Journey of a Single Parent
Case Study: From Maxed-Out to Debt-Free – The 14-Month Journey of a Single Parent When Jasmine, a 33-year-old single mother of two, opened her mail one afternoon and saw her most recent credit card statements, she felt a wave of panic. She had just finished grocery shopping on a maxed-out card, unaware her balance had […]
Case Study: How One Couple Paid Off $42k in Credit Card Debt and Boosted Their Score by 110 Points
Case Study: How One Couple Paid Off $42k in Credit Card Debt and Boosted Their Score by 110 Points From the outside, Marcus and Alicia appeared to be doing everything right. They owned a modest home in a quiet suburb, earned stable incomes, and were raising two young children while trying to balance work, school […]
Guide: How Revolving Debt Affects Your Score More Than Installment Loans
Guide: How Revolving Debt Affects Your Score More Than Installment Loans Not all debt is created equal—especially when it comes to how credit scoring models evaluate your financial behavior. Two consumers might each owe $10,000, but depending on the type of debt they carry, their Middle Credit Score® could differ by over 100 points. That’s […]
Guide: Tackling Medical Debt—What Credit Models Are Starting to Ignore—and What They Still Count
Guide: Tackling Medical Debt— What Credit Models Are Starting to Ignore—and What They Still Count Medical debt is one of the leading causes of financial distress in the United States—and for many, it arrives without warning. You didn’t take on the debt for a vacation or luxury purchase. You didn’t overspend. You simply got sick […]
Guide: Credit Counseling vs. Debt Settlement- What’s Right for You?
Guide: Credit Counseling vs. Debt Settlement- What’s Right for You? When debt becomes unmanageable, and monthly payments are more than your income can handle, many consumers look for outside help—but knowing which type of help to choose is critical. Two common options are credit counseling and debt settlement, and while they may sound similar, the […]
Guide: When to Consider a Debt Management Plan or Consolidation Loan
Guide: When to Consider a Debt Management Plan or Consolidation Loan When your debt feels overwhelming, and minimum payments aren’t making a dent, it’s easy to feel stuck. You’ve cut expenses, tightened your budget, and maybe even picked up a side hustle—yet your balances barely move, and the interest continues to pile on. If this […]
Guide: How to Prioritize Debt Payments While Saving for a Home
Guide: How to Prioritize Debt Payments While Saving for a Home One of the most complex challenges in personal finance is deciding how to pay down debt while also saving for a home. For many first-time buyers, the desire to escape renting and build equity is strong—but so is the pressure to eliminate high-interest debt […]
Guide: The Truth About Settling Debt—What It Means for Your Credit Report
Guide: The Truth About Settling Debt—What It Means for Your Credit Report Debt settlement is often pitched as a fast-track solution for consumers who are overwhelmed by debt and desperate to avoid bankruptcy. The idea is simple: negotiate with creditors to accept a lump sum payment that’s less than the full amount owed, close the […]
Guide: How to Pay Off High-Interest Debt Without Harming Your Middle Credit Score®
Guide: How to Pay Off High-Interest Debt Without Harming Your Middle Credit Score® Paying off high-interest debt is one of the smartest financial moves you can make—but doing it the wrong way can actually hurt your credit score in the short term. That’s the confusing reality many borrowers face: you’re finally eliminating toxic debt, but […]
Guide: The Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: Which Works Best for Your Credit?
Guide: The Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: Which Works Best for Your Credit? When it comes to getting out of debt, two popular strategies dominate the conversation: the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. Both are proven, both are effective, and both can help you take control of your finances—but they work very differently. More importantly, […]