Debt consolidation is a good idea if it helps you meet your financial goals, but not if you use it to free up revolving credit or refuse to change how you spend and manage your money.

Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

Let’s say the bills keep stacking up, and your income just isn’t stretching like it used to. You're not spending wildly, you’re just stuck. At some point, you start Googling solutions. And if you’ve ...

For many Americans, debt isn’t just a balance on a screen—it’s a daily weight. In a 2025 survey by financial services company JG Wentworth, it was found that nearly half of respondents worry about ...

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Chapter 13 isn't your only option Debt settlement a debt relief company by 30% to 50% or more qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Not paying your secured credit card bill won’t land you in jail, but ...

An example of good debt is a student loan used to pay for education that increases your earning potential or a mortgage for a ...

You don’t need to be reckless with money to end up buried in debt. All it takes is one catastrophic event, sudden loss of a job, or a few months of “just getting by” – and suddenly, the interest ...

SPONSORED CONTENT is content paid for by a partner. The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content. Money Research Collective’s editorial team ...

SPONSORED CONTENT is content paid for by a partner. The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content. Money Research Collective’s editorial team ...

New research has revealed how long it takes people with multiple debts to pay them off, with many taking more than three ...