Are you about to give up budgeting because you can't get your budget to work? Check out these 12 reasons your budget isn't working before you throw in the towel. Usually when budgets go wrong, it's because of the method, not the budget itself.

Budgets are an essential tool to getting out of debt and staying there. So don't give up on your budget just yet. Try to figure out what's not working, fix that problem, and give your budget another try.

• Why a Budget is a Good Debt Management Tool
• How to Make a Budget
• FREE Budget Worksheet

Your credit report is becoming increasingly important to your life. So, it goes without saying that you should know what's in yours. You can purchase your credit report from the credit bureaus or a third-party, or you can get it for free. Here are Six Ways to Get Your Credit Report Free and only one of them requires a credit card.

• How to Avoid a Free Credit Report Scam
• How to Cancel Your FreeCreditReport.com Account
• When Should You Check Your Credit Report

Your credit score is widely used by banks and other businesses to approve applications you make. Your credit score is based on information in your credit report like your payment history, debt level, and recent credit card applications. But, your credit score doesn't include everything about you, especially factors that could allow businesses to discriminate against you. That includes your race, nationality, and religion. Learn 12 things that are not included in your credit score.

• How Your Credit Score is Calculated
• The New FICO 08 Credit Scoring Formula
• How to Estimate Your FICO Score

Thirty percent of your credit score considers your level of debt. Credit scoring calculations compare your credit card balance to your credit limit to come up with your credit score. This balance-to-credit-limit ratio is called your credit utilization. Learn more about credit utilization and find out what balances are best for your credit score.

• When Balances Go Up, Credit Scores Go Down
• Dealing With a Credit Limit Cut
• Why You Shouldn't Close a Credit Card, the scoop from a FICO insider!