Topics in Critical Condition
Updated - Oct. 19, 2009


Your Debt Collection Rights
Four myths you need to know about.

Managing Stress During a Financial Crisis
Rounding the corner to the good times.

Emergency Fund
How much is enough?

Are You in Need of Financial Bypass Surgery?
Here’s a quiz to determine your monetary health.

Simplify Your Budget
A humorous look at why most budget plans don't work.

Stop Debt Collectors and Get Back on Your Financial Feet
Know your rights.

Impulse Buying
10 ways to curb that impulse.


Want a better FICO score? Step No. 1: Pay bills on time
Paying your bills on time every time is vital, but it's just the start to building a good credit score.

What to do when debt triples your income
When your debt load is more than triple your income, it's time to seek a solution. Debt counseling, debt settlement and possible bankruptcy can set you free.

Options are limited for bad credit customers
If you've got a bad credit history in this tight credit market, the odds of getting a credit card with a great interest rate are slim.

Personal finance boot camps fight debt with hard-nosed approach
They're probably never going to force you to scrub the latrine, hike for miles in the driving rain or call you a maggot, but personal finance boot camps promise to use some tough love to help you gain control over your finances and debt once and for all.

How foreclosures, short sales, other mortgage defaults affect credit
How big a bite does a home foreclosure, short sale or other mortgage default take out of your credit score?

Card issuers don't make hardship programs easy
It's a Catch-22. Though you've kept up payments until now, you can't pay anymore. But your issuer won't work with you until you start missing payments. What to do?



The Right Time to Buy
Jerry just went through bankruptcy, has six kids and child support, and only makes $26,000. How can he buy a home?

A Collector Counter Offer
Matt wants to give a counter offer to a collector, but he's struggling with something.

Staying Motivated
Sometimes to get to something you love, you have to go through something you hate. Just remember where you are going.

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.


Reformed debtor wants to fix credit score
On the road to fiscal responsibility, should she consider getting a second secured card?

Defend yourself against debt collectors
If a debt collector makes threats, verbally harasses you or otherwise breaks the law, you have rights.

What are effects of card debt settlement?
Cardholder wants to negotiate a settlement with the issuer without hurting his credit score.

4 factors to weigh before going all cash
Consider these four elements of living a life on cash before weaning yourself entirely from debt.

Good letter can silence debt collector
Sending the right letter should silence calls from debt collectors, but won't erase a debt owed.

10 questions to ask a credit counselor
Getting help to manage debt is no longer shameful, but it's helpful to know what to ask.

The Bankruptcy Adviser

Your bankruptcy is an open book
Anybody can find out about your financial problems in bankruptcy, and that includes your boss.

4 limits on modifying bankruptcy
You can lower your Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment, if you're not hung up by one of these obstacles.

3 common property missteps in bankruptcy
Scheming to protect property from a Chapter 7 auction can bring you a world of pain.


The Debt Adviser

Let's make a 'debt' deal
Follow these three hints and this credit recovery strategy might put you back in good standing.

Debt collection brings out the worst in us
Rather than fight with a collector on the phone, consider -- then act on -- your real options.

Life-changing crisis demands drastic action
Mounting debt and a fixed retirement income may make bankruptcy your last, best choice.



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