Personal Finance Articles

VantageScore vs. FICO

Learn what VantageScore is, how it differs from FICO, why a free app's score may not match a lender's, and which lenders use VantageScore.

How to Read a Credit Report: What It Is and What Each Section Shows

Learn what a credit report is and how to read yours section by section, from personal details and account lines to inquiries, negative items and errors.

How to Rebuild Credit

Learn how to rebuild credit after late payments, collections, a charge-off, settlement, or bankruptcy: steps that may work, and what to skip.

What Is an ACH Payment? How It Works and How to Stop One

Learn what an ACH payment is, how ACH credits and debits move money, how long a transfer takes, and how to stop or dispute a debit you did not expect.

The 3 Credit Bureaus: What They Do and How to Reach Them

Learn who the 3 credit bureaus are, what each one does, why your three credit reports can differ, and how to contact each bureau directly.

Joint Checking Account: How It Works and What You Take On

Learn how a joint checking account works, who can open one, what a creditor can take when one owner has debt, and how to remove an owner or close it.

How Long Does It Take to Build Credit?

Find out how long it takes to get a first credit score, reach good credit, or rebuild after late payments and collections, and how to speed it up.

FICO Score vs Credit Score: Which Number Do Lenders Use?

Is a FICO score the same as a credit score? Learn how they differ, why you have more than one score, and which one lenders check before you apply.

What Is Overdraft Protection and Should You Turn It On?

Learn what overdraft protection is, how it works, what it can cost you, and how to decide whether to turn it on or off for your checking account.

Second Chance Banking: How to Get a Bank Account After a Denial

Turned down for a checking account? Learn how second chance banking and second chance checking work, what to do if you owe a bank money, and how to move up.

ChexSystems Report: How to Get It, Dispute It, and Freeze It

Turned down for a bank account? Find out how to get your ChexSystems report, dispute what's wrong, learn how long a record stays, and freeze your file.

How to Budget: Create a Budget You Can Stick to

Learn how to budget step by step: add up your income, sort your expenses, pick a method, and fix a budget that comes up short.

Tax Consequences of Debt Settlement: Do You Owe the IRS Money?

Settling debt can trigger a tax bill on the forgiven amount. Learn when it applies, how to calculate it, and how insolvency could reduce what you owe.

Credit Letter of Deletion

Credit Letter of Deletion | Use a credit letter of deletion to remove inaccurate information from your credit reports. Make sure that you start by...

Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps for Financial Success

Get on the right path financially with Dave Ramsey’s 7 baby steps. It's the best way to follow the Dave Ramsey Financial Plan.

Medical Debts Incurred by Minor

State law sets whether minors have liability for medical debts they incur. How a state views the doctrine of necessities may offer a clue...

CROA- Your Credit Repair Rights

The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) gives consumers the right to study a credit repair contract for 3 days and cancel it. CROA also requires credit...

Listing of IRS Notices for Individuals

If you receive an IRS notice, be sure you understand it. Review the different kinds of notices, what they mean, and how to respond to them. Make sure...

Credit Score to Buy a Car

What is the minimum credit score to buy a car? For most consumers, it’s 660. However, there are many auto loans for people with lower credit scores.

Credit Score to Buy a House

What is the minimum credit score to buy a house? It depends on the program – conventional, FHA, or VA – and your down payment.

All About Credit

Credit is the ability to borrow money now and repay it later. Credit reports show lenders how you have repaid debts in the past. Credit scores reflect your...

Lexington Law Firm

Lexington Law provides credit repair services through a network of credit correction attorneys. Read a review of Lexington Law from Bills.com

Trinity Credit Services

Trinity Credit Services specializes in credit repair and credit restoration that offers a free credit report consultation.

Wells Fargo Bank Review

Review of Wells Fargo bank and policies

Emergency Fund Calculator

Use the Bills.com Emergency Fund Calculator to find out how much you need to save to protect yourself in case of unexpected events. Calculate the amount...

Creating a College Financing Plan

Creating a financial plan for college has never been more important, as the already expensive costs rise. Use these tips from someone who'll graduate debt free.

Find and Win College Scholarships

Be strategic about applying for college scholarhsips. Learn from Emily Merrill who won over $11,000 in 2019 inindependent scholarships, on top of her academic

Financial Lesssons from College

Two key financial lessons I learned from my first year at college are: Keep better track of my spending and be more disciplined in building savings. This year,

Calculate Your Net Worth

Net Worth Calculator | Your net worth is calculated by adding up your assets and subtracting your debts and liabilities. Track your wealth and improve your...

Check Your Savings Balances

Savings Balance Calculator | Are you saving enough? Check your savings balances and track them. Your savings balances help you meet emergencies and build...

Budget Calculator

Bills.com's Budget Calculator helps you get your spending on the right track. Knowing how you spend your money lets you get on top of your financial plan by ...

Credit Card Spending

If you use credit card spending to pay for basic living expenses, you can end up in heavy debt. Learn what steps to take to solve a credit card spending problem

Are You Saving Enough for Retirement?

Are you saving enough for a secure retirement? Don't put off planning and building the kind of retirement savings that will support a lifestyle you want to

How to Improve Credit

There are a number of benefits to improving your credit. You can save money whenever you borrow if you improve your score and then maintain

Compounded Interest Calculator

Bills.com compound interest calculator shows you how you can boost your savings. Set your savings goals and then check how compound interest works by setting...

Budgeting and Job Loss

Coping with a job loss is stressful, and many households feel that they might have a drop in income. Learn about concrete steps you can take to deal with...

Making a Financial Plan

Making a financial plan is smart, if you take account of where you're starting and can measure the effectiveness of the steps as you put your plan in place.

Paying for College- Good Grades and Hard Work

It's hard to get your college degree while raising kids. Add being a single, working mom to the task. Read stories of women who climb this mountain and succeed.

Acorn Savings App

Acorns App has over 4 million users help build savings through a micro-savings approach. Check Bills.com Acorns Review to see if you can benefit from...

Earning More as a College Student

College costs are high. Tuition, housing, and books, add up. It's more important than ever for a college student to earn money. Read tips from Maya Bluthenthal

Financial Goals vs. Financial Habits

Financial habits and financial goals can work with or against each other. Whatever your goal, you need to establish the right financial habits in order to reach

Grow Your 401 (k)

401(k) plans are the most common retirement savings account. Make the right choices so you grow your 401(k) account and provide financial security to live at a

Emergency Savings Initiatives

Emergency fund initiatives are an important way to get households to improve their financial health. Programs that target lower-to-middle income households...

10 Ways to Save Money

Here are ten top money saving tips. Review your budget and choose any or all of these easy tips to save money and cut expenses. Don't forget to use your money..

Best Apps for Building Savings

Read about 4 popular apps for building up money in a savings account. These apps make it easier to build savings for an emergency, a vacation, a large purchase

Mint Review

Mint offers a solid, free budgeting tool that also allows you to easily track transactions, bills, accounts, investments, and to analyze them with graphs and...

Working Mom Paying for Her College

It's hard to get your college degree while raising kids. Add being a single, working mom to the task. Read stories of women who climb this mountain and succeed.

Credit Scores Are Overrated

Credit scores are not a reliable measure of your overall financial health. They are important for borrowing money, but just one of many factors that you need

Financial Goals

Setting financial goals is crucial to your financial health. Don't settle for a general plan. Make specific goals to improve your savings, spending, and...

Smart Shopping Tips - College Studen

It is easy to spend more than you should. Here are some tips to keep you within your shopping budget and still find gifts for others (and yourself) that ...