What you should know about holiday loans

Backed by a strong economy and low unemployment, U.S. online holiday spending is expected to rise 14.8% this year compared to 2017, while brick-and-mortar retailers should see a 2.7% boost, according to Adobe Analytics.

Clearly, the holiday shopping party is already in full swing. But will you wake up afterwards with a financial hangover? After all, it’s way too easy to get caught up in the spirit of the season. Plus, retailers have extended their sales well beyond Black Friday and Cyber Monday. How can you resist all those great deals?

If you’ve still got gifts to buy but maxed out your credit card and cash is tight, consider a holiday loan. Here are answers to questions you might have about holiday loans.

Paying off debt — where do you start?

If you’re in debt, you’re in good company. Americans’ debt climbed to a new high of $13.29 trillion in the second quarter of 2018, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

But when you’re in debt, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. And it’s difficult to know exactly where to start to climb out of the financial hole. Here are some tips to help you begin tackling your debt.

How to start repairing your credit in 7 steps

You’ve been denied a bank loan because your credit score is low. Or you’ve been issued a new credit card. But the APR is higher than you expected. You call the card issuer to find out why, and you’re told it’s because your credit score is low.

Both are bad news. But in time, you can repair your credit. Here are 7 steps to get you started.

8 ways new grads can manage student debt

Have a lot of student loan debt? Join the club. About 70% of college grads today have significant debt from student loans, CNBC reports. The average amount is just over $37,000, up $20,000 from 13 years ago. And Americans owe a total of $1.5 trillion in student loans, nearly double the amount owed ten years ago, according to The Federal Reserve.

Here are 8 tips to help you manage your student debt: 

6 ways to save money

Can you save money by never eating out when you’re alone? One savvy consumer thinks so. Her strategy, along with the five others below, can help you reign in expenses and reduce debt.    

How to protect your personal information from getting hacked

The more you buy and bank online, the more your personal information—birthday, social security number, banking account details—is stored online. But how can you protect that data, especially given 2017’s high-profile data security breaches at Equifax, Verizon, Uber, Yahoo, and other companies?

Loans for people with "bad credit"

Loans for people with “bad credit”

10 ways to save and make more money in 2018

10 ways to save and make more money in 2018

How to track your credit score

How to track your FICO® credit score

How to get the best deals on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond

The period beginning with Thanksgiving and going until after New Year’s is prime time for finding great deals from retailers. Here’s how to shop wisely for consumer electronics and other merchandise as the 2017 holiday shopping season kicks into high gear.