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Budget Planner
Articles filed under Budget Planner.
What's the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and Credit Freeze?
Fraud alerts and credit freezes are two free tools to protect your financial data from fraud. We explain the differences so you can decide which makes sense for you.
Jun 20, 2026
Credit Score Not Going Up? Here's Why and Tips to Grow It
Reasons why your credit score is not going up might include a missed payment or high credit utilization. Learn what moves you can make to change your score.
Jun 20, 2026
Best Cell Phone Plans: How to Find A Deal
To determine what to look for in a cell phone service, research the plan’s network strength in your area, affordability and features lead you to the best one for you.
Jun 20, 2026
Credit History: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
Credit history is defined as a record of how you repay debts. It is the main component of your credit reports and a big influence on your credit score.
Jun 20, 2026
How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report
You can't remove a legitimate hard inquiry, but if you can’t trace the reason for a hard inquiry, or you believe it was done without your consent, you can dispute it online.
Jun 20, 2026
How to Rebuild Credit
It's possible to recover from credit missteps. Tips to restore your credit include focusing on paying bills on time and keeping credit balances low.
Jun 20, 2026
7 Tips to Get an Apartment Without a Credit Check
Looking for "no credit check apartments" is one way to find a rental with a low or no credit score. Here are other tips and how to build your credit.
Jun 20, 2026
How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter
One way to fix an error on your credit report is to write a credit dispute letter and mail it to one or more credit bureaus. A sample letter outlines what to include.
Jun 20, 2026
Rental Credit Check: What Landlords Look For
Landlords use credit checks to predict rent payments. Learn what they look for, what hurts your chances and how to get your credit ready.
Jun 20, 2026
NerdWallet Newsletters
NerdWallet offers free email newsletters covering financial news, travel, investing and small business.
Jun 6, 2026
Get Down with Debt Snowball
The debt snowball method has you pay down debts from smallest to largest. Clearing those low balances can help keep you going.
Jun 20, 2026
Are These Surveys for Money Apps Worth it?
Taking online surveys for money may not be worth your time or the data you share.
Jun 20, 2026