Low interest rate and rewards credit cards can put cash back in your pocket -- With food and gas prices escalating, Americans need to budget more carefully than ever before, including resisting the short-term solution of charging up debt on credit cards. ... (more)

When is a credit card's 'fixed rate' not really fixed? -- If you sign a credit card agreement with an issuer that claims to practice 'universal default,' your 'fixed' interest rate can be raised at any time. ... (more)

Does it pay to reduce card debt before death? -- A reader faces terminal illness and significant credit card debt. She wonders if the debt, since it is unsecured, will have to be paid out of her estate when she dies. ... (more)

Five-year-old credit card debt has debt collectors calling -- With a job loss and 5-year-old credit card debt and only Social Security income, a reader needs a lot of help -- starting with knowing her rights, says Maturing Loans columnist Alan Klayman. ... (more)

Saving for emergencies, retirement come before paying off credit card debt -- Creating an emergency fund and contributing to your retirement fund should always come before paying off credit card debt. ... (more)

Charging up a storm before filing bankruptcy is considered fraud -- Thinking of loading up your credit cards before you file bankruptcy is considered fraud. ... (more)

Managing on-time credit card payments -- When transferring balances to 0 percent cards, it's critical to make on-time payments or you'll lose out. ... (more)

When balance transfers make sense -- There's no sense in delaying balance transfers to lower interest rate credit cards if your credit is good. ... (more)

Two years behind on credit card payments -- How do you even begin to pay back credit card debt that is two years old? ... (more)

Before picking a credit card, know your financial personality -- With the dizzying variety of credit cards today, it can be tough to choose. Knowing your financial personality can help sort it out. ... (more)

Entering retirement with credit card debt -- Carrying credit card debt into retirement requires a plan. ... (more)

Card issuers apply payments to lower interest rate balances first -- Balance transfers, cash advances and purchases typically have different APRs. Card issuers apply payments to lower interest rate balances first. ... (more)

Retired, with too little income and too much in property taxes -- Living just off her Social Security income, a 72-year-old woman asks columnist Alan Klayman how to go about paying her property taxes on such a small fixed income. ... (more)

How to maintain retirement lifestyle while managing debt -- Debt complicates the calculation on how much you'll need to retire in comfort, says 'Maturing Loans' columnist Alan Klayman. ... (more)

Laid off, debt climbing -- If you have savings, there are ways to decrease reliance on credit cards by setting up a short-term income strategy, says Alan Klayman in the debut 'Maturing loans' column. ... (more)

Deep in debt? You may be able to cut a better settlement deal -- A recent drop in prices that debt buyers pay for bad credit card debts may give consumers negotiating settlements more room to negotiate. ... (more)

Fed cuts rates; will your credit card bill fall, too? -- The Federal Reserve, as expected, slashed a key interest rate, but whether that cut will be passed along to individual cardholders depends on the bank, the card agreement and the credit standing of the consumer. ... (more)

Recession-proof your credit and finances -- Economic downturn. Temporary slump. Whatever you want to call it, you need to be prepared financially for economic ups and downs. ... (more)

Card issuers' bad earnings reshape credit card offers -- The awful annual results reported by credit card issuers may not be felt only by shareholders. They have begun to cause pain to some credit cardholders, as well. ... (more)

Debt collectors' ethics codes -- Associations of debt collectors try to curb abuses in the collections industry. ... (more)

Credit card balance transfers -- This series of articles will help you figure out the best way to transfer and consolidate the balance of your debt. ... (more)

Payment strategies for holiday debt -- The holiday season is a wonderful time for relaxing with family and friends and exchanging gifts. But according to a survey conducted by the Family ... (more)

Balance transfer offers: Compare your options -- Learn how to find the best balance transfer credit card offers. ... (more)

Credit card recommendations for your post holiday bills -- Credit card bill-paying tactics that can help you deal with high post holiday card payments. ... (more)

Multiple balance transfers can hurt your credit -- A repeated pattern of transferring from one balance transfer credit card to the next each time the introductory APR expires can be a bad idea. ... (more)

Balance Transfers: Information and advice -- Learn about balance transfers before initiating multiple credit inquiries. ... (more)

Balance transfer 101: Tips, advice on transferring credit card balances -- Learn the steps critical to successfully performing a balance transfer. ... (more)

Balance Transfers: Learn how control your debt by consolidating it -- See how low interest balance transfers can help you pay off your debt more easily. ... (more)

Credit card debt consolidation -- Credit card consolidation may be right for you if you are facing high interest rates. ... (more)

CreditCards.com poll results: Credit and health care costs -- A CreditCards.com poll finds a majority of Americans realize that inability to pay their share of health care costs has the potential to wipe them out financially. ... (more)

15 tips for paying high medical bills -- Savvy consumers should comparison shop for payment options when paying for medical expenses. Here are some helpful tips to cope with high medical bills. ... (more)

When do credit card balance transfers make sense? -- Having a firm repayment plan makes the difference, The Credit Guy tells a CreditCards.com reader. ... (more)

Pay off credit card debt or declare bankruptcy? -- It's painful, but a reader who took $13,000 in credit card cash advances and lost it to an Internet scam needs to pay the money back, says The Credit Guy. ... (more)

Q&A: Pawn off $10,000 credit card debt on son? No way! -- The Credit Guy, who answers readers' questions for CreditCards.com, thinks this parent can pay off the delinquent bill. ... (more)

Holiday credit card debt solutions -- Climbing out of holiday debt isn't easy, but it has to be done. Here's how to assess the damage and get a plan together. ... (more)

Cure the debt hangover, shed credit card debt in '08 -- This set of articles will help you understand why you keep finding yourself in holiday debt, how to get out of this mess and how to prevent it from happening again next year. ... (more)

Credit Score - Protect yours with a debt consolidation plan -- In order to protect their credit score, many consumers are seeking debt consolidation loans. ... (more)

Expert Q&A: Budget for debt, but not too tightly -- A recent college graduate saddled with debt needs a spending and paydown plan, but it's bound to fail unless it includes some fun, says The Credit Guy. ... (more)

21 resolutions to beat credit woes and debt regret -- Minimize debt and maximize credit advantages in the coming year with these 21 credit and debt resolutions. ... (more)

Disclosures would increase on subprime credit card fees -- Subprime cards carry upfront fees that the Federal Reserve board contends are not clearly disclosed to customers. ... (more)

Regulation Z proposed changes for minimum payments -- Credit card companies and credit issuers would have to tell account holders how long it would take to repay loans if they make minimum payments. ... (more)

Regulation Z amendments would require changes in credit card terms -- Regulation Z amendments would require changes in credit card terms to be displayed in a table for easy reading. ... (more)

Rules for credit card periodic statement disclosures -- Under proposed federal rule changes, monthly credit card statements would include tables to clearly disclose fees, interest, purchases and other details. ... (more)

Credit card reform: The fine print of proposed changes to Regulation Z -- Regulation Z requires creditors to disclose all costs and terms before a new credit card's first use. However, according to the board, "Currently, there are few ... (more)

Regulation Z rules proposed for credit card fee disclosures -- Credit card companies would have to clearly disclose fees charged to credit cardholders. ... (more)

Regulation Z would require credit card APR disclosure rules -- Regulation Z would require credit card companies to clearly disclose APRs. ... (more)

Regulation amendments propose fixed rate credit cards -- Fixed credit card rates would actually be fixed under Regulation Z amendments. ... (more)

Reg Z proposes credit card notice of term changes to 45 days -- Changes in terms of credit card contracts would need 45 days' advance notice. ... (more)

'Regulation Z' overhaul to change credit card fine print rules -- The Federal Reserve Board has proposed the most sweeping changes in nearly 30 years to credit card disclosure rules, known as Regulation Z. ... (more)

Regulation Z: Feds move to change credit card rules -- The Federal Reserve Board is likely to decide on final credit card disclosure rules in 2008. ... (more)

How the public feels about Regulation Z proposed changes to credit card disclosure rules -- Comments from consumers, credit grantors, payment processors and others on proposed changes to credit card disclosure rules ... (more)

Ask The Credit Guy: Do credit rehab myself? -- Credit counselor Todd Ossenfort, also known as The Credit Guy, answers a CreditCards.com reader's question about whether it's wise to embark on do-it-yourself credit repair. ... (more)

Anatomy of a credit card -- The long string of numbers, the magnetic stripe, the signature strip and the hologram all play roles in making credit transactions work. Get to know ... (more)

Strategies for managing, getting rid of credit card debt -- Strategies for managing and getting rid of debt, including debt consolidation, while not hurting your credit. ... (more)

Compare Credit Card Debt Strategies: Top four tips -- Compare credit card debt handling strategies and learn how to properly control debt. ... (more)

10 worst credit card mistakes -- Making these 10 mistakes will turn good credit into bad and bad credit into lenders-won't-go-near-you credit. ... (more)

Credit card arbitrage: Easy, but dangerous money -- Credit card companies usually make money from consumers. For a few daring consumers, it's the other way around. ... (more)

CreditCards.com editorial corrections policy -- CreditCards.com strives to publish accurate information. If you believe we have published something in error or wish to comment on an article, please e-mail us at editors@CreditCards.com. ... (more)

Lay down your cards: Anthony Adams -- Anthony Adams vowed that he was done with credit cards after holding a part-time telemarketing job selling Visa Platinum cards. "I saw how aggressive the ... (more)

Buying a car with a credit card -- Using a low interest credit card rather than a car loan to finance a car could be an option, as long as you are aware of what could trigger an increase in the card's APR. ... (more)

Credit Card Balance Transfer: Move debt to a lower interest card -- Periodically transferring credit balances to a lower interest card may be a good strategy. Learn more at CreditCards.com. ... (more)

Senior citizen debt increasing -- Senior citizens are finding themselves in debt trouble as they take on more lines of credit. ... (more)

Credit card balance transfers impacted by interest rates -- In its Aug. 8, 2006, FOMC Statement, the Federal Reserve announced plans to leave U.S. interest rates unchanged for the first time in two years.  ... (more)

Credit card debt consolidation – retire those high rate plastics -- Credit card debt consolidation is big business, as evidenced by the amount of advertising that is on the airwaves and online. And it's no wonder, ... (more)

Credit card balance transfer may save you money -- Smart credit card balance transfers include avoiding too many credit inquires. ... (more)

You might be in credit card trouble if... -- While it might seem obvious enough that many people are in serious credit card debt, many don't seem to heed the warning signs. And, for ... (more)

Types of credit cards: features of all card types -- Overview of card features offered by cards, including standard, reward, frequent flier, student, business and cards for bad credit. ... (more)

0% APR Credit Cards May Help Consumers in Record Debt -- American families are looking to 0% APR credit cards and debt consolidation to reduce costly debt. ... (more)

Balance Transfer Credit Cards Help Get You Out of Debt -- Consider transferring high interest debt to low rate credit cards to avoid debt trouble. ... (more)

Credit card consolidation -- Methods for credit card consolidation and how to save money in interest and finance charges. ... (more)

Credit Card Terms: A glossary of commonly used words and terms. -- Understand commonly used words, phrases, and acronyms in the credit card industry with this credit cards glossary. ... (more)

Eliminate credit card debt: a 5-step plan -- Credit card and other personal debt is an unfortunate fact of American life. Our consumer society bombards us with buy-it-now messages through every conceivable advertising ... (more)