5 million people helped and counting  >  Call 1-800-498-1659 or Get Started Now
Debt relief news
"The biggest benefits of being on a program is having credit card interest rates lowered and getting all my bills paid on time."Roland H., Medina, OHCareOne Customer

Debt Relief News

Want to learn even more about debt relief, credit counseling, and debt consolidation? Take a look at the articles below for the latest news in the debt management industry.
  • 5 Bankruptcy Myths Debunked US News 5/14/2012

    Legal technology provider Epiq Systems estimates that 1.21 to 1.25 million Americans will file for bankruptcy this year, down from 1.38 million last year. Read More.

  • College loans follow some to old age Orlando Sentinel 5/14/2012

    Almost 2 million people at least 60 years old are still paying on student loans, according to a recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. That's more than 5 percent of the 37 million who have student loans, the study found. Read More.

  • It matters where you live and whether you're in debt MSNBC 5/11/2012

    A study out this week from Pew Charitable Trusts finds that where you live matters a lot in terms of whether you can achieve the American Dream of moving up the economic ladder. The study was good news for residents of New York and New Jersey and not as cheery for those who live in Louisiana and South Carolina. Read More.

  • Retired couples may need $240,000 for health care Associated Press 5/10/2012

    Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago, according to an annual projection released Wednesday by Fidelity Investments. Read More.

  • Youth Sports: Are They Worth the Expense? Enemy of Debt 5/10/2012

    have seen parents rack up serious credit card debt just so their kid can play and “look good” on the field. If the expense of youth sports does not fit in your budget you are going to need to make some adjustments or just say no. Read More.

  • Financial infidelity: Hidden credit cards most common CBS News 5/10/2012

    Financial infidelity is not as common as you might think, with 92% of Americans saying that they never hide the details of their financial lives from a significant other. But of the roughly 6 million - or 7% -- who do, the thing they are most often hiding is a credit card account, according to a new poll by CreditCards.com. Read More.

  • Pay off debt or save for retirement? MSN Money 5/10/2012

    One thing I found interesting is how my approach to this topic has changed over the five years I've blogged at The Dough Roller. Today, my starting point would be to prioritize savings and debt repayment. Let me explain. Read More.

  • 12 Financial Tips For Debt-Burdened New Grads Forbes 5/09/2012

    So instead of waiting for the politicians, here are ten things new grads can do to take control over their student loan debt and the rest of their financial future. Read More.

  • Is America Struggling With A Shadow Unemployment Crisis? Huffington Post 5/08/2012

    The short answer is: half, U-5 probably tells you everything you need to know, and women are going to play the most interesting role as it evolves. Read More.

  • New College Grads: Just Say No to More Debt! Forbes 5/08/2012

    For sure the perks are tempting. But truth is, on top of student loan debt, many students are already saddled with credit card debt. Do they need yet another card? Will they spend more than they should in the almighty chase for rewards? You have to notice what’s missing on the list — a 0% transfer balance student credit card. Why not? One could argue that such a card would actually be helpful in managing their finances, if anybody was looking out for their best interest. Read More.

  • Putting Economics Back in Home Economics Huffington Post 5/07/2012

    Fortunately, the solution to this widespread ignorance is already at hand: Home Economics. The age-old course should be repurposed for our financially-turbulent era. Instead of teaching flower arranging or button attaching, Home Ec should teach what its title purports: economics for the home. Read More.

  • Too broke to go bankrupt CNN Money 5/07/2012

    The average cost to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, the most common form of consumer bankruptcy, is more than $1,500, according to recent research submitted to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Read More.

  • Reasons Abound for Ebb in Job Growth New York Times 5/04/2012

    The nation’s employers are creating jobs at less than half the pace they were when this year began, according to a government report released Friday. Read More.

  • As college grads enter work force, still no debt solution Chicago Tribune 5/04/2012

    Finding ways to deal with mounting student debt has been on the forefront of the minds of legislators, educators and students throughout the school year. Read More.

  • 5 ways to balance retirement and college savings Associated Press 5/03/2012

    The cost of a college education continues to rise faster than inflation, at roughly 5 percent per year. The average sticker-price for four years at a private college is now more than $150,000 — including $38,589 for the 2011-12 school year. Even going to your state's university runs close to half that total at an average $17,131 a year, according to the College Board. Read More.

  • Sizing Up Debt San Francisco Chronicle 5/03/2012

    In recent years, many Americans have become quite familiar with the different types of financing solutions available to them - whether it is in the form of student loans used for higher education, a home mortgage, an automobile note or the all-too-familiar staple of consumer debt: credit cards. Read More.

  • Obama's Slow Jam Obscures Student Loan Problems US News 5/02/2012

    One item that's been getting a lot of press attention lately is the interest rate increase on subsidized Stafford loans from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, scheduled to take place on July 1. The increase would raise the cost of repayment by an average of $1,000 each for around seven million undergraduates. Read More.

  • Debt inequality is the new income inequality CNN 5/02/2012

    The bottom 95% of Americans have seen debt levels balloon compared to their earnings over the past 20 years or so, as falling incomes made them more dependent on credit to maintain their lifestyles. Read More.

  • Setting Goals For Financial Independence Since My Divorce 5/01/2012

    Setting up financial goals to achieve financial independence is important for everyone, not just those going through a divorce. Read More.

  • Overwhelming Majority of Americans Say Personal Finances Need Major Overhaul PR Web 5/01/2012

    According to the April poll hosted on the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website, when asked to describe the state of their personal financial situation, 80 percent of more than 1,400 respondents admitted their finances were in need of a major overhaul. Read More.

  • Student loan debt: The overvalue (and underuse) of higher education Baltimore Sun 4/30/2012

    Young people face a cruel irony. Most can't land a decent job without a college education, yet many graduates are locked into poorly paying positions that don't permit repayment of student loans. Read More.

  • Mysterious Credit Card Charges: Why You Need to Check Your Bills Time 4/30/2012

    In an attempt to slow the flow of stolen cards, the FBI announced on Thursday that it had shut down 36 sites that were selling them. The sites operated like any traditional eCommerce site, the FBI said, with buyers actually putting stolen credit card numbers into an online shopping cart for purchase. Undercover agents bought card numbers issued by banks including Bank of America, SunTrust, and Capital One, according to the FBI. Read More.

  • Who's teaching your kids about money? CNN 4/30/2012

    Debit cards, credit cards, saving and borrowing money – you probably learned a lot of what you know about personal finance from your own life experiences. But in a world of economic uncertainty, rising college costs and social media that can target some of the youngest consumers, financial literacy may be more important than ever for your kids. Read More.

  • Credit counselors answer questions about credit and debt USA Today 4/28/2012

    Financial literacy is sort of like the weather: everybody talks about it. But are we becoming smarter about our money? Recent surveys suggest that we're not: Young adults fare poorly on financial literacy tests, and their parents don't do very well, either. As Financial Literacy Month comes to a close, USA TODAY teamed up with members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to answer some frequently asked questions about credit cards, credit scores, student loans and other types of debt. Read More.

  • Can Money Mismanagement Kill Your Marriage? Fox Business 4/26/2012

    Begin with sharing goals, understanding each other's perspective, swearing off secrets, and preparing yourselves for the inevitable change in course when the markets or your jobs don't go your way, and you need to re-evaluate your strategy. Read More.

  • How the Great Recession Changed Generations' Money Views Fox Business 4/26/2012

    Depression-era kids grew up as penny pinchers and accrued significant savings when retirement rolled around. Their kids however--the baby boomer generation--are finding their nest eggs underfunded. Generation Y struggles with starting careers and paying debt but the extent of how the Great Recession will impact their money habits in the future remains to be seen. Read More.

  • Failing Financial Literacy? Enemy of Debt 4/26/2012

    Financial Literacy Month is a great time to take a look at how we are doing when it comes to making the grade with our financial knowledge. Millions of Americans are failing miserably and among them, are college students. With little financial finesse and the freedom to make their own decisions many are starting their financial lives in need of debt help. Read More.

  • Forget Credit Scores: The Case for Credit Grades Forbes 4/26/2012

    America’s current average national credit score of 660 suggests that our credit health is failing. Read More.

  • Studies Reveal the Cure for Financial Stress Wall Street Journal 4/25/2012

    A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that money was respondents' leading source of stress. And, an Associated Press/AOL, poll comparing those with high debt-stress with those who had low debt-stress, found the following. Read More.

  • Stay At Home Parents…Denied! Everything Finance 4/25/2012

    The law requires credit card issuers to carefully consider a consumer’s repayment capability before opening a new account or increasing credit limits on an existing account. As a result a stay at home parent with no “income” is unable to participate in credit related decisions, only the breadwinner can. Read More.

  • 5 Questions to End Debt Problems US News 4/24/2012

    But in my experience, the root causes of being in debt are a bit more subtle than this. The problem starts well before you pull out your credit card. Read More.

  • 5 Strategies to Pay Down Credit Card Debt US News 4/23/2012

    If you're one of the many Americans with sizable credit card debt and you just received a fat tax refund, you might be trying to find out how you can use part of that money to help escape the monthly grind of credit card payments. Read More.

  • Teaching Children the Value of a Dollar in a Debt-Filled World Huffington Post 4/23/2012

    If children don't learn the principles of saving, spending and charitable giving at home, they don't learn it at all. Financial literacy is not taught in our schools and more importantly, parents need to impart their own personal financial values onto their children. Parents need to guide their children when it comes to how much they should save for a rainy day, when it's appropriate to reward yourself, and what's appropriate to give to charities and personal causes. Read More.

  • Scary Retirement Numbers--No Matter How You Calculate Them Fox Business 4/23/2012

    The average baby boomer will fall far short on their necessary retirement income. About 44% short.That’s the grim prediction in a new study by Fidelity Investments which looked at average amounts saved, projected Social Security benefits, home equity and other factors across three demographic groups: baby boomers, Gen-Xers, and Generation Y (aka echo boomers). Read More.

  • Student-loan debt seen as growing threat to the economy Seattle Times 4/21/2012

    The Fairness for Struggling Students Act would allow students who borrowed from private lenders for their education to wipe out that debt in bankruptcy proceedings. Read More.

  • Managing Credit: Too Much Of A Good Thing CBS News 4/20/2012

    The average cardholder swipes the credit card 119 times a year with transactions averaging $88. Doing the math that is over $10,000 ($10,500) in credit card purchases. Read More.

  • More Americans ‘Flunk’ Themselves in Personal Finance Time 4/20/2012

    Indeed, 42% of Americans give themselves a grade of C, D or F when it comes to personal finance, according to the 2012 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association. Read More.

  • The War on Women: Why Stay-at-Home Moms Need Permission to Get Credit US News 4/19/2012

    True, one consequence of the law is that stay-at-home parents will not be able to apply for a card at Macy’s on their own; and true, that in itself can be a humiliation. But for victims of financial abuse, the law’s impact is far greater. They may be cut off from credit altogether, or their abusers may ruin their credit and leave mountains of debt in their names. They may find leaving that much harder. Read More.

  • Banks Pitch Prepaid Cards On College Campuses Wall Street Journal 4/19/2012

    More banks are hawking prepaid cards as they try to win over the college crowd, a once lucrative market that analysts say is less profitable because of regulatory restrictions on credit and debit cards. Read More.

  • A Reorganization of Your Finances BounceBack 4/18/2012

    Spring is upon us and I feel the urge to purge - excess clutter that is. The same can be done with your finances. After facing a divorce it can be tough to look at the mountains of paperwork and files that are lying all over your desk, but it is definitely a necessary task. Read More.

  • Student Loans Drive Grads to Delay Marriage, Children Wall Street Journal 4/18/2012

    High school's Class of 2012 is getting ready for college, with students in their late teens and early 20s facing one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make. Read More.

  • Survey: Debt affecting many workers' retirement savings Fox Business 4/16/2012

    More than half of U.S. workers are consistently carrying balances on credit cards and are worried about not having enough in savings to pay for unexpected expenses, according to the PwC 2012 Financial Wellness Survey. Read More.

  • Financially Responsible Men Are Attractive Dating Diva 4/16/2012

    Being in the dating game often involves an endless sea of dates, some more memorable than others. But, when you are ready to settle down the things you look for in your potential soul mate are subject to change. After all, this is someone you plan to spend the rest of your life with, maybe even have children with. Financially responsible men are very attractive to many women looking for Mr. Right. Read More.

  • Paying Off Debt? Stretch Your Dollars Business Insider 4/13/2012

    But, there’s some good news. By reducing your spending and putting that money toward your debt, you can shave a significant amount of time off your debt repayment. Read More.

  • Turn the Tables on Your Debt to Savings Ratio Enemy of Debt 4/12/2012

    One in four Americans has more debt than savings. A recent survey by Bankrate.com found that 25 percent of Americans have more credit card debt than they have in emergency savings. Yikes, that is definitely a scary statistic. But, you don’t have to let it happen to you! Read More.

  • The Unexpected Budget Buster: Medical Expenses Daily Money Shot 4/12/2012

    No one expects to face a medical emergency or a life changing illness, but it’s important to plan for them. Since I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been I will be facing the consequences for quite some time. Read More.

  • Kids & Cash: Credit Cards CBS News 4/12/2012

    Eighty-four percent of undergraduates hold at least one credit card, and half have at least four cards and most (82%) maintain a balance thus incurring finance charges each month. Add that to the average school loan debt of $25,000 and you have a kid who is on the brink of disaster. Read More.

  • Infographic: Power of the Extra Dollar - Credit Card Debt Continues to Decline As More Consumers Take Control of Their Finances PR Web 4/10/2012

    Nobody wants to pay more than they have to. But paying even just an extra dollar on credit card bills can save money in the long run as illustrated in CreditDonkey.com new educational infographic. Read More.

  • CareOne Customer Reaches Halfway Mark of Debt Management Plan and Shares "I've Been in Your Shoes" Yahoo News 4/10/2012

    Travis Pizel, a CareOne customer, is halfway through his journey out of debt and is sharing his family’s experience of life on a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Read More.

  • Survey: Students fail the credit card test CreditCards.com 4/08/2012

    Those are among the discouraging findings of an academic paper on credit card debt and the larger, even more troubling issue of general financial literacy on campus. Results of the survey, conducted by researchers from five American universities, were published in April 2012, coinciding with Financial Literacy Month, and the findings are disquieting. Read More.

  • Are these questionable charges on your credit card? A good list to check MSNBC 4/06/2012

    Here’s a handy list of credit card charges that consumers have complained about during the first part of 2012. Do any of them appear on your credit card? Read on to find out why you should probably pull out your statements and check them. Read More.

  • Consumers borrow more, Fed reports Associated Press 4/06/2012

    Americans took out more loans to buy cars and attend school in February but used their credit cards less frequently for the second straight month. Read More.

  • Debit Card or Credit Card? Which one is best for you? Since My Divorce 4/05/2012

    When you obtain a new checking account you will most likely be asked if you would like a debit card complete with a VISA or MasterCard logo that is attached to your account. Of course with a debit card you can only spend as much as you have available in your account, so tracking purchases will be an important task to stay on top of. Read More.

  • Unemployment rate: How low can it go? CNN Money 4/04/2012

    The answer is being debated among two camps of prominent economic thinkers. One school of thought says that unemployment will return to around 5% as the economy eventually recovers. But an opposing view states that permanent changes in the labor market mean higher unemployment is here to stay. Read More.

  • One in three Americans paying bills late: survey Chicago Sun Times 4/04/2012

    The survey, released Tuesday to recognize Financial Literacy Month, also revealed that 39 percent carry over credit card debt from month to month; two in five are saving less than they were a year ago and 39 percent have no day-to-day savings. Read More.

  • Single Mom’s are You a Statistic? Post Divorce Chronicles 4/03/2012

    So, am I statistic because of my gender and the fact that I have a child? Let’s take a look at why more women than men seek debt help. Read More.

  • Is it Okay to Talk About Debt Money Talks Coach 4/03/2012

    Today millions of Americans are struggling with debt and have found that talking about it really helps. Not only do they see someone else that has been in, or is in their shoes, but they have found they can learn from them. I see this happening everyday in our online community. We even have several folks who blog about their journey out of debt. Their candid stories show that being in debt is hard, but making the sacrifices to get out of debt are much easier than they ever would have thought. Read More.

  • Tax breaks for underwater homeowners Reuters 4/02/2012

    About 11 million homeowners owe more than their homes are worth, according to real estate data firm CoreLogic, and while taxes may not be the first thing they think about in deciding what to do, all the various options have tax consequences. Read More.

  • Security breach: How to protect your credit CBS Money Watch 4/02/2012

    Not directly. But there are a few things you can do to monitor your credit and make sure that your cards aren't being used without your permission. Read More.

  • Senior citizens continue to bear burden of student loans Washington Post 4/02/2012

    New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that Americans 60 and older still owe about $36 billion in student loans, providing a rare window into the dynamics of student debt. More than 10 percent of those loans are delinquent. As a result, consumer advocates say, it is not uncommon for Social Security checks to be garnished or for debt collectors to harass borrowers in their 80s over student loans that are decades old. Read More.

  • Credit card security breach: What do you do CBS News 3/31/2012

    Data from the accounts of up to three million credit card holders has been compromised by a security breach in a third-party service provider. Read More.

  • Consumer Reports: Prepaid Card Fees Starting to Drop But Consumers Still at Risk Because of Poor Disclosure & Weak Consumer Protections Market Watch 3/29/2012

    A new Consumer Reports analysis of prepaid cards has found that industry competition is beginning to help bring down fees, but fees aren't always disclosed up front and can still add up quickly. Moreover, prepaid cards also offer weaker consumer protections than those provided by traditional debit cards. Read More.

  • CareOne Debt Relief Services Launches New Campaign, Second Chances Yahoo News 3/29/2012

    Founder of CareOne Debt Relief Services talks about how his experience with debt makes him believe in second chances. Read More.

  • Uncle Sam Wants to Know: Did You Have Debt Forgiven? Enemy of Debt 3/29/2012

    So in a desperate attempt to keep their finances afloat many have turned to settling their debts. Settling a debt is certainly damaging to your credit, but to make matters worse, Uncle Sam wants his take as well. If you have a debt forgiven it is important to know that the amount of forgiven debt is taxable and could mean an unexpected tax bill. Read More.

  • Financial Literacy Month Marks the Launch of the National Financial Educators Councils Financial EduNation Personal Finance Programs PR Web 3/29/2012

    The National Financial Educators Council launches new Financial EduNation personal finance programs over April, which marks Financial Literacy Month in the United States. Read More.

  • How to manage, or better yet avoid, student loan debt MSNBC 3/28/2012

    If you already have student loan debt, Consumer Reports recommends taking control of the situation. Figure out how much debt you have, to whom you owe it and what repayment options you have.If you can’t afford your payments, you may be able to get a deferment or even take a job or do a volunteer program that would qualify you for loan forgiveness. Read More.

  • Roth IRA: A savings account for emergencies, college, home and heirs Oregon Live 3/27/2012

    Today is Roth IRA Movement day, an idea promoted by Illinois-based certified financial planner and blogger Jeff Rose. You'll find more than 100 personal finance bloggers today extolling the virtues of this savings account. Read More.

  • Brainless Money Rules to Live By US News 3/26/2012

    U.S. News recently spoke with Chatzky about why people complicate financial decisions and whether the recession has changed the rules. Read More.

  • Why Consumers are Choosing to Pay Credit Card Bills Before Mortgage Fox Business 3/26/2012

    According to Wise, mortgage delinquencies were a key factor for the rise. The number of homeowners at least 60 days late in making their mortgage payment rose slightly in the second half of last year. In addition, he says credit card issuers have returned to reaching out to non-prime consumers, offering to open new accounts, albeit at premium interest rates. “That’s affecting the risk profile of the overall group.” And, of course, we were in “holiday” mode, a time when folks traditionally ramp up their credit card use. Read More.

  • Digging Out of Debt LA Times 3/25/2012

    U.S. households owe a combined $11.5 trillion on credit cards, car loans, mortgages and other consumer debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Read More.

  • Student Loan Forgiveness Act seeks help for $1T student debt forecast for 2012 Examiner 3/24/2012

    Student loan debt has become greater than credit card debt in the United States and Representative Hansen Clarke (D-Michigan) is doing something about it. He introduced the Student Loan Forgiveness Act to the House of Representatives on March 8 that would make student loans easier to repay. In an article in the March 21st U.S. News & World Report, student loan debt is on its way to exceed $1,000,000,000,000 by the end of 2012. Read More.

  • Pay Down Your Debt With a Part Time Job Serendipity's Guide to Savings 3/22/2012

    The job market today is tough—especially for those attending college or have just graduated. Recent unemployment statistics are still grim despite the hype that “things are looking up.” A recent USA Today article states that, “The unemployment rate dropped for the fifth straight month, to 8.3% — the lowest in nearly three years.” While that may be good news for some, those new to the job market or looking for additional part time income may still struggle to find the solution that they need. Read More.

  • Student-Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion Wall Street Journal 3/22/2012

    Total student debt outstanding appears to have surpassed $1 trillion late last year, said officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency created in the wake of the financial crisis. That would be roughly 16% higher than an estimate earlier this year by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Read More.

  • Report: 38% of Us Can't Afford a Financial Emergency Huffington Post 3/21/2012

    Nearly 4 out of 10 consumers admit to having just enough money to pay their monthly bills with no cushion leftover for financial emergencies, reveals a report from Yahoo! Finance and Fitness Magazine. Read More.

  • New Marketing Effort Embraces Transparency through Social Media PR Web 3/21/2012

    In the debt relief industry transparency is difficult to come by, CareOne Debt Relief Services leads the Category with a new Innovative Marketing Effort. Read More.

  • Financial Tips During A Presidential Election Season Forbes 3/21/2012

    For many, we are in the midst of a historically controversial debate about how much Americans should rely on the federal government to provide a sustainable social safety net. Therefore, as we prepare for what should prove to be a tumultuous presidential election, each of us will have to weigh the perceived impact the outcome of the election might have on our personal finances. Read More.

  • Play Your Credit Cards Right Everything Finance 3/20/2012

    As a certified credit counselor I spend the majority of my day helping people that have gotten in over their heads with credit cards. I am typically not a proponent of credit card use, however when used responsibly you can actually use credit cards to your advantage. Read More.

  • OMG! 20-Somethings Stressed by $45,000 in Average Debt Wall Street Journal 3/19/2012

    Twenty-somethings' mounting debt is taking its toll, as 60 percent of the generation who grew up amid economic growth and graduated into a hard-hitting recession say they feel stressed about their outstanding debt, according to a survey by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Read More.

  • Knowing Your Rights When it Comes to Debt Collections Daily Money Shot 3/18/2012

    It’s no secret that the debt collection agencies are full of controversy and headaches for consumers struggling with debt. According to a new report released by the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA), debt collection agencies recovered $55 billion in debt owed to creditors during 2010. The good news is that there are laws to protect those being sought after by this usually ruthless industry Read More.

  • Jump in gas prices is hurting economic recovery, reports say Boston Herald 3/17/2012

    The government said Friday that its measure of consumer prices in February jumped 0.4 percent from January - the strongest pace since last spring - mostly because of a 6 percent rise in gas prices over the month. Read More.

  • Unmanageable Debt? How to Get Help CNBC 3/16/2012

    With unemployment and home foreclosures still unusually high, consumer debt remains a major problem for many Americans. Read More.

  • Battle of the Sexes, Over Debt? Enemy of Debt 3/15/2012

    In today’s world women are no longer “just staying home” to raise their children. I say “just staying home” as anyone that is a stay at home parent knows that raising children is one of the most difficult jobs you will ever have. Many women are both working full-time and raising their children out of necessity for their family. Whether you are married with kids, divorced with kids or widowed with kids it’s a tough dual role to play, for either parent. Read More.

  • Rules of Renting a Room Since My Divorce 3/15/2012

    After a divorce many of us find ourselves in tough financial situations faced with decisions we would have otherwise not been forced to make. Today’s troubled economy and high unemployment add to our stresses of finding solutions to better our financial situation post divorce. One increasingly popular way to generate additional income is by taking “renters” or “boarders” into your home; you’ll not only defray your rent, but you’ll also be able to recoup a portion of your utility costs. Read More.

  • Credit Card Debt Remains Stable, According to CreditKarma.com Wall Street Journal 3/14/2012

    CreditKarma.com, the consumer's credit advocate, today released its U.S. Credit Score Climate Report with trend data for February 2012. Since January, credit card debt increased slightly to $6,105. Despite this increase, credit card debt is still down 15 percent year-over-year. Read More.

  • Who Pays for What? Two Happy Homes 3/14/2012

    If you have been through a divorce with children in tow most likely you have gone through many battles with your ex regarding child support; how much, what it’s used for, who pays for your child’s “extras”. Read More.

  • Helping children avoid life’s financial pitfall Boston Globe 3/13/2012

    Some people wreck their credit before they learn to drive, author and consumer advocate Remar Sutton says in a video introduction to the FoolProof Initiative, a free online financial training program designed by and for teens and college students. “Bankruptcy for people under 25 now makes up a huge and growing portion of all bankruptcies. Read More.

  • 5 things banks don't want you to know CBS News 3/13/2012

    Do you think your financial institution tells you everything you need to know? Don't bank on it. Read More.

  • Financial Exhaustion Hitting Many Seniors US News 3/12/2012

    On paper, consumer price inflation has been tame, personal incomes are modestly higher, and measures of senior poverty are reassuringly low. But in the real world, prices for many consumer items are much higher, especially in poorer neighborhoods without Wal-Marts and other price-conscious retailers. Incomes for many seniors are not rising. And many older households are experiencing what can best be called financial exhaustion. Read More.

  • Consumers Still Buried In Credit Card Debt US News 3/12/2012

    It seems old habits die hard, according to a new study by credit card comparison website CardHub, which found that consumers are charging more on their credit cards again. Read More.

  • CDC Study Finds 1 in 5 Families Struggling With Medical Debt, Shows Urgency of Need to Curb Insurance Rates Sacramento Bee 3/07/2012

    The first large-scale survey of Americans about their problems with medical debt show 1 in 5 are burdened by medical debt and half of them are unable to pay the debt at all. Having health insurance is a key to being able to pay for medical care, said the Consumer Watchdog Campaign, but spiraling insurance rates have left millions of Americans uninsured or badly underinsured. A ballot initiative proposed in California would make health insurance more affordable by regulating premium increases, and give the state the ability to curb excessive rates before they go into effect. Read More.

  • PerkStreet March Personal Finance Pulse Reveals Bright Future for Gen Y Bradenton Herald 3/07/2012

    Young people coming of age in this challenging financial landscape just might end up better for it. A majority (56.5%) of the personal finance writers surveyed believe Gen Y has been prepared as well or better than Gen X to successfully manage their finances during their lifetimes. Of that 56.5%, some 34.8% report believing Gen Y is better off, and 21.7% say they believe Gen Y and Gen X are equally prepared. Read More.

  • Couples Managing Money: Combining Laundry & Finances Dating Diva 3/07/2012

    You meet someone, you date for a few months, and then before you know it your clothes are tumbling along each other in the dryer, and your sharing bills? Read More.

  • Student loan totals in U.S. now higher than auto, credit card balances Nasdaq 3/06/2012

    A new report from the New York Fed entitled " Grading Student Loans " examined the trends from Q2 to Q3 2011 and concluded that student loans now represent a bigger portion of the total U.S. private debt balance than credit cards and auto loans. The report drew from Equifax and the Fed's Quarterly Report, which began publishing data in the middle of 2010. It should surprise no one that of the 37 million student loan borrowers in the country, nearly 40 percent are under the age of 30 and nearly 67 percent are younger than 40. This cohort holds a nearly identical proportion of the total $870 billion balance, with each borrower owing nearly $30,000. Read More.

  • Medical bills can cause lingering credit pain MSNBC 3/05/2012

    Congress is considering legislation — the Medical Debt Responsibility Act — that would require credit agencies to delete paid-off medical debt from credit reports within 45 days.” We’re not talking about somebody buying a big screen television and not having the ability to pay. This is debt incurred because of a health condition. That makes medical debt unique," said bill co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, an Illinois Republican. The bill has bipartisan support in the House, said co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a North Carolina Democrat. Shuler said the health care industry sends delinquent bills to debt collectors quicker than any other industry. Read More.

  • When financial rules are wrong Christian Science Monitor 3/02/2012

    The key is to spend some time really learning about every decision you make, from the enormous ones like choosing a career path to the little ones like choosing a blender. The more you know, the better decision you’ll make. The better the decision, the more likely you’re going to wind up with money in your pocket over the long run. Read More.

  • One in four Americans has more debt than savings MSNBC 2/21/2012

    A survey by Bankrate.com released Tuesday found that 25 percent of Americans have more credit card debt than they have in emergency savings, and that spells trouble if an emergency situation actually hits. Read More.

  • Consumer bureau targets fine print CNN Money 2/21/2012

    The country's new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking aim at big financial firms and small print, while itself enduring fire inside the Beltway. Read More.

  • Credit Card Disclosures: Effective or Not? ABC News 2/21/2012

    Given the disclosure, more consumers opted to pay more than the minimum, and some of them, some of the time, chose to pay the 3-year-payoff amount. But consumers who chose this option tended to be those with higher credit balances, those who paid more slowly and those with lower credit ratings. Even when paying the higher amount, they were consumers going ever more deeply into debt. Read More.

  • 20 Ways NOT to Teach Your Kids About Money Saving Advice 2/20/2012

    There’s a lot of talk about how parents can prepare their kids for financial independence, but it’s just as important to point out ways that parents can unknowingly hurt their children’s financial success. If you haven’t started teaching your kids about how to be financially responsible, now is the time to begin. It’s never too early or too late to brush up on the best ways NOT to teach your kids about money (and how to avoid these unhelpful strategies). Read More.

  • The Hidden $1,000 Bonus Obama Put in Your Paycheck Daily Finance 2/18/2012

    According to a survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, fully 66% of Americans didn't even notice that their paycheck had been padded. A New York Times/CBS News poll supports that, showing that most people (53%) think that President Obama has kept taxes the same for the majority of Americans, while 24% think he has raised them, and only 12% are aware that he has lowered them. Read More.

Connect, Share and Learn

Visit My CareOne to personalize your home page with gadgets that let you connect with others, set goals, get expert advice, and more! Enrolled in a plan? Track your progress here!

Check It Out Now!

Success Stories

See how the CareOne service has helped other people take control of their debt.

Learn More

Quizzes and Polls

What's your debt IQ? Take one of our quizzes and find out how much you know about financial fitness.

Take the Quiz Now!

Stay On Track

Subscribe to our newsletter, packed with great articles, tips, and advice to help you make the most of your money.

Subscribe Now!

Looking for more about Debt Consolidation?

Check out the Debt Consolidation Guide, and find out if it's right for you.

Learn More

 
Debt Help - CareOne Debt Relief Services
Offering CareOne Debt Relief Services: