On MSN

Liz writes a twice-weekly personal finance column for MSN Money, one of the Internet’s largest and most-respected financial sites. She also writes a weekly question-and-answer column, Money Talk, that appears in newspapers across the country.

To find her latest MSN columns, CLICK HERE (look for the letters “RSS” and click there if you want to subscribe to her feed). Or click on one of these featured articles:

Raise your credit score to 740

Carefully rebuild your credit to qualify for the best rates and terms. Here’s what you need to do.

9 fast fixes for your credit score

We know more than ever about how credit scores are calculated. Learn how to clean up your record, polish it to a new gleam and reap the financial rewards.

Is credit counseling right for you?

Credit counselors are falling all over themselves to help you out of debt, but some do more harm than good. Here’s what you need to know, including whether you need it and the red flags for ripoffs.

7 nasty credit myths that won’t die

If you want to avoid problems with lenders, landlords, insurers and others, it pays to know the difference between credit fact and credit fiction.

Don’t rush to pay off that mortgage

The interest savings are tempting, but most people have to get their other financial ducks in a row before they pay down a low-rate, potentially tax-deductible loan.

5 ways to kill your credit scores

The curtain has parted, albeit slightly, on the mystery of how your credit rating is calculated. Find out exactly how many points these common credit problems will cost your scores.

How thieves will steal your identity

Protect yourself by knowing where you’re vulnerable and where crooks look for the personal information they need to take over your identity.

The real reason you’re broke

For a huge number of debtors, it all started with a car.