Taking money advice from a loan servicer is sort of like taking health advice from a tobacco company. The advice might be valid, but there's probably a better source out there for you. Namely, one that doesn't profit from your bad habits.

Getting out of debt isn't easy, and while there's plenty of practical advice to help, the psychological toll is a huge, often-overlooked obstacle. When you feel utterly powerless against debt, it only makes the process more difficult. While it takes money to get the job done, shifting your mindset to an empowered one will help you through the long slog to financial freedom.

I have pretty good credit -- right now my score is close to 800. Awesome, right? Sure, except that awesome credit has actually been pretty useless, even when I recently bought a home. Don't get me wrong, bad credit has a big impact on your finances. It's strange, then, that excellent credit doesn't really matter.

When you live paycheck-to-paycheck, you usually feel at the mercy of your employer. If you're lucky enough to have a fair, understanding employer, that might not be so bad. However, if your employer is a jerk or you just don't like your job, you probably feel powerless and stuck. Here's how an emergency fund can help with that.

Some credit cards are awesome for earning rewards like extra cash or free travel. If your money habits aren't great, though, those cards can lead to consumer debt. Credit.com recommends mastering these three money habits before jumping into the credit card rewards game.