What is a credit utilization ratio? It’s the relationship between the amount of credit you have and the amount of credit you use. Lowering your credit utilization ratio can raise your credit score quickly.

How do you compare personal loan offers from competing financial institutions? By looking at more than interest rates. You’ll also consider the loan costs and terms to find the right product for you at the lowest cost.

Social distancing and low gas prices are fueling a boom in RV purchases in 2020. And many purchasers are first-timers who have not explored RV financing before. If wanderlust is setting in and you plan to buy an RV, you’ll probably also want to learn about RV financing.

FICO scores and car loans have an inverse relationship. Typically, if the first is low, the interest rate you’re going to pay on your car loan is likely to be high. So you pay more over the lifetime of your loan to buy the vehicle – or you may need to buy a less desirable car. But there’s more to it than just that. So read on …

Is borrowing to invest ever a good idea or is it insanely risky? The answer depends on several factors:

• Investment returns
• Borrowing costs
• Risk tolerance

Some of us are well-positioned to borrow money to invest, while others should probably avoid this practice. Here’s how to evaluate potential investments and sources of funds to make a smart decision.

In many cases, a personal loan can improve your credit history, enhance your mix of credit, and lower your credit utilization ratio. However, shopping for a personal loan can temporarily lower your FICO scores. It’s important to know what makes a good credit score and how a personal loan can help you achieve it.

When you refinance or buy a home, prepare for an expensive process. In addition to coming up with the down payment, you also have to pay closing costs that can add up to thousands. It can be challenging to scrounge up money for the latter, especially if you’re on a tight budget or this is your first home purchase. One option to cover your closing costs is a personal loan.

Student loan debt can affect your credit and be challenging to pay off, especially if it takes a while to find the right job after graduation. Making student loan payments late could negatively affect your credit score. But punctual student loan repayment can boost your credit score. Learn how to manage your credit score in this article.

Medical loans include any financing used to pay for medical bills. You can take them out for emergencies, to pay for elective or cosmetic surgeries or to refinance higher-interest medical loans.

Many older homeowners run into situations where they need extra funds to pay for a major expense. Fortunately, there are a variety of financing options that can help, if they qualify. These include a reverse mortgage or home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a personal loan. The former two capitalize on the fact that homeowners have earned equity in their home.