By Jana Castanon Finances are a hot topic for any couple, and one that must be discussed prior to making a permanent commitment to each other. There are three basic money management styles that a couple could choose – they could combine all their resources into joint accounts, have completely separate accounts, or a combination of [...]

By Mark Foster  There are various factors involved in raising a credit score, but when it comes down to it just two key factors are responsible for an incredible 65% of your score – how timely you pay your bills and how much you owe. The less you owe, the better your credit score. The credit scoring [...]

By Erica Sandberg Dear Erica, My husband and I are divorcing. We have two cards together, and I have one of my own — it’s a Nordstrom card that I had even before we were married. None of our cards has a balance. Should we close the cards we have together and get new ones? [...]

By John Ulzheimer Depending on whom you believe you can have as few as one credit score, and as many as hundreds of credit scores. So who is telling the truth? The truth is they’re both right. Follow me… The apex predator in credit scoring is still your FICO credit score. That’s not in dispute. It’s by far the most [...]

By Erica Sandberg Dear Erica, This month we are unable to pay our credit card bills for the first time. We have no more money to give after paying for our house and food. My husband has been out of a job for eight months, and I am working at Target which supplies us benefits [...]

By Jason Alderman Valentine’s Day may have just ended, but that shouldn’t stop you from talking about your financial future as a couple to keep your relationship on a healthy footing. In any marriage, major life changes may require you to reassess how you manage the family finances. Unfortunately, many couples don’t make time to [...]

By Matt Bell When you’re getting to know the person you’re thinking about marrying there’s so much to learn. Some of it comes about through questions as you ask each other about past experiences and future goals. Some of it also comes about through observation. Does he respect his parents? Is she usually on time? But it isn’t always [...]

By Sara Gilbert Your credit report and credit score are a summary of your bill paying history that will affect your ability to purchase items on credit. Taking good care of your personal credit report and score could save you thousands of dollars in interest over your life time, and give you the buying power you [...]

Parents have any number of reasons for wanting an adult child to marry: They want you to have companionship. They want you to be settled. They want grandchildren. But a new survey suggests there’s also a financial argument for getting married. According to Charles Schwab, the investment management company, married people are more likely to [...]

By Gail Cunningham Halloween tricks or treats come along only once a year, but the consequences of financial decisions usually last far past the next spooky holiday. Options that seem good on the surface, if not handled properly, can have long-lasting negative consequences. To understand how a seemingly good financial move can work against you, [...]