Hector Xavier Monsegur also known also by the online pseudonym Sabu, is an American computer hacker known for being part of a small, ultra-skilled group of hackers within Anonymous and co-founder of the hacking group LulzSec. The groups claimed responsiblity for cyber attacks against government systems in Tunisia, Algeria, as well as the U.S. Senate, corporations such as Sony Corp, PBS, and Newscorp, as well as security firms like HBGary and Mantech – to name a few.

These are good questions to ask if you are one of the 44 percent of Americans who carry a balance on their credit card every month (source). Lower interest rates can save you significant money over time, especially if you carry a high balance on your card month over month.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how knowledgeable are you about credit cards? Do you know where and when use of credit cards began? Can you explain how credit cards actually work? More importantly, do you know how to use them as financial tools to improve your wealth instead of drain it?

Getting a mortgage may be the biggest purchase most Americans will ever make, but you wouldn’t know that from the time most of us spend shopping for one. According to a recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 47 percent of home buyers don’t compare lenders and 77 percent only apply with a single lender or broker (source). That’s scary. You need to know what types of mortgage loans are available. You need to know which loan types are not good for your situation. This guide explores the common mortgage types and compares them so that you can choose wisely.

Choosing a mortgage lender can be confusing, so where should you start when you are ready to find financing for your home?

Mortgages represent the largest component of household debt in America. This makes mortgage refinance one of the biggest opportunities for reducing debt and interest payments.

The average American has about three or four credit cards. Credit cards are useful for a number of things. Not only can they be helpful in building credit, but credit cards are also handy for keeping track of business expenses, for traveling without the risks of carrying cash, and for stretching funds when finances are tight. Some people also use their credit cards for routine purchases, such as school supplies, clothing, and household goods and others only use them for online purchases. In fact, it’s impossible to make online purchases without a credit or debit card.

Bankruptcy filings in America totaled 819,240 (source) in 2015. While that number represents a 10 percent decrease from the filings of the previous year, there are still many people who have or will experience  bankruptcy.

Nina Nelson is a simple living author, expert, and consultant who’s mastered the art of saving money and living well with a large family. We had a chance to sit down with Nina and hear her suggestions on saving money, repurposing items, and living debt-free.

It’s one of the catch-22s of of modern life: you want your first student credit card but haven’t had the time to build enough credit to get one. Much like getting a first job with no real-world experience, getting your first credit card can be tough. The Credit Card Act of 2009 provided consumers with important benefits, such as fee restrictions, more time to pay, and the end retroactive rate increases. It also made more difficult for credit card companies to give out cards to consumers under 21. This act had good intentions – namely protect students and other new users from falling into debt – but it’s also made the path to credit a little more difficult.