Federal law gives you free credit reports, disputes, and credit freezes, plus a way to stop preapproved offers. Learn the yearly routine that uses each one.

Refinancing a personal loan pays only when the new rate, fee included, beats your current rate and the total cost still falls. Learn how to run the numbers.

Many credit cards repay a canceled or cut-short trip, and some cover long delays, if you paid with the card. Learn what to check before buying travel insurance.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy can stop a foreclosure and spread missed mortgage payments over years, but only a finished plan saves ...

Hire a bankruptcy lawyer who files cases like yours in your court and puts a flat fee in writing. Find out which questions to ask before you pay anything.

Airlines pay volunteers to give up seats on oversold flights, and the first offer is negotiable. Learn what to ask for before ...

Your windshield oil change sticker rarely matches your carmaker’s schedule, and on most newer cars the manual calls for fewer ...

Debt settlement can cut what you owe, but fees, any tax on the forgiven debt, and credit damage eat into the savings. Find ...

Major issuers like American Express and Bank of America accept an ITIN in place of a Social Security number. Find out how to ...

Carrying a credit card balance? New purchases collect interest from day one. See how to switch to debit without hurting your ...

Earning too much for grants is no reason to skip the FAFSA. It’s also the federal loan application and a gateway to some ...

Medical credit cards often use deferred interest, so a small leftover balance costs interest on the whole bill. Find out what ...