As unemployment soars, more Americans are failing to make credit-card payments by their due dates, Reuters reports. And one analyst predicts that both the default rate and credit lines will deteriorate further over the next year and a half. The grim details follow.

When your credit-card issuer abruptly cuts your credit limit, you might not even notice — at first. But even if you’ve got a great credit history, beware: such shenanigans could ruin your score before you know it. Read on to find out why you need to read the fine print — and how you soon may be protected from this trap.

Need a car loan or a home mortgage? Try a credit union — they’ve got plenty of cash, they’re largely free of subprime sleaze, and their interest rates often a percentage point lower than the banks’. Read more from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

With the U.S. in the midst of a deep recession — and no end in sight — more Americans are cutting back or eliminating insurance coverage to lower expenses. It may save money in the short-term, but is it a risk worth taking?

Lost your job? Your health? Got hitched–or divorced? Credit-card issuers offer protection plans to briefly shield you from your minimum monthly payments–for a small fee. But that small fee can get out of hand fast. WalletPop blogger Vanessa Richardson explains the fine print.

Interest rates are at record lows, which makes this a pretty fantastic time to refinance. But there’s just one problem…find out what it’s going to cost you to re-do your loan.

Need a car loan or a home mortgage? Try a credit union — they’ve got plenty of cash, they’re largely free of subprime sleaze, and their interest rates often a percentage point lower than the banks’. Read more from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Interest rates are at record lows, which makes this a pretty fantastic time to refinance. But there’s just one problem…find out what it’s going to cost you to re-do your loan.

Our friend Erin at CouponCravings rounds up the week’s best freebies, including a no-strings-attached free sundae offer from Friendly’s, plus other free food, magazines and beauty supplies.

In these tough economic times, any extra money you get is particularly helpful. And you’re smart to start thinking about what to do with this small windfall before it even arrives — that way, you’ll be less tempted to use it for everyday expenses. Instead, here are five smart uses for your tax refund that can improve your long-term financial situation.