A full list of what we have written so far, organized by subject.
Credit Basics
What goes into your score and why it changes.
- Closing a Credit Card: What Happens to Your Credit Score
- Credit Utilization: The Ratio That Can Move Your Score Fastest
- FICO vs. VantageScore: Why You Have More Than One Credit Score
- Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries: Which Ones Affect Your Score
- What Counts as a Good Credit Score? Ranges and What They Mean
Credit Repair
What repair companies can and cannot do.
- A First-Timer’s Guide to DIY Credit Repair
- Does Paying a Collection Improve My Credit Score?
- Five Credit Repair Myths That Waste Your Money and Time
- Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Credit Repair Company
- What to Do If a Credit Repair Company Breaks the Rules
Improving Credit
Step-by-step ways to build or rebuild credit.
- Becoming an Authorized User: Can It Help Your Credit?
- Credit-Builder Loans: How They Work and Who They Help
- How to Build Credit From Scratch
- Late Payments on Your Credit Report: How Long They Last and How to Recover
Life Events and Credit
Divorce, moving, job loss and medical bills.
- Divorce and Your Credit: What Happens to Joint Accounts
- Does Getting Married Really Merge Your Credit?
- Does Losing Your Job Affect Your Credit Score?
- The Real Cost of an Unpaid Medical Bill: A Layer-by-Layer Breakdown
- What People Get Wrong About Job Loss and Credit
- What to Do If You’re Behind on Rent and Facing Eviction
Loans and Approval
How scores affect loan offers and rental applications.
- A Personal Loan Application Timeline: Prequalification to Payment
- A Timeline for Preparing Your Credit for a Mortgage
- How Mortgage Underwriting Works, Step by Step
- Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for an Auto Loan
- The Real Cost of a Low Credit Score on a Car Loan
- When to Prepare Your Credit for a Rental Application
Managing Debt
Practical ways to stay on top of bills and balances.