Rules like “don’t carry a balance” or “keep a low utilization ratio” make sense in normal times, but you might have to ignore them during a financial crisis.

If you visit most personal finance pages offering guidance on credit card usage, you’ll see a few main themes: Never carry a balance. Don’t apply for too many credit cards at once. Credit cards aren’t ...

Over one in five Americans has no emergency savings, according to Empower research, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected financial events. If you’re in this group or otherwise short on emergency ...

The number of Americans carrying a credit card balance is climbing, with many using their credit to cover unexpected or emergency expenses, a new Bankrate report reveals. The share of credit card ...

In emergencies, it may be necessary to break typical credit card rules, such as never carrying a balance or applying for multiple cards, to avoid financial disaster. While credit cards can be used as ...