Many people tend to think of bankruptcy as a last-gasp measure when they are overwhelmed by massive debt with little hope of meeting those obligations. However, it’s important to know that filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 isn’t the end of the world, and in many cases,...

Researchers with the Urban Institute have determined that at least 28 percent of all New Jersey residents have bills that are so long overdue that they've been turned over to collections. While this statewide average is at least five percentage points lower than the...

If being in debt has become the norm for you, as it is for many people, it may be hard to determine just when you have too much.What are some key objective criteria you can evaluate to determine if you have more debt than you should? Following are a few.You're paying...

If you have student loans and you also possess a professional license issued by your state, then listen up. In at least 19 states in this country, you can have either your driver's license or professional one, or both, suspended if you default on your educational...

As shoppers head to the malls and their laptops this holiday weekend to begin their holiday shopping, NerdWallet has some sobering information on Americans' spending and charging habits around gift giving. In a recent survey, most people said they plan to spend...

Student loan debt is far from trivial when it comes to affecting the current and future financial wherewithal of New Jersey residents. While many people think of young college students and new graduates as being subject to the plague of school debt, this is far from a...

If we're lucky, from the time we join the workforce until the time we retire, our income increases. With that comes lifestyle inflation. It's only natural at first that people will want to move out of their post-college studio apartment, sell their used car, invest in...

American consumer debt rate has once again returned to pre-2008 levels and many find themselves once again encumbered by record-setting credit card debt. The first step in figuring out how to tackle it involves you sitting down will your bills, making note of your...

Many New Jersey homeowners have felt the pinch of the weak economy over the past decade. At times, they may have felt it was a one-step-forward-two-steps-back exercise in frustration. In some situations, bankruptcy may be the smarter choice over debt settlement or...

If you're in your 30s and feel like you'll be paying off your student loan debt into your senior years, you may be right. Some 27 percent of those paying off their student loans are in their 60s or older. More than two-thirds of borrowers are paying off loans they...