Personal Finance Resources for Life Events
Resources to prepare you for life's biggest events.
FEATURED ARTICLES
What Is Car Finance and How Does It Work?
Learn the differences between bank and dealer auto loans, and how your down payment and loan length affect your total cost of owning the car.
How Do You Lease a Car and How Much Does Leasing Cost?
Learn more about car leasing, how it works, and what it means, as it can have a major impact on your credit report.
Should You Get a Personal Loan to Buy a Car?
You’re usually best off with an auto loan when you buy a car, but there are a handful of special situations where a personal loan may be a better bet.
WHAT'S NEW
How to Make Money with Your Car
There are many ways to make money with your car. Ridesharing. Food deliveries. Advertising. Let your skillset help you decide how to do it.
How to Lease a Car & Negotiate Your Car Lease Deal
Learn how to lease a car like a pro and get the right car lease deal for you by simply following these steps that experts suggest.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Can I Refinance My Student Loan?
Refinancing your student loans can lower your interest rates and save you money, but it’s not right for everyone. Learn the pros and cons of refinancing student loans.
What is Student Loan Debt Forgiveness?
Learn about student loan debt forgiveness, including different types of forgiveness and their qualification requirements.
How to Get Smarter About Saving for College
Saving for your child’s college education can help them graduate with less debt—making their experience more rewarding and improving their long-term financial outlook.
WHAT'S NEW
Taking a gap year before college is becoming a popular choice for young adults. Learn about the pros and cons of this alternative path, and what it could mean for your future.
FEATURED ARTICLES
10 Ways to Maximize Your Unemployment Benefits
Learn about ways to make the most out of your unemployment insurance benefits so your time between jobs can be less stressful and more productive.
Retraining Yourself for the Future of Work
The skills gap between the past and future of work is growing wider, but online courses can help retrain and upskill job seekers.
Tips for Filing Unemployment Claims
If you’re suddenly out of a job, unemployment claims can help you get by. Here’s what you need to know to start claiming unemployment benefits.
WHAT'S NEW
Looking for ways to make money from home? Learn how to embrace new ways to earn money, from capitalizing on your interests to trying out new business ventures.
FEATURED ARTICLES
How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring in 2022?
Thinking of taking that next big step? Here are some guidelines on how to shop for, and how much to spend on, an engagement ring.
What Does an Average Wedding Cost?
Planning how much to spend on a wedding can be tricky. Find out about average wedding costs to help you plan accordingly.
Budgeting for baby expenses helps parents prepare for baby’s arrival. This list of expenses and money-saving strategies can help you be financially stronger for your baby.
WHAT'S NEW
Parents’ Guide: Teaching Kids About Money
Teaching children about money involves lessons about earning, budgeting, investing, borrowing, planning, and entrepreneurship.
The Real Cost of Having a Baby
Bottom line, it’s all relative: There’s no upper or lower income limit for having a baby, and the cost of child-rearing generally tracks with your income.
How to Finance an Engagement Ring
You can finance an engagement ring with options like cash, credit cards, or a personal loan. Explore which option works best for you and your partner.
ALL FAMILY ARTICLES
A thorough wedding planning checklist is the key to staying organized. Make your big day less stressful and more enjoyable with these checklist tips.
Thinking of taking that next big step? Here are some guidelines on how to shop for, and how much to spend on, an engagement ring.
Planning how much to spend on a wedding can be tricky. Find out about average wedding costs to help you plan accordingly.
Budgeting for baby expenses helps parents prepare for baby’s arrival. This list of expenses and money-saving strategies can help you be financially stronger for your baby.
Teaching children about money involves lessons about earning, budgeting, investing, borrowing, planning, and entrepreneurship.
Bottom line, it’s all relative: There’s no upper or lower income limit for having a baby, and the cost of child-rearing generally tracks with your income.
You can finance an engagement ring with options like cash, credit cards, or a personal loan. Explore which option works best for you and your partner.
FEATURED ARTICLES
10 Factors That Affect Home Insurance Costs
Many factors affect the cost of home insurance, with where you live and how much it costs to rebuild your home topping the list.
9 Ways to Finance Home Improvements
Home improvement projects are often expensive, so finding the best way to pay when renovating your home could be an important part of your planning.
Can First-Time Home Buyers Get a Tax Credit?
Though the first-time homebuyer tax credit is no longer an option, there are many ways you can save money on your taxes as a new homeowner.
WHAT'S NEW
9 Steps to Consider When Buying a House
Got your eye on your dream home? Following these steps may help you successfully navigate the process of buying that house.
How Much Are the Closing Costs on a House?
Closing costs are usually between 2% and 6% of the home's purchase price – but regional taxes and variations in home prices can make a big difference.
Cash-Out Refinancing: When Your Home Is Your Piggybank
Learn the risks and rewards of doing a cash-out refinancing of your mortgage to help tackle some of your biggest personal finance goals and challenges.
ALL HOME OWNERSHIP ARTICLES
Buying a house can be a complex process. New approaches may make it easier, but it’s a good idea to understand all the key requirements and possible approaches.
You may no longer have to make a big down payment to buy a home – but the traditional 20% down payment still has some advantages.
Buying your first home can seem like a big project, but this financial checklist can help you manage it – and increase your confidence in the process.
Figuring out how much money to save to buy a house – and how to save it – takes time and strategy. Here are some ways to save money to buy that house you have your eye on.
An accurate home budget can help you plan for the true cost of home ownership.
Learn what home appraisals are, how much they cost, who does them, why they’re so important to the home-buying process – and what to do if yours comes in low.
There are two basic reasons for refinancing your home: to get more cash to spend now, or to pay less for your home over the long run.
These tips from real estate experts show ways to increase the value of your home without throwing money down the drain.
A VA home loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). There are several benefits to these types of loans – if you qualify.
Before approving you for a home loan, lenders may look at your income, assets, and credit score. These tips could boost your chances of a getting a mortgage.
Deciding whether to rent or buy a home is a big decision. Crunching the financial numbers is important, but so too is a clear-eyed sense of what fits your life best.
Many factors affect the cost of home insurance, with where you live and how much it costs to rebuild your home topping the list.
Home improvement projects are often expensive, so finding the best way to pay when renovating your home could be an important part of your planning.
Though the first-time homebuyer tax credit is no longer an option, there are many ways you can save money on your taxes as a new homeowner.
Got your eye on your dream home? Following these steps may help you successfully navigate the process of buying that house.
Closing costs are usually between 2% and 6% of the home's purchase price – but regional taxes and variations in home prices can make a big difference.
Learn the risks and rewards of doing a cash-out refinancing of your mortgage to help tackle some of your biggest personal finance goals and challenges.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Dreaming of retiring in your 30s? Find out how you can save enough money to retire early and enjoy life.
Explaining 6 Key Types of Retirement Plans
Want to know more about retirement planning? Discover the different types of retirement plans and their tax advantages that help you save.
Tips for Retirement Investment Options
How to invest for retirement has changed over time. Understanding where retirement strategy is heading can help you plan for your own retirement.
WHAT'S NEW
How Much Money Should You Have Saved by Age 60?
Most workers worry they won’t have enough money saved up to retire comfortably. Estimating how much you’d need by age 60 can help boost your confidence.
How the SECURE Act Affects Your Retirement
The SECURE Act retirement bill offers new incentives for individuals to invest in retirement plans, and for employers to provide them.
Tips for Making a Retirement Spending Plan
Retirement spending plans tell you what portion of your retirement savings you can spend each year. Here’s how to start a retirement spending plan of your own.
ALL RETIREMENT ARTICLES
Starting a retirement fund is key to your post-work future – and experts say you should begin saving for retirement in yours 20s. Here’s how to get started.
There are several ways to withdraw from your retirement funds early. Understanding all the costs—today and for your future—can help you decide whether it’s right for you.
Want to know more about retirement planning? Discover the different types of retirement plans and their tax advantages that help you save.
How to invest for retirement has changed over time. Understanding where retirement strategy is heading can help you plan for your own retirement.
Dreaming of retiring in your 30s? Find out how you can save enough money to retire early and enjoy life.
Retirement spending plans tell you what portion of your retirement savings you can spend each year. Here’s how to start a retirement spending plan of your own.
Most workers worry they won’t have enough money saved up to retire comfortably. Estimating how much you’d need by age 60 can help boost your confidence
The SECURE Act retirement bill offers new incentives for individuals to invest in retirement plans, and for employers to provide them.
FEATURED ARTICLES
What You Need to Know About the Moving Expense Tax Deduction
The latest tax overhaul did away with moving expense deductions for most people, but there are still possible tax consequences you need to know.
7 Top Tax Deductions for Homeowners
To encourage home ownership, the federal government offers many tax deductions for homeowners that can lower taxes and put money back into their pocket – or your home.
EXPLORE TOPICS BY LIFE EVENT
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
