If youre considering closing one of your credit cards because you dont use it anymore, think twice before contacting your card issuer. While it might seem like holding fewer credit cards could help your credit, losing the available credit limit on the closed account can increase your utilization rate, which can hurt credit scores. If … Read more
It’s every home-owner’s worst nightmare. Already drowning in debt, and with a rampaging cost of living crisis causing many families to barely be able to make ends meet, they get a notice from their mortgage company that says something to the effect of: You have 30 days to pay back your entire mortgage balance in … Read more
An IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) is a formal agreement between you and your creditors to pay back some of what you owe over a set period. It can help you take control of debt, avoid bankruptcy and protect your assets. However hiding a bank account from an IVA is risky and can have serious consequences … Read more
Your credit scores can differ for many reasons, including which scoring model is used, which credit report is used and timing of when score updates are made. Your credit scores can vary depending on the type of credit score, the credit report it scores and when the score is calculated. Its common for someone to … Read more
A 710 credit score falls into the “good” band and will qualify you for some credit cards and loans, but may not get you the lowest rates. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click … Read more
Dealing with long-term debt can be stressful; the thought of constant chasing from creditors can lead to feelings of anxiety, worry and even depression. However, the good news is, in the UK there’s typically a limitation period on many types of debt, including card debt and personal loan repayments. Of course, this does not mean … Read more
Adobe Stock For a simplified car-buying experience, many drivers turn to dealer-arranged financing. Rather than seeking out loans from financial institutions yourself, you can let your dealership run a check of your credit and find you an offer. However, this process may come with its own set of trade-offs. If you want to minimize additional … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented economic turmoil, with many businesses forced to shut down or scale back operations To provide relief, the federal government launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to offer forgivable loans to small businesses However, PPP loans have created confusion regarding how they impact child support obligations for business owners. This … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to … Read more
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is an important part of how mortgage lenders evaluate your financial health. DTI ratios represent how much debt you have compared to your income. It’s important to know your DTI as you consider buying a home. If you have a high amount of debt compared to income, consider `lowering your debt … Read more