How to Get Out of Debt: Guides & Help
Plain-English guides on credit card debt help, settlement, consolidation, collections and rebuilding your credit, written and reviewed by our editors.
Not sure where to start? Compare the main paths out of debt in our debt relief guide, see how programs stack up in our debt relief company reviews, or run the numbers with a free debt payoff calculator.
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Is Your Spouse’s Debt Your Problem Too? It Depends on Where You Live
Married doesn’t automatically mean you owe your spouse’s debt. But joint accounts, co-signing, and where you live can change that. Here’s what’s yours, what isn’t, and what’s hard to untangle.
Is Your Credit Card Debt Out of Control? 7 Warning Signs
A maxed-out card with no backup is usually the moment the problem becomes visible, not when it started. Here are 7 real warning signs, and the one test that actually matters.
Can’t Qualify for a HELOC? Home Equity Investment Pros and Cons
Can’t qualify for a HELOC? A home equity investment gives you cash with no monthly payments, but the repayment can be large. Here’s how to weigh it.
Debt Already in Collections? Here’s How Paying It Off Actually Works
Paying off a collection seems simple: you owe money, you send money, it’s done. The order you do things in matters more than people expect.
What People Actually Regret About Filing Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy itself usually isn’t the regret. What people wish they’d known is almost always something that happened in the months before they filed.
What People Actually Regret About Enrolling in Debt Settlement
Debt settlement can resolve debt for less than what’s owed. What’s harder to picture ahead of time is everything that happens between signing up and getting there.
What People Actually Regret After Taking Out a Debt Consolidation Loan
One loan, one payment, lower interest, done. For a lot of people it works. But when it goes wrong, it usually traces back to something that never got checked before signing.
A 0% Balance Transfer Can Save You Money. Here’s How It Backfires
0% APR balance transfer ads never walk you through the actual math. Skip that part, and the same move that was supposed to help your credit can leave you worse off than when you started.
One Form, a Dozen Phone Calls: How Lead Generators Actually Work
One form asking about debt relief, and suddenly your phone won’t stop ringing with companies you never called. Here’s what actually happened, and the one question that would’ve stopped it.
Does the “Big Beautiful Bill” Erase Credit Card Debt? Don’t Fall for This Scam
Ads claiming the “Big Beautiful Bill” will erase your debt are spreading fast, and the IRS has already warned people about them. Here’s how to tell the real law from the fake promise.