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How Misinformation Can Hurt Couples Financially, and What You Should Know Instead Marriage is an exciting new chapter, but it also brings with it complex decisions, especially around money and credit. Unfortunately, there are many myths about how credit works in marriage that can lead couples down the wrong financial path. Whether you’re newly married, planning to get hitched, or navigating a second marriage, it’s time to clear the air. 💪 And BTW, my subtle flex is that I ea

Do not let credit cards use you to destroy your wealth. You have the power to use credit cards to build your wealth. Credit cards can strain or cause arguments in a relationship. As a matter of fact, couples who disagree about financial matters are twice as likely to divorce as those on the same page about their finances. Not being on the same page about financial risks is the strongest predictor of divorce. Managing money as a couple is as much an art as a science. The only

Yes, my wife and I both had perfect credit scores. We manage our money as a team, and my job as a teammate is to manage our credit. I'm obsessive about it, and proud. Two weeks ago, I received an Experian alert that my FICO® Score dropped 20 points. Not because I missed a payment. Not because I maxed out a credit card. Not because of fraud or financial trouble. The drop happened because we paid off our mortgage and are now debt-free. After years of intentionally building, los

Modern credit cards are engineered for ease. Tap to pay. Autopay by default. Subscriptions that renew quietly in the background. Rewards that make spending feel productive instead of costly. Convenience is not inherently bad. But when convenience replaces awareness, couples pay a hidden price. According to the CFPB , consumers disputed nearly $10 billion in credit card charges in one year. Forty percent of those disputes came from canceled recurring transactions such as subsc

Many credit cards with annual fees offer valuable perks, including higher cashback rates, travel rewards, airport lounge access, and purchase protections. But these benefits only matter if you actually use them. If you're not traveling often or spending in the right categories, those perks might not justify the extra cost. When evaluating whether a credit card with an annual fee is right for you, ask yourself a few key questions: Will the rewards or savings you earn outweigh

If you have ever tracked your credit closely, you know how rare that number is. I had earned a perfect score before, lost it , and now earned it again. My FICO® Score landed at a perfect 850. Fast forward to November of 2025 and I noticed I did it again. Here is the important part. Getting there was not about (many) clever hacks, secret formulas, or financial wizardry. It was about boring consistency, clear roles, and my wife and I managing money like teammates instead of ass

Credit card debt rarely shows up all at once. It sneaks in quietly. A few months of higher grocery bills. Travel booked during a stressful season. One unexpected expense that never quite gets paid off. Before long, the balance is bigger than either partner expected, and the tension around it feels heavier than the number itself. That heaviness is not just psychological. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , the average credit card balance now exceeds $5,300

My first reaction when I read that consumers are signing up for 100-month car loans was heartbreak. Not frustration. Not judgment. Heartbreak. A 100-month car loan belongs in the same category as a 50-year mortgage. Both are signals of a deeper affordability crisis. Millions of Americans are doing everything they can to meet basic needs, and the math simply is not working anymore. When the only way to afford a necessary purchase is to stretch debt across nearly a decade, the

One of the most common hurdles couples face is dealing with credit card debt—a burden that can strain even the strongest bonds. Credit card debt is particularly troublesome during and just following holiday seasons. 37% of Americans racked up holiday debt in 2025, averaging $1,223 — up from $1,181 last year. The average for parents was $1,324, according to a new report by LendingTree . Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst, said in a statement to CNBC , “

In a dual-career household, financial teamwork is everything. But one number can make or break your ability to rent a home, buy a car, or...

When used wisely, introductory APR offers can be a powerful tool for managing debt or making strategic purchases. But if misunderstood or misused, they can backfire—leaving you buried under interest charges. As a national financial education expert and Accredited Financial Counselor®, I’ve seen how easy it is for everyday people to fall into this trap. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead. What Is an Introductory APR? An introductory APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is a pr

Credit scores quietly shape major decisions in our lives—buying a home, getting a car, renting an apartment, even landing a job. And in a...

Table of Contents What is a credit score? How is your credit score calculated? The five key credit building hacks I used Predict how...

I am not a credit card hater. Quite the opposite, actually. Using credit cards strategically and appropriately can lead to higher credit...

The Trump administration has neutered the government's consumer watchdog, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Since taking...

For many homeowners, the mortgage payment is the largest monthly expense. But what happens when you find yourself unable to make this...

Credit cards can be powerful tools for managing money and building credit—when used correctly. But without clear knowledge, they can also...

A particularly concerning trend: more Americans are using BNPL to pay for groceries. Usage jumped from 14% to 25% between 2021 and 2025 (...

A friend emailed me the Wall Street Journal article, One Man's Attempt to Get a Perfect 850 Credit Score . It resonated with me. As I...

You may have seen headlines such as this on Thursday, January 16th: " Biden announces final round of student loan forgiveness, bringing...