Top 10 Most Read and Shared Blog Posts of 2014

Around this time of year, people start to reflect on things that happened to them in the past 12 months. Facebook has their “Look Back” video and Twitter does a recap of popular Tweets, so I thought why not write a blog post about Advantage CCS’s most popular blog posts of 2014?!

I looked at our Google Analytics data and our Sharing widget data from the Blog to come up with the top 10 most popular blog posts of this past year.

I’ll give a brief description on what each post is about and why I think you should check them out. So without further ado…

Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2014:

#1 – 10 Steps to Eliminate Credit Card Debt:

Our number one blog post is all about how to eliminate credit card debt in the fastest and most reliable way possible. It doesn’t surprise me that our most popular post would be about getting out of credit card debt; after all this is a consumer credit counseling blog. This blog post is almost a step-by-step plan to help you destroy your debt as quickly as possible and in the safest way possible. We want to make sure you’re not hurting your credit rating or anything like that while trying to become debt-free. This blog post can be found here:

https://www.advantageccs.org/10-steps-to-eliminate-credit-card-debt

#2 – Fair Credit Reporting Improvement Act of 2014:

This particular blog post caught the eye of many conscience consumers who are concerned with credit scores, credit reports, and anything else having to do with the credit industry. Congresswoman Maxine Waters proposed what’s being called the “Fair Credit Reporting Improvement Act of 2014” that could have very dramatic effects on the credit reporting industry and even the economy.  If passed, this Act could result in the most aggressive overhaul of the Fair Credit Reporting Act since 2003. This new Improvement Act could change the information of over 650,000,000 credit reports and credit scores roughly overnight. You can find the blog post here:

https://www.advantageccs.org/fair-credit-reporting-improvement-act-of-2014

#3 – What is a Form B23 and Why do I Need It:

If you are faced with Bankruptcy and everything that comes with it, then this is a great blog post to read. It lists the reasons why you need a Form B23 and what it is. The form is also known as the Debtor’s Certification of Completion of Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management. A Form B23 is essential to finish the last steps of your bankruptcy discharge. Every individual debtor in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case must file this certification. If a joint petition is filed, each spouse must complete and file a separate form. Read on to find out more information about this form:

https://www.advantageccs.org/what-is-a-form-b23-and-why-do-i-need-it

#4 – How many Points does Your Credit Score Drop if You’re Late on a Payment:

Here in this post we discuss the repercussions of a late payment and what it could potentially do to your credit score and credit report. This is one question that has been asked time and time again. When hardships and struggles get in the way, a late payment is bound to happen. Some light has been shed on the mysteries of just how our credit scores are affected by different things. FICO has disclosed how certain things like late payments, debt settlement (not to be confused with debt consolidation), a foreclosure and/or a bankruptcy could affect your credit score. You could learn a lot from this post, so it’s a definite “must read” for everyone. Find it here:

https://www.advantageccs.org/how-many-points-does-your-credit-score-drop-if-youre-late-on-a-payment

#5 – Free Credit Counseling Could Help You Get Out Of Debt:

I talk about how free credit counseling can be a lifesaver in this one post. Debt is an American epidemic that plagues the majority of the population. Sometimes income is no sooner earned than it is spent in trying to get out of debt. Credit cards are the most common culprit. They are relatively easy to obtain and certainly very easy to use. That’s just the problem. Massive credit card debt can be racked up in a few short months, but it can take years to pay it off. We discuss free consumer credit counseling and how it could help you get out of debt. Check it out:

https://www.advantageccs.org/free-credit-counseling-could-help-you-get-out-of-debt

#6 – How to Use the Debt Avalanche Method:

On September 22nd, 2014 I discussed the Debt Avalanche Method of repaying your debt. With the Debt Avalanche repayment method, you will pay off your debt faster and pay less interest to the lenders and creditors, thereby saving you more money in the end. We share all the tips and advice you need to implement this repay method on your own. Most financial experts agree that when attempting to pay-off your debt, you should aim to eliminate the credit card or loan with the highest interest rate first. That is the basic premise of the Debt Avalanche Method, but our blog post goes more in-depth and gives examples. Read more about it:

https://www.advantageccs.org/how-to-use-the-debt-avalanche-method

#7 – Survey Shows that Only Half of Americans Have a Savings Plan:

In this blog post, we list the results of a survey that we took. We asked many people “Do you have a savings plan?” This blog post shows the positive and negative responses to that particular question. We share the results and also provide many images that include graphs, pie charts, etc. to make it easy to understand everything. As t turns out, it seems that 51% of Americans across the country have a savings plan versus 49% who do not. Find out who has a savings plan and who does not by clicking here:

https://www.advantageccs.org/survey-shows-that-only-half-of-americans-have-a-savings-plan

#8 – Insufficient funds: Decline the transaction or pay an overdraft fee:

I take a close look at insufficient fees that many banks charge consumers if they go over the amount that’s in their checking account. Many banks allow credit and debit card transactions to go through, even if the card user is over their credit limit or has insufficient funds in their checking account to cover the entire purchase. The transaction would still process, and the card user would get hit with an over-the-limit fee or an insufficient funds fee. These fees are typically around $36.00 and can turn that latte into the most expensive latte you have ever purchased. Please read this blog post to find out more about insufficient funds:

https://www.advantageccs.org/insufficient-funds-decline-the-transaction-or-pay-an-overdraft-fee

#9 – Slideshow: 5 Options for Getting Out of Debt:

In this awesome blog post, we created a Slideshow to list the top 5 options for getting out of debt. Getting out of debt, especially credit card debt can be a very difficult task and the stress that goes along with it can be even more taxing. Credit card debt can lead to issues with relationships and family, and has even been known to cause depression. Luckily, there are several options that can lead to financial stability and a stress-free financial situation. There is not a one size fits all solution, so knowing which option works best for you is important. We can help you make an informed decision with this blog post:

https://www.advantageccs.org/slideshow-5-options-for-getting-out-of-debt

#10 – Paying Off Student Loans:

I show you a few different options to pay off your student loans in this blog post. Student loan debt surpassed credit card debt in 2014. Student loan debt has crossed the $1 TRILLION mark and will probably continue to rise. The graduating class of 2014 is the most indebted, with roughly 70% of the newly undergrad degree holders carrying an average debt of $33,000 each. With student loans being such a huge burden on people and the economy it’s important to find out what your options are when it comes to paying back that debt:

https://www.advantageccs.org/paying-off-student-loans

BONUS – The Top 8 Overlooked Causes of Debt:

While this post didn’t make the top 10 list, it’s still worth an honorable mention! Debt problems don’t always happen because of shopping sprees. Sometimes debt is built slowly and silently until it becomes the elephant in the room…that squashes the household. While job loss or medical expenses are well-known reasons for high debt, here are the top eight often overlooked causes of debt:

https://www.advantageccs.org/the-top-8-overlooked-causes-of-debt

Conclusion – What Topics Would You Like To See In 2015:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back of Advantage Credit Counseling Service’s favorite blog posts from 2014. We try to cover a wide range of topics about debt, credit counseling, bankruptcy, housing, credit reports, credit scores, student loans, budgeting, etc. If there’s a topic that we haven’t covered yet, and you really want to see, please leave a comment below and let us know. We are always looking for interesting topics, and we love helping people, so it would be our pleasure. Thank you so much!