Whitney Blair Wyckoff

1 week ago | money.usnews.com | Emily Roth |Dawn Papandrea |Whitney Blair Wyckoff

Getty ImagesCarefully consider the costs when you research plastic surgery financing options. Key Takeaways A personal loan can help you finance a cosmetic surgery. Shop around to find a lender offering a competitive interest rate and terms that suit your needs. Other options include a payment plan from your provider, a medical credit card or a 0% introductory APR credit card. Avoid using your retirement account or home equity to pay for a cosmetic procedure.

1 week ago | money.usnews.com | Gina Freeman |Ray Frager |Whitney Blair Wyckoff

Key Takeaways The term "debt relief" or "debt resolution" generally refers to several ways you might restructure debt to make it more affordable. Debt relief options include debt consolidation, debt management, debt settlement (also called debt resolution or debt negotiation) and bankruptcy. Some debt relief solutions are riskier or more drastic than others. It's generally best to choose the most conservative option that will solve your problem.

1 week ago | money.usnews.com | Matthew Reitz |Colin Hogan |Whitney Blair Wyckoff

Getty ImagesAssess the total costs of the loan and compare options before choosing a lender. Key Takeaways Better's new "Better Forever" program lets repeat customers avoid origination fees on refinance loans. Incentives like this can save loyal borrowers money on fees, but other loan costs could offset those savings. Shopping around and crunching the numbers on all aspects of your loan will help ensure you're getting the best deal.

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Gina Freeman |Whitney Blair Wyckoff |Ray Frager

Key Takeaways Debt settlement, debt relief, debt negotiation, debt adjustment and debt resolution all refer to the same thing – persuading a creditor to accept less than you owe as payment in full. You can attempt debt settlement yourself or hire a debt settlement company. Debt settlement isn't guaranteed, and companies are not required to negotiate with you. But many will. What is debt settlement?

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Gina Freeman |Whitney Blair Wyckoff

Editor’s NoteDebt settlement, sometimes called debt relief or debt resolution, is a service in which companies negotiate with your creditors to reduce the total amount you owe. It can be expensive and have tax implications. Make sure you exhaust other options, including working with a nonprofit credit counselor or even negotiating with your creditors directly, before considering debt settlement.