To understand the anatomy of a credit score, you should begin by looking at a credit report, what it includes and how it is used by lenders. The credit score breakdown is based on information available to credit bureaus in a credit report.  

Credit scores are numbers that evaluate your creditworthiness and financial health. They are issued by credit bureaus or other consumer reporting agencies and are used by lenders to evaluate consumers for credit approval, terms and interest rates. In the U.S., there are three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Most credit scores are issued by one of these three. A credit score is generated when a bureau or other reporting agency runs consumer information through a scoring model; FICO…

Most people in debt share a common goal: to pay it off quickly and save as much money as possible. No one wants to spend more than they have to. Fortunately, there are many different ways to get out of debt faster and for less money. Consider six of the cheapest ways to get out of debt and find the solution that is right for you. 

Debt consolidation is a common method of refinancing that involves paying off high-interest debt with a new lower-interest loan.

A personal loan is money borrowed from a bank, credit union, family member, or online lender. Many different types of loans fall into this category. Most have a fixed interest rate that allows borrowers to make predictable payments to repay the debt. 

Not having access to cash when you need it is stressful and inconvenient. A cash advance is a short-term cash loan made against an existing line of credit. An advance allows you to use your credit card to get cash from an ATM or bank. Just like any credit used on a credit card, a cash advance needs to be paid back and will accrue interest.

Most of us have been in a situation where we’ve needed to borrow money. For some, borrowing comes in the form of student loans for college expenses, a mortgage for a new home, or a personal line of credit to start a new business. For others, borrowing has allowed them to make ends meet when they were in a financial bind.

If you need to consolidate and pay off existing debt, but have concerns about your credit score and finances, you may be considering bad credit loans. Using a bad credit loan to consolidate existing debt may seem like a good idea, but it’s not your only option. It’s important to understand the risks and consider all alternatives before making a decision.

An Installment loan is any loan that is paid back in regular increments over a predetermined repayment period. Most installment loans are paid back monthly with interest. Some have additional fees that cover administrative costs or penalties.

A personal line of credit is very similar to a credit card. A lender will check your credit score, verify your income and issue you a credit line for a certain amount. With a line of credit, you can access the funds when you need them as long as you have an available balance.