Prepare for financial health in 2024 with expert strategies for managing your credit and getting and staying out of debt.

What’s the right amount of credit utilization to maintain a high credit score? How can reviewing your credit reports impact your financial health? Credit Nerd Lauren Schwahn joins host Sean Pyles to answer these questions and more as they delve into the intricate world of credit and debt management. They discuss how you can overcome the financial strain that typically follows the holiday season and focus on strategies that could enhance your fiscal health. They explore many different aspects of credit management, including analyzing holiday spending patterns, maximizing credit card rewards, assessing the value of annual fees, and planning for upcoming major expenses. Sean and Lauren also talk through the complexities of credit scores and offer strategies for paying down credit card debt, especially in the context of rising interest rates.

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: financial freedom, credit management, debt strategies, credit card rewards, fiscal reset, annual fees, major expenses, financial success, credit reports, credit fraud, credit score, timely payments, interest rates, savings strategies, budgeting hacks, financial well-being, post-holiday recovery, holiday spend habits, credit utilization, credit limits, authorized users, loan terms, balance transfer credit cards, debt avalanche, debt snowball, 50/30/20 budget, credit counseling, credit score improvement, minimum payments, credit bureaus, annualcreditreport.com, credit score tiers, APR, debt management, and student loan payments.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPECIAL EPISODE 7: Sitting Down with Dr. Dan Listener Questions about about video games, exhausted moms, and how to say "no" to your kids