Personal finance systems for spending, saving, debt, and investing.
Education & Certification
Articles filed under Debt Management.

Understanding the difference between subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loans could help you save a bundle in student loan debt. But considering how much they have in common, it’s understandable if you have trouble telling them apart (especially since they also go by other names — we’ll explain in a bit). Both loans are part of...
Apr 18, 2026

Buying a home can be equally terrifying and thrilling. These 25 home-buying tips will help first-time home buyers make sense of what can be an overwhelming process.
Apr 4, 2026

My parents were in the middle of a long, drawn-out divorce when I left for college. My tuition got tied up in the legal battle. This led to a lot of confusion and ended with me leaving school early, holding a $10,000 overdue bill for tuition, room and board. Over the course of six months,...
Apr 18, 2026

The Perkins loan program may be history, but that doesn’t stop it from haunting your present. Perkins loans were student loans designed for undergraduate and graduate students who showed exceptional financial need — the loans charged 5% interest, and you had 10 years to pay them off. The program ended on Sept. 30, 2017, but...
Apr 18, 2026

Are you tired of those high-interest credit card balances? Here’s to pay off credit card debt as quickly as possible.
Apr 3, 2026

Amid a tight labor market, many employers continue to look for ways to counter staffing shortages and lure potential hires back into the workforce. While some use creative benefits or work-from-home options as hiring draws, others hope to attract employees quickly with immediate cash in the form of a signing bonus. [tphshortcode class="organic-in-content-desktop"] [tphshortcode class="organic-in-content-mobile"]...
Apr 18, 2026

Social media isn’t just for cute pet pictures and vacation videos. It’s where many investors — especially young ones — get advice about the markets. From trading stock tips on Twitter to speculating about crypto on Reddit, online platforms influence how we invest our money. The Penny Hoarder polled nearly 2,000 investment app users in...
Apr 4, 2026

Video games offer a way to escape and have a little fun. But did you know they can also act as tools for financial education? This could be as simple as teaching kids about budgeting, but could also influence a career in the finance world. We’ll look at how some existing games simulate real-world economic...
Apr 18, 2026

Dear Short End, Spousal support, sometimes called “alimony,” agreements are governed by your state, so the details might vary from state to state. Many states allow for the option to change the payment amount when circumstances change, as long as it’s allowed in your original settlement agreement. Some settlements state that a spousal support agreement...
Apr 18, 2026

If you needed extra money, like, yesterday, you’ve come to the right spot. Our team has compiled a list of creative ways you can fatten your bank account this month. Certainly, there’s something here that fits your needs. This is a long list, so don’t get overwhelmed. Go ahead and start now, but be sure...
Apr 4, 2026

Dear Penny: I’m struggling to pay back a Parent PLUS student loan I took out for my children. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
Apr 18, 2026

Today is the day you pay off the remaining balance on your credit card. Congrats! But if you waited until you received your statement in the mail, you’ll have to fork over additional money beyond the balance listed before you’re free of the credit card company. Why? Because of a little (or not so little)...
Apr 18, 2026