Resources

By Meredith Wood When you decide to turn your side hustle into a full-time business, you’re taking a big step into exciting, new (and often scary) territory. While being a full-time entrepreneur can be thrilling and life-changing, nearly 50% of all startups fail within five years. But you welcome the challenge. You don’t just plan […]

In 2025, the average cost of a new car passed $50,000 for the first time in history, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB). As vehicle prices skyrocket, and nearly every other cost involved with driving goes up, vehicle owners are left in a tough spot. Taking a road trip and putting extra wear and tear […]

The NFCC often receives questions from readers about their money challenges. We answer common questions in our Ask an Expert series to help readers find the information they need. Question: How does credit counseling affect my credit scores?   Answer: Dear Reader, I applaud you for recognizing the importance of having healthy credit scores. A healthy […]

Congratulations on your engagement! As you plan your wedding, you’ll find that some aspects of planning are more exciting than others. For example, looking for professional services that fit into your wedding budget can be a real mood-killer. For most couples, hiring a photographer is the third-largest wedding expense, after paying for the venue and […]

By Chris Birk Are you a veteran or servicemember hoping to buy a home? In 2025, the high cost of housing is making homeownership unaffordable for many Americans. However, for veterans, a VA loan can make your dream of owning a home much easier than you think. VA loans, which were created in 1944, are […]

You may know that you can use credit counseling when you’re dealing with bankruptcy or you need help with debt management, but you don’t have to be in financial trouble to benefit from this service. Nonprofit credit counseling is a free or low-cost service that includes education and resources for a variety of financial topics. […]

By Lori Stratford From TikTok influencers to podcasters, there are plenty of people out there who claim they can help you improve your finances. If you listen to the radio, you might hear ads for credit repair or debt settlement. Some may even make you feel tempted to pay a lot of money for help. […]

Whether you’re a federal worker impacted by a government shutdown, a contract employee weathering an economic slowdown, or a private sector employee facing an unexpected layoff, an income interruption can feel like an immediate financial crisis. The challenge is undeniably real. According to the 2025 NFCC Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey, nearly half (48%) of […]

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) has been around since 1951. It’s the nation’s first and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to improving people’s financial well-being! There are many credit counseling agencies in the U.S., but not all of them are certified by the NFCC. Why does this certification matter? Because it means you can […]

Have you ever pulled your credit reports? If so, there’s a good chance you found them difficult to understand, or maybe you even found errors in them.  According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which releases a yearly summary of consumer complaints, credit reporting errors are a major problem. In recent years, issues with […]