Trinity Debt Management

06/02/2026

How to Establish Credit as a Young Person
For recent high school graduates, establishing credit may not be at the top of your list. But the sooner you start, the more opportunities you’ll have and the more money you can save. As you transition into adulthood, you can establish credit by getting a credit card or loan, using special credit-building products or by becoming an authorized user on your parents' credit card. There are many ways to build credit, and all involve actions that result in creditors reporting your payment information to the major consumer credit bureaus. Here are strategies to begin with credit-building.
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-establish-credit-as-a-young-person/

05/11/2026

Challenges of Maintaining Good Credit at Every Age
Good credit can make your financial life easier, but challenges to credit can exist at every age. If you haven't applied for much credit, you may have a thin credit file, meaning your credit reports lack accounts needed for lenders to make a loan. Seniors are vulnerable to overextended credit, which can damage a credit score. From thin credit in your 20s to the approach of retirement in your 60s, here’s how to overcome credit challenges and maintain good credit at every stage of life.

Learn about the biggest challenges to maintaining good credit from your 20s to your 60s, including having a thin credit file to managing debt in retirement.

05/05/2026

Money Smart Basics for Kids
According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, students who take personal finance courses in high school are more likely to avoid high-cost financial services, invest, and build stronger credit. Early exposure to financial education doesn’t just build knowledge, it shapes confidence, encourages engagement with the banking system, and helps set young people on a more secure financial path. Take time to engage your kids in conversations about money. Here are resources that can help you teach kids about money.

MSN for Kids introduces basic banking terms to children, who are beginning to learn about finances

04/27/2026

Get Money Smart: 25 Tips to Improve your Financial Well-being
Often, we equate how well we’re doing financially with how much money we make, our credit score, or overall net worth. In reality, your financial well-being is determined by factors that tell a larger story about your relationship to money. This includes how well you’re able to stay on top of your financial obligations, how secure you feel about your financial future, and ultimately whether you have the freedom to make financial choices that allow you to enjoy your life. We’ve pulled together 25 easy-to-follow tips for getting a handle on your money and improving your overall financial well-being. It starts with getting a realistic picture of where your money is coming from and where it’s going. Then, we walk you through how to stay on top of your finances so you can plan and save for the future.

Your financial well-being tells the story of how you manage your money. For Financial Planning Month, we have 25 tips to improve your finances and overall financial well-being.

04/22/2026

How to Set Financial Goals
Setting financial goals can help you find the clarity and focus to build the life you want. Goal setting is the foundation of financial planning, and creating clear targets can help you come up with a strategy to get there. Creating financial goals is a big step toward realizing your vision for your money. Beyond that, accomplishing your goals comes down to finding systems that work for you and staying focused. Here are five steps you can follow to set and reach your financial goals.

Here are steps you can take to set and achieve financial goals, such as starting an emergency fund, buying a home and saving for retirement.

04/13/2026

Update on Student Loan Forgiveness
Student loan forgiveness has been an ongoing topic during election cycles and Supreme Court rulings. On July 1, 2026, new Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) rules will change which employers qualify. While some call for sweeping student loan forgiveness policies, others argue that borrowers must pay what they borrowed, just like any other form of debt. The state of student loan forgiveness has been in flux in the past few years. Read more to learn more about the history of student loan forgiveness, changes under the new administration, and steps that borrowers can take to qualify.

Borrowers who work in public service could be eligible for student loan forgiveness if they meet certain conditions.

04/08/2026

Credit Score Basics: What Impacts Your Score and Why It Matters
Your credit score can affect many aspects of your life, so learning about how credit scores work can take some of the mystery and confusion out of managing your credit. Here we'll cover all the basics you need to know: what a credit score is, why there are multiple credit scores, what affects your credit scores, and how to improve your credit. The score you receive can depend on the scoring model, which of your credit reports it analyzed, and when the score was generated. Any changes in one of those factors could lead to a different score. Learn more about how scores are calculated and how to improve your score.

Learn how credit scores work, what affects them and simple ways to improve your score to boost your odds of approval for loan offers with better rates.

03/31/2026

What credit score is needed to buy a house?
For many, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Knowing the state of your credit health can help ease the stress of such a major financial decision. Shopping for a home, applying for loans and waiting for approval takes time, and you may not be eligible for a loan depending on your credit health. So, what credit score is needed to buy a house? And what’s the solution if your credit score isn’t where you want it to be? Learn more about the credit score you may need to get a mortgage and what you can do to prepare your credit before you begin shopping for loans.

Your credit score is an important factor when applying for a mortgage. Learn what a good credit score is when buying a house.

03/26/2026

Will Debt Relief Hurt my Credit Score?
Debt settlement involves hiring a third party to negotiate with your creditors to reduce what you owe. Settlement companies charge fees for their services and often instruct you to stop making payments to creditors while they negotiate. If successful, the company arranges for you to pay a lump sum that's less than your original debt balance. However, this approach carries significant risks. Stopping payment damages your credit, and creditors aren't obligated to negotiate. Additionally, forgiven debt may be reported to the IRS as taxable income, potentially creating an unexpected tax bill. Learn more about how debt settlement will impact your credit.

Whether debt relief will hurt your credit depends on the method you use. Learn how different debt relief plans work and how each can affect your score.