Missing a credit card payment triggers a cascade of consequences — late fees, penalty APR, and a credit score drop — but the timeline matters. What you do in the first 30 days determines most of the outcome.

You usually go out of town to visit family for the holidays, but this year you’re stuck, either because of work or because of finances. However, you don’t have to put your holiday plans on ice just because you can’t afford holiday travel. Instead, gather a group of friends, acquaintances or work associates for a holiday orphan dinner. You’ll enjoy the company of people you care for, enjoy foods you might not have had otherwise AND save money by sharing the costs of food and drink.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a great way to save on taxes while covering eligible healthcare, childcare, and other expenses. However, most FSAs operate on a “use it or lose it” rule, meaning any unspent funds are forfeited at the end of the year. For many plans, the deadline is December 31. To avoid losing your money, it’s crucial to plan your spending and take advantage of remaining funds before this critical date.

Do you perpetually deal with the dilemma of “more month than money”? If so, it’s time to get real about your finances and your budget. One way to get a handle on your spending is to establish a zero-based budgeting system. With a zero-based or zero-sum budget, you “spend” every penny that you accumulate each month as income. However, when executed properly, a zero-sum budget can help you save money without sacrificing the things that are truly important to you and your family.

According to CNN Money, approximately three-quarters of all parents give their kids some form of an allowance, with the average allowance totaling $15 per week. Whether you give your kids an allowance or not, you can teach them good money handling habits now that will help them establish and maintain financial stability throughout their lives.

When you’re stuck in your dorm room eating Ramen noodles while your friends head out for an evening of pizza and beer, it’s easy to feel left out. But if you’ve already borrowed to the hilt from Uncle Sam, aren’t eligible for grants or scholarships, and you’re juggling a part time job along with your classes, you may feel stuck. From that vantage point, private student loans can seem like a godsend. However, from fluctuating (and often high) interest rates to required payments while you’re in school and often inflexible forgiveness plans — even if you lose your job, private student loans actually represent ugly debt.

Whether you lost your job, suffered a serious illness or just overspent because you were young and dumb, the end result is the same: your credit is trashed. Filing for bankruptcy can relieve you of much, if not all of your credit burden, but in exchange, you will have a huge black mark on your credit report for the next ten years. Even without filing for bankruptcy, if you have a foreclosure, charged-off credit cards or other serious delinquencies, you’re still in bad shape – for now.