Secured Debt

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Risks and Rewards of Secured Debt

The landscape of overextended personal debt is often divided into two distinct territories: unsecured obligations like credit cards and the more peril...

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Choosing the Right Credit Card

Navigating the vast landscape of credit card offers can feel like a daunting task, yet selecting the right one is a fundamental act of financial self-...

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Managing Utility and Service Debt

The crisis of overextended personal debt often brings to mind maxed-out credit cards and overwhelming loan payments, yet a deeply consequential and st...

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Managing Debt in the Golden Years

Entering one’s fifties and beyond, the specter of overextended personal debt shifts from a financial challenge to a profound threat to one’s entir...

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Finding the Right Financial Hardship Program

The reality of overextended personal debt is a landscape of profound anxiety, where monthly obligations eclipse income and the future feels foreclosed...

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Calculating Your Net Worth

The relationship between overextended personal debt and net worth calculation is a stark exercise in financial reality, revealing a sobering truth tha...

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  • Buy Now Pay Later ·
  • Wage Garnishment ·
  • Debt Collection ·
  • Comparing Credit Cards ·
  • 20s ·
  • Divorce or Separation ·


FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Focus on high-interest debts (avalanche method) or smallest balances first (snowball method) to save money or build momentum.

A collection account is one of the most damaging items that can appear on your credit report. It causes a severe drop in your score and remains on your report for seven years from the date of the original delinquency that led to the collection.

Yes, if you have the time and energy. A side gig can provide dedicated "debt destruction" money without forcing you to cut your regular budget to the bone. Use all or most of the earnings from your side hustle specifically for extra debt payments.

The primary strategic tool is a balance transfer credit card. These cards offer a low or 0% introductory APR on transferred balances, allowing you to stop paying high interest for a period (often 12-21 months), so more of your payment goes toward reducing the principal debt.

If you have not addressed the underlying spending habits that led to debt, or if you are considering high-risk options like payday loans or title loans, avoid credit tools. Instead, focus on budgeting, cutting expenses, and seeking nonprofit credit counseling.