http://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Credit_Card_DebtFind stories, videos, and photos about Credit Card Debt from CNN.com.en-usCable News Network LP, LLLP.Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:25:50 GMT5http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/1.0/logo/cnn.logo.rss.gifhttp://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Credit_Card_Debt14433Find stories, videos, and photos about Credit Card Debt from CNN.com.http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/08/pf/saving/credit_card_debt/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/07/08/pf/saving/credit_card_debt/index.htmRising unemployment is pushing strapped U.S. borrowers over the edge, with delinquencies and balances on delinquent credit cards surging -- that's according to an industry report. Here's your step-by-step guide on what to do if you can't afford your credit card payments.Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:43:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/08/17/news/economy/credit_card_pew/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/08/17/news/economy/credit_card_pew/index.htmThe nation's banks raised credit card rates and increased their profit from lending to consumers in the first half of 2009, according to a consumer advocacy group.Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:48:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/07/16/pf/saving/college_kids_credit_cards/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/07/16/pf/saving/college_kids_credit_cards/index.htmCollege students are pulling out the plastic now more than ever. The average credit card balance is over $1,600. Here is what your college student needs to know before stepping foot on campus this fall.Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:01:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/06/04/clark.howard.debt.settlement/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/06/04/clark.howard.debt.settlement/index.html#cnnSTCTextHave you seen those ads being run by the debt-settlement outfits on bad late-night TV? Their promise is always the same -- to reduce your credit card debt to just pennies on the dollar without making you file for bankruptcy!Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:09:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/03/pf/saving/personal_bankruptcy/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/03/pf/saving/personal_bankruptcy/index.htmU.S. consumer bankruptcy filings rose 37% nationwide in May from the same time a year ago. And more Americans are filing Chapter 13 -- the type of bankruptcy where you have to pay back some of your debt -- rather than Chapter 7 -- which your slate is wiped clean. The American Bankruptcy Institute expects almost one and a half million new bankruptcies by the end of the year.Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:08:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/22/news/economy/credit_cards/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/22/news/economy/credit_cards/index.htmPresident Obama signed a bill on Friday that makes it tougher for credit card issuers to raise fees and interest rates.Fri, 22 May 2009 20:22:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/20/mainstreet.pay.off.debt/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/20/mainstreet.pay.off.debt/index.html#cnnSTCTextLast summer, Maria Calderon was so overwhelmed by credit card debt, she couldn't sleep. She owed $21,000 on nine cards with interest rates as high as 29.99 percent.Thu, 21 May 2009 20:55:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/15/pf/saving/appliance_credits_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/15/pf/saving/appliance_credits_willis/index.htmQuestion 1. My air conditioner is on its last leg. If I upgrade to a more efficient unit, is there a government rebate or anything else? -- Floyd, FloridaFri, 15 May 2009 16:04:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/16/pf/saving/credit_card_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/16/pf/saving/credit_card_willis/index.htmThe average American family carries $8,000 to $10,000 in credit-card debt. A new Web site, called helpwithmycredit.org, was developed by the credit card industry to help consumers out. The site promises to help you manage your debt; communicate better with your credit card companies, and will hook you up with accredited credit counselors.Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:06:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/10/pf/taxes/tax_refund/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/10/pf/taxes/tax_refund/index.htmExpecting a hefty tax refund this year? You may have visions of plasma televisions and Hawaiian vacations. But with the economy locked in recession and the unemployment rate at a 25-year high, there might be more practical ways to spend the extra cash.Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:45:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/suicide.forrest.japan/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/suicide.forrest.japan/index.html#cnnSTCTextAokigahara Forest is known for two things in Japan: breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and suicides. Also called the Sea of Trees, this destination for the desperate is a place where the suicidal disappear, often never to be found in the dense forest.Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:19:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/13/pf/saving/retraining_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/13/pf/saving/retraining_willis/index.htmGerri Willis, CNN's personal finance editor, answers readers' questions, providing actionable advice in this difficult economy.Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:13:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/02/25/o.money.in.the.bank/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/02/25/o.money.in.the.bank/index.html#cnnSTCTextFinancial fitness is a lot like physical fitness: We all know what we should be doing -- eliminating credit card debt, saving for emergencies, socking away dizzying amounts in a retirement fund -- but finding a plan that works for the average person isn't easy.Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:55:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/pf/saving/toptips_credit_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/pf/saving/toptips_credit_willis/index.htmGerri Willis answers e-mailed questions about money. You too can have her answer one of yours.Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:04:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/01/07/velshi.excerpt.debt/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/01/07/velshi.excerpt.debt/index.html#cnnSTCTextIf you're a NASCAR driver, you can't afford to be leaking fuel on the track. You won't be able to get the power you need. You won't be able to drive as far. You'll have to keep pulling over for more gas while your competitors accelerate around the track.Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:19:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/28/losing.sleep/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/28/losing.sleep/index.html#cnnSTCTextNine of 10 American workers are losing sleep over financial worries, according to a survey released Monday by a company that helps workers deal with wellness issues.Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:40:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/22/news/economy/retail_cash/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/22/news/economy/retail_cash/index.htmThe latest fall style for credit-addicted Americans: paying with cash.Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:17:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news/economy/credit_cards/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news/economy/credit_cards/index.htmMortgages aren't the only loans in line for a government bailout.Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:06:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/09/02/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/09/02/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmGerri Willis answers questions managing credit card debt, making sure your savings are safe and rebuilding credit after a foreclosure.Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:38:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/08/18/news/economy/Colvin_next_credit_crunch.fortune/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/08/18/news/economy/Colvin_next_credit_crunch.fortune/index.htmWe made it through the bursting of the Internet bubble and now the bursting of the real estate bubble. Next we may be approaching the end of the most worrisome bubble of all: the standard-of-living bubble.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/09/news/economy/creditcards/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/09/news/economy/creditcards/index.htmThese days, more and more people are saying "Charge it."Tue, 13 May 2008 09:08:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/14/pro.money.help/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/14/pro.money.help/index.html#cnnSTCTextKrista Wallis, her husband, Joe, and her 19-year-old son from a previous marriage were living a pretty good life in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:12:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/03/03/smbusiness/credit_card_debt.fsb/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/03/03/smbusiness/credit_card_debt.fsb/index.htmDear FSB: I am a small business owner (S-Corp) with over $100,000 in credit-card debt. Due to sharp drop in home sales and lack of cash flow, we are having a difficult time paying these credit cards. Being a business owner, I am looking for a program to combine and pay these cards off without having an adverse effect on my credit score. Your advice in this matter is greatly appreciated.Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:13:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I pay $300 a month on my credit-card balance of roughly $11,000. I have an extra $350 a month that I can use to further reduce my credit-card balance, or that I can invest in a Roth IRA. Which will give me the biggest bang for my buck? - William Scott, Spotsylvania, VirginiaThu, 17 Jan 2008 21:33:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmYou've thought about it, dreamed about it... now you can do it. Be debt-free in 2008. Here's how.Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:29:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/28/smbusiness/bankruptcy.fsb/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/28/smbusiness/bankruptcy.fsb/index.htmDear FSB: Unfortunately, I have a bankruptcy due to a divorce. Is it possible to obtain a business loan if I have re-established my credit score?Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:18:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/21/pf/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/21/pf/toptips/index.htmE-mail questions, holiday edition.Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:56:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/04/markets/stockswatch_ny/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/04/markets/stockswatch_ny/index.htmStocks were poised for a lower open Tuesday as Federal Reserve officials voiced new worries about the economy, drugmaker Merck gave disappointing 2008 guidance, and lawmakers turned their sights on credit card debt as a fresh area of worry.Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:26:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/29/magazines/fortune/consumer_debt.fortune/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/29/magazines/fortune/consumer_debt.fortune/index.htmThis past summer's subprime meltdown involved about $900 billion in now-suspect securitized debt, reckless lending, and consumers who buckled under the weight of loans they couldn't afford. Now another link in the consumer debt chain - credit cards - is starting to show signs of strain. And the fear that the $915 billion in U.S. credit card debt (an uncannily similar figure) may blow up has major financial institutions like Citigroup, American Express, and Bank of America strapping on their Kevlar vests.Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/26/real_estate/few_loan_modifications/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/26/real_estate/few_loan_modifications/index.htmThe bullhorn message from the government to mortgage lenders has been: Bend. Do what you can to help struggling homeowners.Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:53:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/06/25/real_estate/priorty_credit_cards_not_mortgage/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/06/25/real_estate/priorty_credit_cards_not_mortgage/index.htmIn another symptom of the subprime mortgage meltdown, stressed-out borrowers may be taking care of their credit card bills before making their mortgage payments.Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:21:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/06/repairing.credit/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/06/repairing.credit/index.htmlLooking back, Harry Rogers can see where he went wrong.Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:50:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/30/student.debt.feedback/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/30/student.debt.feedback/index.htmlEach semester, credit cards prove be a dangerous temptation for many college students short on funds.Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:08:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/02/01/8398751/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/02/01/8398751/index.htmUntil last fall, Jessica Jaquez-Trejo and Willy Trejo seemed to be living an idyllic life. The El Paso couple had good jobs - Jessica, 30, teaches reading at an elementary school; Willy, 32, is a p... Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:05:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/17/debt.emails/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/17/debt.emails/index.htmlAmericans commonly use credit cards as part of their family finances. Sometimes the reliance on credit cards leads to an unhealthy amount of debt. CNN.com asked readers how they deal with credit card debt and asked them to share their stories. Here is a selection of responses, some of which have been edited.Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:04:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/01/16/magazines/moneymag/debt_grownup.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/01/16/magazines/moneymag/debt_grownup.moneymag/index.htmUntil last fall, Jessica Jaquez-Trejo and Willy Trejo seemed to be living an idyllic life. The El Paso couple had good jobs - Jessica, 30, teaches reading at an elementary school; Willy, 32, is a product engineer - and together earned a comfortable $90,000 a year.Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:52:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/08/cnna.willis.debt/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/08/cnna.willis.debt/index.htmlThe holidays might be over, but holiday bills often last well into the new year. Howard Dvorkin, the founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, joined CNN's Gerri Willis to help strategize how consumers can get out of debt.Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:27:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/01/01/8397413/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/01/01/8397413/index.htmWhen the bomb finally goes off, 20 minutes into Blues By The Beach, there is no burst of light, no loud explosion, no screaming. There is just an eerie silence, followed by a frenzy of lights, sire... Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/06/09/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/06/09/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmHow does credit counseling affect your credit? -- JillFri, 09 Jun 2006 15:03:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/05/30/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/05/30/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI recently came into $3,500 windfall from a tax refund and sale of a vehicle and am wondering whether I'd be better off investing this money in a Roth IRA account or putting it toward my $8,000 in credit card balance? I've already been making more than the minimum payment each month toward this debt, but by applying my windfall to the credit card account I'd pay it off even quicker. What do you think is the best move?Tue, 30 May 2006 14:00:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/pf/bankruptcy_survey/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/pf/bankruptcy_survey/index.htmNEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ninety-seven percent of consumers seeking to file for bankruptcy so far this year cannot afford to pay back their debts, according to a survey by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:11:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/02/01/8367537/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/02/01/8367537/index.htmTHE BUDDS Wed, 01 Feb 2006 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/01/17/news/economy/bankruptcy_counseling/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/01/17/news/economy/bankruptcy_counseling/index.htmA toughened bankruptcy law requiring debtors to seek credit counseling is doing to little to curb the number of consumers filing for bankruptcy, according to the Washington Post.Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:23:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217807/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217807/index.htmLOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS! Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:39:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/02/services/money_library/debt_cards/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/02/services/money_library/debt_cards/index.htmIt almost always starts out small. Maybe your DVD player conks out, and you don't have cash in the bank to buy a new one.Wed, 02 Nov 2005 22:00:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmThe new bankruptcy law that goes into effect today will require filers to seek credit counseling.Mon, 17 Oct 2005 14:59:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/debt/bankruptcy_law/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/debt/bankruptcy_law/index.htmA new bankruptcy law goes into effect today, making it harder for consumers to prove that they should be allowed to clear their debts in what's known as a "fresh start" -- or Chapter 7 -- bankruptcy.Mon, 17 Oct 2005 14:28:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/13/pf/debt/debt_counselors_0511/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/13/pf/debt/debt_counselors_0511/index.htmLower your monthly payments! Reduce your debt in seconds!! Watch your credit scores soar!!!Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:35:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/12/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/12/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmAll the recent talk about the changing bankruptcy law may have you taking a second look at your finances.Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:25:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/08/19/pf/fix_debt_0509/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/08/19/pf/fix_debt_0509/index.htmIn many ways, Tina Johnson is off to an impressive start as an investor.Fri, 19 Aug 2005 14:28:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/05/01/8257860/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/05/01/8257860/index.htmCongress is moving closer to passing an overhaul of bankruptcy laws that would make it much harder and more expensive for debtors to be freed from their bills. The measure is backed by credit-card ...Sun, 01 May 2005 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/18/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/18/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmPresident Bush is soon expected to sign into law a bill that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for many consumers to wipe away their debts through bankruptcy.Mon, 18 Apr 2005 17:20:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/02/28/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/02/28/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmThere is a lot going on right now that could affect your credit.Mon, 28 Feb 2005 17:00:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/01/07/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/01/07/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmThe New Year is a great time to make changes.Fri, 07 Jan 2005 16:32:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/01/03/pf/debt/newyear_debt/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/01/03/pf/debt/newyear_debt/index.htmYou bought the perfect holiday gifts for your family and friends, along with a little something for yourself. While that December merrymaking may seem priceless your January MasterCard statement will remind you that it was not.Mon, 03 Jan 2005 17:14:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/news/economy/holiday_creditspending/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/news/economy/holiday_creditspending/index.htmRetailers probably celebrated Tuesday's news that shoppers used their charge cards for a record number of transactions over the holidays.Tue, 28 Dec 2004 14:41:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/10/01/8186563/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/10/01/8186563/index.htmWhen Hollywood, Fla. couple Ted and Kristie Long married four years ago, they merged not only their lives but also their debts. "We each had a couple of credit cards with big balances and lots with...Fri, 01 Oct 2004 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/10/01/8186566/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/10/01/8186566/index.htmHOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FREE OF CREDIT-CARD DEBT? To have a financial cushion to fall back on? To know you have the skills to save and invest for any goal—and to guarantee your financial future? Fri, 01 Oct 2004 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/28/pf/debt/chatzky_program_0410/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/28/pf/debt/chatzky_program_0410/index.htmWhen Hollywood, Fla. couple Ted and Kristie Long married four years ago, they merged not only their lives but also their debts.Tue, 28 Sep 2004 18:19:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/23/pf/debt/chatzky_intronew/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/23/pf/debt/chatzky_intronew/index.htmHow would you like to be free of credit card debt? To have a financial cushion to fall back on?Thu, 23 Sep 2004 14:55:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/07/06/pf/speed_savings/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/07/06/pf/speed_savings/index.htmNEW YORK (CNN/Money) - You're well past the age of 6. But admit it: when it comes to meeting your financial goals, you're not past the impatience of a first-grader on a car trip.Tue, 06 Jul 2004 20:06:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/06/01/369667/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/06/01/369667/index.htmLast year thousands of Americans discovered a pot of gold in their own living rooms. Or so it must have seemed: Spurred by historically low interest rates and sky-high housing prices, homeowners to...Tue, 01 Jun 2004 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/05/17/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/05/17/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmFor most of last year, homeowners enjoyed luscious mortgage rates below 6 percent.Mon, 17 May 2004 17:31:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/05/11/magazines/moneymag/realestate_value_0406/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/05/11/magazines/moneymag/realestate_value_0406/index.htmLast year thousands of Americans discovered a pot of gold in their own living rooms.Fri, 14 May 2004 12:20:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/pf/yourhome/home_equity/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/pf/yourhome/home_equity/index.htmBEND, Ore. (CNN/Money) - Americans have home equity to burn, or so you would think.Mon, 19 Apr 2004 15:40:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/04/14/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/04/14/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htmGot a tax refund coming? Last year, taxpayers netted $2,033 on average -- and this year could be even better. Tax experts say refunds could rise to $2,500 this year...which begs the question what should you do with your refund?Wed, 14 Apr 2004 17:17:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/20/magazines/moneymag/chatzky_debt_0403/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/20/magazines/moneymag/chatzky_debt_0403/index.htmTwo and a half years ago, Sue and Charlie Jordan gave up high-paying corporate jobs in Minneapolis (his as an architect and hers in equity research) and purchased a picture-perfect resort in a town with a picture-perfect name -- Hanging Horn Village in Moose Lake, Minn.Fri, 26 Mar 2004 20:28:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/03/01/362315/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/03/01/362315/index.htmTwo and a half years ago, Sue and Charlie Jordan gave up high paying corporate jobs in Minneapolis (his as an architect and hers in equity research) and purchased a picture-perfect resort in a town...Mon, 01 Mar 2004 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/20/pf/debt/freeintro_chatzky_debt_0403/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/20/pf/debt/freeintro_chatzky_debt_0403/index.htmCredit-card debt in the U.S. -- now averaging $8,000 per household -- is at an all-time high.Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:56:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333182/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333182/index.htmHere's a phenomenon The Feminine Mystique didn't foresee. According to Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, which studied some 5,000 clients, young women are more likely than men their age to b...Sun, 01 Dec 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/11/01/331277/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/11/01/331277/index.htmGANDER MATTOX GRANDVIEW, MO. Fri, 01 Nov 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/10/01/309903/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/10/01/309903/index.htmTHE STUNT: The Great American Credit Card Swipeout (July 31-Aug. 4). Residents of Cashtown, Pa. go plastic-free to highlight the dangers of credit-card debt and "educate consumers about their finan...Mon, 01 Oct 2001 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1998/09/28/248709/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1998/09/28/248709/index.htmAmericans don't know jack about soccer, right? It was bad enough when the Germans crushed the U.S. team in the opening round of the World Cup in Paris without raising a sweat, but when the Yanks go...Mon, 28 Sep 1998 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1998/03/01/238610/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1998/03/01/238610/index.htmSandra Deneault's parenting style sounds pretty familiar: "I've always put my kids first," says the 52-year-old mom. She's up before dawn most mornings doing household chores, holds down three jobs...Sun, 01 Mar 1998 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1997/12/01/234647/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1997/12/01/234647/index.htmWhen readers seek help with their debts, MONEY often recommends Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), the nation's largest network of nonprofit debt-management agencies. For a fee of about $9 ...Mon, 01 Dec 1997 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/11/10/233786/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/11/10/233786/index.htmIt's no secret that the credit card business is looking ugly. Competition is intense, profit margins are shrinking, and lots of cardholders aren't paying their bills. Dig into the statistics that l...Mon, 10 Nov 1997 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1996/04/01/211184/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1996/04/01/211184/index.htmTHE TRONOLONES OF AURORA, ILL. (pictured above) and the Dorans of Chandler, Ariz. (above right) seem to be typically prosperous American families. Both are headed by two-career couples who bring in...Mon, 01 Apr 1996 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1995/04/01/202083/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1995/04/01/202083/index.htmRose," calls John Reid toward the bright kitchen of his six-bedroom, antiques-filled post-Victorian home, "have I spent any money on you lately?" Sat, 01 Apr 1995 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1993/06/01/88080/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1993/06/01/88080/index.htmThe phone rang just as Jerry Woodard, 36, arrived home in Elmira, N.Y. late Sunday night after driving back from a hot, six-day workweek in Youngstown, Ohio last July. He answered with his customar...Tue, 01 Jun 1993 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87156/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87156/index.htmSitting across from the PRESIDENT EGAN campaign placard that he saved from his days as student body president at the University of Washington in Seattle two years ago, a slightly red-faced Mike Ega...Sat, 15 Feb 1992 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87147/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87147/index.htmThe decor bespeaks snug, middle-class prosperity -- lace curtains at the front windows, framed prints hanging from picture rails, dried flowers and silver- framed photographs adorning polished surf...Sat, 15 Feb 1992 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87148/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1992/02/15/87148/index.htmThe first Jean Malik heard of the fire was when the telephone rang at 11 o'clock on a peaceful Sunday morning last Oct. 20. ''It was a neighbor asking if I had seen the black smoke pouring from the...Sat, 15 Feb 1992 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1990/10/01/86129/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1990/10/01/86129/index.htmFaster than you can say $30 a barrel, Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait transformed the prevailing attitude on the economy from guarded optimism to low-grade anxiety. Growth had turned feeble eve...Mon, 01 Oct 1990 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1989/04/12/85089/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1989/04/12/85089/index.htmThree years ago, Leslie Hamilton of Boston, then 27, went on a diet and lost 70 pounds. As a result, she recalls, ''I had no clothes that fit.'' So Hamilton began a giddy wardrobe-buying spree. Pre...Wed, 12 Apr 1989 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1988/01/01/84260/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1988/01/01/84260/index.htmFirst, bonds took a beating. Then stocks collapsed. Now from the crow's nests of many economists comes the shout: ''Recession dead ahead.'' It's enough to make the saltiest investor reach for the D...Fri, 01 Jan 1988 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1987/04/01/83806/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1987/04/01/83806/index.htmMichael and Cynthia Proctor never asked for their first credit cards. Four of them more or less appeared pre-approved in the couple's Huntsville, Texas mailbox in the summer of 1982. At the time, M...Wed, 01 Apr 1987 05:01:00 EST