Topics in Critical Condition
Updated - June 29, 2009


How to Get Out of Debt
These 3 steps will change your financial direction.

Car Debt or Credit Debt First?
It's the highest interest debt. Should it be paid off next?

Behind In Credit Card Bills
What do you do when you can't keep up with the bills?

What Are You Willing to “Give Up” to Win Financially?
There are no shortcuts to financial prosperity!

Surviving Layoffs
Layoffs keep derailing his efforts at financial planning.

Spending Choices
Who says that you have to make that purchase?

Finding a New Job
When finding a job is your job.


When money woes hit home, take stock and make a plan
Our expert offers a plan for a family with two young children, a $4,800 monthly mortgage payment, $14,000 in credit card debt and suddenly has been hit with a job loss.

Can't pay? Don't know what to say? Here's a 4-step plan
A step-by-step guide to talking with creditors when there isn't enough cash for a complete payment.

Take responsibility for card overspending
We know times are hard, but when you rack up credit card debt, it's no one else's financial burden but your own.

When family members ruin your credit
Authorized users on your credit card have two freedoms: to rack up debt on your account and to bail when it comes to paying it off.

Credit card debt negotiation in 3 (not) easy steps
You can still dicker over your credit card debt and work out better terms, but expect a marathon, not a sprint.

Prioritize payments wisely to knock down debts
A reader with about $35,000 in debt to various creditors asks our expert which of her many debts she should pay off first.



From Bankruptcy to Financial Peace
"We went through bankruptcy and were headed in that direction again, until we decided to take charge of our money," Randy said.

Things To Do When You are Laid Off
One listener asks Dave to rattle of a list of things to do and look out for when you get laid off, such as how to work a budget and handle your 401k.

Bankruptcy Won't Be Helpful
Mike, a Baby Boomer, thinks his work problems are leading him straight to bankruptcy. That is, until he talks to Dave.

Bankrate: Fighting Foreclosures

With the home equity bubble popping, consumers could find their homes in peril, especially those with adjustable-rate mortgages.

Fight Foreclosure
A number of factors started the housing mess but it ends with homeowners fighting to keep a roof over their heads.

8 Do's and Don'ts for Fighting Foreclosure
What to do and what to avoid in order to avert a financial disaster.

Mortgages: Mortgage Foreclosure Timeline for Day 1 through Day 415
Homeowners have several chances to stop the foreclosure process once it's started. Here are the details to help you keep your house.

Avoiding Foreclosure-Rescue Scams
The convergence of economic and political forces may soon bring about a home-equity version of the stock market crash of 1929.

Double Whammy: Foreclosure and Taxes
Losing your home in a foreclosure is bad enough. Wait until you get the tax bill.

Facing foreclosure? Try a Workout.
If you're in trouble with your mortgage, here are steps to take to work out a solution with your lender.

Foreclosure Counseling for Homeowners
Community organizations offer a less intimidating alternative to banks for homeowners trying to work through foreclosure.

Know-Your-Mortgage Worksheet
Can't keep the terms and conditions on your adjustable-rate mortgage straight? Use this work sheet to pull the key information together on one simple form.

Mortgage Reset Calculator
Do you know what your new mortgage payment will be when your rate adjusts? Use this calculator to find out what your payment would be if your rate was to adjust today.


Bankrate's guide to understanding your debt and getting it under control.

Debt treadmill
Savings are at an all-time low in America, while the debt load continues to climb. How bad is it?

Debt quiz
Find out just how bad your debt and credit problems are. Take our Debt-o-meter quiz.

How credit works
It's tough to manage debt if you don't know how credit works. Learn about good credit and living with no credit.

All about credit reports
Very few documents affect your life like your credit report. Learn how to read your financial history.

Joys of good credit
Good credit can improve your financial health in a lot more ways than most people realize.

Danger ahead
Debt problems don't just suddenly appear. If you're alert for signs of trouble, you can probably avoid them.

Bad credit
Bad credit can hurt a consumer in many ways. Understand how debt negotiation and bankruptcy work.

Getting help
The bad news is that you are in financial trouble. The good news is that there is plenty of help available.

Tools to use
Having trouble getting your finances in order? Here are some tools that will help you work things out.


How to solve 5 common money problems
Experts offer advice for Americans dealing with unemployment, overspending, debt, foreclosure or wrecked retirement savings.

8 ways to find and keep a temporary job
In tough times, the path to a permanent job might be through temping. These tips can make it happen.

3 recession-busting gadgets
In tough times, these three bare-bones gadgets can help stretch budgets.

7 steps to security after a job loss
Take steps to ensure your financial survival during the tumultuous period following a job loss.

Tax Blog: Eye on the IRS
If you can get your credit card company to cut your bill, good for you. But know that you'll have a new creditor in its place: the IRS.

Don't default on student loans
If making student loan payments is tough, you can set up a new payment plan, among several other options.

The Bankruptcy Adviser

Taking money back in bankruptcy difficult
Once your account is levied or wages garnished, prying cash away from creditors will be a struggle.

When Chapter 7 becomes Chapter 13
Even in Chapter 7, a high income might require you to pay back creditors.

Homeowners' stark choice in Chapter 7
They could face signing deals to pay first and second mortgages after bankruptcy or forgo the house.


The Debt Adviser

Don't despair about the size of your debt
You may feel hopeless, but a debt management plan will start you on the road to financial recovery.

Turning bad credit into credit worthy
So you went bankrupt. Here's how credit repair can make you look better to lenders going forward.

Dodge debt with financial plan
Jot down what you earn and spend, keep a cushion for emergencies and create a path to your future.



Bankrate: Bad Credit

Beat the bad credit blues: Bankrate has selected seven areas where your credit history can have a big impact, explaining how bad credit can affect you and what you can do to make things better.

How Bad Credit Can Impact Your Life
Bad credit can impact many parts of your life. Here's how, and what to do.

Your Credit Cards
Credit cards got you into a mess. But they can also help you get out.

Your Job
A bad credit report could cost you a job or keep you from being promoted.

Your Car Loan
Bad credit can bump that car loan rate way up.

Your Insurance
Believe it or not, a bad credit report can drive up the cost of your insurance.

Your Rent
A bad credit history can make it tough for you to find a place to live.

Your Mortgage
The worse your credit, the more you're likely to pay for a mortgage loan.

Your Student Loan
Even with bad credit, you can still get an education.


Understanding and Protecting Credit

A 14-lesson guide to understanding and protecting your credit.

Lesson 1: Be Credit Smart
Being credit smart can help you save a lot of money, and make life a lot less complicated and stressful.

Lesson 2: Your Credit Report
Your credit report is an important key to your financial future, because it can cost you or save you a lot of money.

Lesson 3: Your Credit Score
Your credit score is one of your most valuable financial assets!

Lesson 4: Is Your Credit Score Accurate?
It is very important to check your credit reports on a regular basis to make sure everything is accurate!

Lesson 5: How to Improve Your Credit Score
Make sure you get the credit you deserve.

Lesson 6: Credit Monitoring
Monitoring your credit can be a wise investment to help protect your credit, and your good name.

Lesson 7: Identity Theft
Get the facts on the fastest growing crime.

Lesson 8: Identity Theft Part II
Know these 7 common warning signs.

Lesson 9: Identity Theft Part III
Steps you can take and habits you can practice to reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim.

Lesson 10: Identity Theft Victims
Immediate steps to take if you think you have become victim to identity theft.

Lesson 11: Keys to Credit
It's important to start off on the right foot when establishing and using credit.

Lesson 12: Separating Fact from Myth
Separating credit facts from myths can help you better understand and manage your credit.

Lesson 13: Top Ten List of Worst Credit Card Company Practices
Be careful not to become trapped by these credit card company tricks.

Lesson 14: Fighting Back Against Credit Card Company Practices
Don't fall prey to credit card company tactics that are designed to take advantage of consumers.

Credit Action Center:
Check Your Credit
Monitor Credit Daily
Get 3-in-1 Credit Report

Other Credit Learning Center Resources:
Loan Savings Center
Comparison Shopping
Personal Finance
Financial Planning
The Insurance Center
Car Buying Strategies