Mary writes: Since turning 18 (I’m now 26), I have already amassed nine different credit cards with a combined credit limit of around $30,000. I’m paying down a combined credit card debt on four of these cards of about $20,000. I’d like to close out accounts I’m not using and as I pay them off, but I heard it will affect my credit report and score. What do I do? Read the rest of this entry »

Advanta, proprietors of super low-rate credit cards specifically marketed to small business owners, recently introduced the Kiva BusinessCard, a 7.99% APR credit card that will match users’ grants to Kiva, the Web’s first person-to-person micro-lending site. Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this month we cautioned readers about foreign currency credit card fees and noted that Capital One credit cards are the only we know of that do not charge this fee. It’s no surprise, then, that a Capital One card is our pick as the best credit card for international travelers. Read the rest of this entry »

Many students nationwide may find themselves scrambling to find student loans to pay for tuition this September. According to an ABC News report, more than 100 lenders nationwide have announced they will cease offering student loans due to the crippled credit market. Read the rest of this entry »

American credit cards—Visa and MasterCard in particular—are increasingly accepted all over the world. While they can be a convenient way to pay while traveling aboard, be prepared to pay foreign currency transaction fees of up to a 4% for every dollar you spend overseas. Read the rest of this entry »

Business credit cards are the credit card industry’s best-keep secret. They feature lower APRs, better rewards, and better introductory terms than consumer cards—and anybody with good credit can get one. No business? No problem. Here are five reasons to swap your current plastic for a business card. Read the rest of this entry »

American Express announced a new service allowing holders of American Express credit cards the ability to review credit card balances on their mobile phones by sending a text message to “MYAMEX”. Consumers with Chase credit cards already enjoy a similar feature that provides credit card balance information by text message. Existing AMEX cardmembers can enroll for the text service at www.americanexpress.com/text. What do you think— is this something you would use?

Mortgage crises or not, it’s still a great time to buy your first home. Be smart, however, and have a pre-approved mortgage in hand before going house hunting. Applying for (and getting approved for) a mortgage before you shop could save you time, money, and heartbreak. Here’s how. Read the rest of this entry »

Buying a car with cash is stressful enough; finding the right auto loan is even harder. In my car shopping tips from an ex-car salesman, I recommend getting a pre-approved car loan online before heading to the dealership (even with bad credit). Here’s how, plus reviews of online car loan sites. Read the rest of this entry »

Want to know how your credit score stacks up? Check out Credit Karma, a new site that lets you check and track your credit score without subscribing to anything. Read the rest of this entry »