Credit & Debt Terms

Credit and debt terms cover borrowing in all its forms — cards, loans, interest math — plus the scoring and reporting system that decides what borrowing costs you. The vocabulary splits roughly into how debt works (rates, amortization, consolidation) and how lenders see you (scores, reports, utilization).

Small definitional differences here compound literally: the gap between APR and interest rate, or between minimum payments and amortizing ones, is measured in years and thousands of dollars. Each entry explains the mechanics with real arithmetic so you can check any offer yourself.

1 term published

Credit Score
A credit score is a three-digit number, most commonly on FICO's 300-850 scale, that summarizes how reliably you've handled borrowed money. Lenders use it to price loans, and landlords, insurers, and utilities often check it too, which makes it one of the most consequential numbers attached to your name.

The decisions behind these terms

Definitions get you oriented; an advice-only advisor helps you apply them to your situation — for a transparent flat fee, with no products, no commissions, and no asset management.

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