Author: Meghan Alard
As of September 21, 2018, credit report freezes with all three bureaus are now free, but should you freeze your credit and what are the downsides?..Read full article
Are You on a Yo-Yo Diet of Debt Repayment?
Americans paid off $40.6 billion of debt in the first quarter but added $30 billion back in the next. Are you on a yo-yo diet of credit card debt repayment?..Read full article
Understanding the Effects of Missed Payments
If you have credit cards, the impact of missed payments can be massive. Here’s what you can expect for budget and credit if you miss a credit card payment...Read full article
What’s Your Personal Saving Rate?
The personal saving rate hit 6.8% in June, but are Americans saving equally? We look at personal savings and offer tips on improving your saving strategy...Read full article
Reducing the High Cost of Credit Card Debt
Consumers pay over $100 billion every year on credit card interest charges and fees. We explain how to minimize the high cost of credit card debt...Read full article
Which State Has the Highest Student Loan Debt?
A new study from WalletHub explores which state has the highest student loan debt and which borrowers have the biggest student debt burden...Read full article
Dealing with Debt Caused by Domestic and Economic Abuse
Domestic abuse survivors often amass debt getting out of a relationship or from economic abuse. Consolidated Credit helps victims pay off their debt...Read full article
Do You Know Your Annual Interest Rates?
Half of credit card users that carry at least one credit card balance don’t know their annual interest rates, which means they’re probably overpaying...Read full article
Are Gas Cards Still a Good Value in 2018?
As gas prices increase and interest rates on gas cards rise, is it still wise to use a co-branded gas credit card to fill up? Some experts say no...Read full article
More Americans Focus on Paying Down Debt in 2018
Americans hit record high credit card debt levels at the end of 2017, topping $1 trillion in revolving debt. The good news is that consumers repaid $40.3 billion in the first quarter of this year. Consolidated Credit offers three tips for paying down debt yourself...Read full article
74% of Americans are Getting Married with Debt
Three out of four couples will use credit to finance their wedding, with an average price tag of $33,391. We explore why getting married with debt is a fast way to ruin your relationship and offer tips on how to enjoy a debt-free wedding...Read full article
Which State Has the Most Credit Card Debt in 2018?
Americans have more credit card debt than ever, but four states outspend the others significantly. Learn which state has the most credit card debt and what you can do to pay your part of it off...Read full article
One More Good Reason You Don’t Need Credit
For more than two decades, attractive rewards programs have been a big reason that many consumers turn to credit cards at checkout. But as banks scale back credit card rewards and increase debit card rewards, this trend may be changing...Read full article
10 Money-Saving Summer Budget Tips
It’s the official start of summer 2018, which makes it the perfect time to set a summer budget so you can avoid credit card debt and achieve your goals. Consolidated Credit offers 10 money-saving tips...Read full article
Half of Teens Don’t See Becoming Financially Independent as a Key Life Goal
A new survey finds that only half of teens see achieving financial independence from parents as a key financial goal for the future. We look at the survey stats and offer ten key tips for helping teens learn ow to become financially independent...Read full article
Student Loan Interest Rates Set to Rise Again for 2018-2019
Federal student loan interest rates are set to increase for the second year in a row on July 1 of this year. Learn what parents and grads can do to keep education borrowing costs low to avoid problems down the road with student loan debt...Read full article
Consolidated Credit 25th Anniversary: Celebrating 25 Years of Financial Literacy
Watch the Consolidated Credit 25th anniversary video to see how the company has stayed at the forefront of technology with free financial education resources. Consolidated Credit strives to help consumers build financial literacy nationwide...Read full article
Spoiling Mom for Mother’s Day 2018
We all want to make Mom feel special, and many people take on credit card debt to do it. But the truth is, spoiling her doesn’t require a big price tag...Read full article
Consolidated Credit Brings Free Financial Literacy Publications to NSU
Consolidated Credit has partnered with Nova Southeastern University to provide a rack of free financial literacy publications at the Thinking Money exhibition at the Alvin Sherman Library...Read full article
When is the Right Time to Retire Old Credit Cards?
20 million people haven’t changed their primary credit card in 10 years, but are old credit cards effective or is it time for an update? Learn what to do with old accounts to avoid credit damage...Read full article
Are Long Term Auto Loans the Best Commitment?
A new report finds long term auto loans are getting longer and longer, leading to more time in debt and higher costs due to added interest charges. Do borrowers really benefit from that commitment?..Read full article
What States Can Revoke Professional Licenses for Defaulted Student Loans?
A Texas teacher lost his dream job as a teacher after he defaulted, and Texas isn’t the only state that does this. We detail what states can revoke professional licenses for defaulted student loans...Read full article
Can You Afford the Cost of Debt?
Another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve means that the cost of debt for consumers just got higher again. WalletHub has revised their map of cities with the most and least sustainable credit card balances. Can you still afford to pay off your debt in a cost-effective way or do you need debt relief?..Read full article
Don’t Loan Credit Cards!
If you thought lending money to family was a bad idea, consider that 36 million Americans admit they’ve run into trouble when they decided to loan credit cards to friends and family. Learn why it’s a bad idea and what you can do instead to help someone out...Read full article