Home buying – it’s equally exciting and confusing… so much information being thrown your way! You’ve saved your down payment and started talking to a realtor but now what?

Despite receiving more than $80,000 in merit-based scholarships, Brianna Harrington still graduated from college in 2014 with $40,000 in student loan debt. Determined to eliminate her debt, she lived below her means, and paid it off in 26 months. Her story may inspire your own debt-free journey.

What do you do when you have a master’s degree in performance studies, and you can’t find a job — but badly need one because you have tens of thousands in student loan debt? Melanie Lockert's story of paying off $57,426 of debt in about 3 years!

Do Jay-Z’s largely autobiographical tales hold any lessons for people of modest means? Here are five financial moves he’s cited in his lyrics over the years, and our take on whether regular folks can draw on them to improve their own financial standing.

Bedbugs. Weird smells. The possibility of imminent breakdowns. People have all sorts of excuses for not buying used stuff. Those who deliberately buy used items, though, say such fears are not just overblown — they’re also expensive.

It doesn’t take much to upend many Americans’ finances. Some bills may be unpredictable in their amount or their timing, but they’re still inevitable. In other words: If you have a car, or a home, or a body, sooner or later it’s going to cost you.

Breathe in the crisp fall air, you’ve settled into your dorm by now but the feeling of newfound freedom lingers. Moving out of your parent’s house for the first time and off to college, the bliss of having your own place! You’re living the typical student life with the exception of one thing… you’re reading these tips so your summer savings isn’t gone in the first couple months.

The credit bureaus know a lot about you, but they don’t know everything.The bureaus gather data about your past use of credit into reports, and that information makes up your credit scores. To shake the feeling that they lay your entire financial life bare, take a look at what does and doesn’t show up on your credit reports.

Daniel Montville knew a debt consolidation loan wouldn’t solve his financial problems, but the hospice nurse hoped it would give him some breathing room. He had already filed for bankruptcy once, in 2005, and was determined not to do it again.

Raising a child takes patience, understanding — and about $245,340, based on the latest estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you're getting ready to have your first child, your life and your spending will change drastically. Here's a closer look at how the cost breaks down.