Debt consolidation rolls multiple debts, typically high-interest debt such as credit card bills, into a single payment. Debt consolidation might be a good idea if you can get a lower interest rate than you’re currently paying. That will help you reduce your total debt and reorganize it so you can pay it off faster.If you’re dealing with a manageable amount of debt and just want to simplify multiple bills with different interest rates, payments and due dates, debt consolidation is a sound approach you can tackle on your own.How to consolidate debtThere are two primary ways to consolidate debt, both…

When the money you’ve got just won’t go far enough, you need to know how to strategically pay some bills — and minimize the fallout from not paying them all.Let’s get straight to the help. Use the tool below to find help with the bills you can’t pay.Prioritize your billsFirst, protect the essentials. These include shelter, food, heat, lights, transportation and whatever else you need to be able to work, such as child care and phone service. (Learn how to lower those bills.) What’s not essential? Everything else.You may need to move if you can’t afford where you’re living. There’s…

Saving money feels good, especially on costly (but often necessary) expenses like internet.If you’re happy with your provider, but not how much internet costs you each month, try negotiating or bundling your services. Looking to make a change? If you’re lucky enough to have options, switching providers can help you score a great deal.1. Buy your own cable modem and router for cheaper Wi-Fi (over time)Planning to get your internet through a cable provider and staying with it for a few years? It might be more cost-effective to buy your internet hardware rather than rent it.A provider may charge $15…

Need to find more money in your budget? Evaluating ways to lower your bills is a good place to start.Small tweaks can help you save on things like groceries and homeowners insurance. Big-ticket items such as rent, mortgage and car payments require more legwork, but can yield a bigger budget boost.Here’s how to lower your bills and save on your monthly expenses in these categories:HousingLowering your housing costs is a heavier lift than, say, trimming your grocery bill, but doing so can yield big savings. Learn how you can save on your rent, mortgage and homeowners insurance.1. Refinance your mortgage.…

What is the gig economy?The IRS defines the gig economy as “activity where people earn income providing on-demand work, services or goods,” often through an app or website. This area of the job market consists of temporary, contract and freelance jobs.The term “gig economy” gets thrown around most often in reference to jobs like working with a rideshare company, such as Uber or Lyft, making deliveries or walking dogs. But the gig economy represents a large part of the workforce and spans virtually every industry. For instance, a 2022 survey commissioned by Upwork among 3,000 professionals found that 60 million…

The sting of inflation, even as it eases, may have you pondering how to make some extra income.NerdWallet rounded up 25 real ways to make money at home, online or out and about. For each potential side job, we list details like what it takes to get started, age requirements and how fast you can get paid. While most people want to make money fast, don’t discount the “slow” gigs, as they may pay more in the long run.How to make money online1. Pick up freelance work onlineMake money online through websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. These sites…