Managing Debt
Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
Managing Debt
This course is part of The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization
Instructor: Brian Walsh
6,063 already enrolled
Included with
Details to know
20 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
This course is aimed at anyone who has debt, is thinking of taking on debt, or wants to better understand debt as part of your overall financial picture. It covers a variety of debt types, as well as debt payment options. The course will help you assess your current debt situation and understand the paths to paying off your debt. This includes categories such as mortgages, credit card debt, and student loans. Learn how to differentiate between good and bad debt, as well as how to think about debt as you work towards your financial goals. This course is geared towards learners in the United States of America.
This module will help you understand the difference between good and bad debt, the cost of debt, and the important factors that go into buying (and then owning) a home.
What's included
15 videos4 readings7 assignments
15 videos•Total 67 minutes
- How Debt Works•4 minutes
- Debt - Interest, APR and Fees•6 minutes
- Debt Amortization•6 minutes
- Getting Ready to Apply for a Loan•4 minutes
- Types of Debt•5 minutes
- Good Debt vs. Bad Debt•7 minutes
- Measuring and Assessing Your Debt•3 minutes
- Mortgage Basics•6 minutes
- Key Mortgage Ratios•4 minutes
- Mortgage Amortization•3 minutes
- Types of Mortgages - Part 1•4 minutes
- Types of Mortgages - Part 2•3 minutes
- Top 5 Mortgage Mistakes•4 minutes
- HELOCS and HELs•4 minutes
- Refinancing Home Loans•3 minutes
4 readings•Total 26 minutes
- Welcome to Managing Debt•3 minutes
- Activity - Categorize and Prioritize Your Debt•10 minutes
- Understanding the Different Types of Mortgage Loans•8 minutes
- Cash-Out Refinance 101: How Cash-out Refinancing Works•5 minutes
7 assignments•Total 63 minutes
- Understanding the Basics of Debt and Home Loans•30 minutes
- Correctly Identify Different Types of Debt•6 minutes
- Different Ways Interest Can be Calculated•5 minutes
- Home Affordability•5 minutes
- Types of Mortgages•7 minutes
- Mortgage Components and Payments•5 minutes
- Mortgage Refinancing•5 minutes
This module will help you understand the different kinds of student loans and the pros and cons of each. It will also help you understand payment options and the impact of refinancing student loan debt.
What's included
8 videos3 readings4 assignments
8 videos•Total 37 minutes
- Student Loan Basics•5 minutes
- Federal Student Loans•4 minutes
- Student Loan Repayment Basics•5 minutes
- Federal Student Loan Repayment Options•6 minutes
- Student Loan Forgiveness Programs•4 minutes
- Student Loan Deferment & Forbearance•4 minutes
- Private Student Loans•4 minutes
- Refinancing Student Loans•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 18 minutes
- Federal Student Loan Basics•7 minutes
- Private Student Loan Basics •6 minutes
- Student Loan Options: What is Refinancing vs Consolidation?•5 minutes
4 assignments•Total 42 minutes
- Addressing Student Loan Debt•24 minutes
- Student Loans•6 minutes
- Student Loan Payment Options•6 minutes
- Student Loan Refinancing•6 minutes
This module will help you understand credit cards, auto loans, and personal loans.
What's included
9 videos3 readings6 assignments
9 videos•Total 41 minutes
- Types of Credit Cards•4 minutes
- How Credit Cards Work•7 minutes
- Credit Card Balance Transfers•4 minutes
- 6 Tips of Maximizing Credit Card Rewards•6 minutes
- Managing Your Credit Cards•4 minutes
- Keeping Credit Card Debt in Check•3 minutes
- Auto Loans•4 minutes
- 4 Tips for Getting the Best Auto Loan for You•4 minutes
- Personal Loans•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 14 minutes
- How Do Credit Card Payments Work?•5 minutes
- Understanding Credit Card Rewards•5 minutes
- The Problem with Payday Loans•4 minutes
6 assignments•Total 51 minutes
- Managing Credit Cards and Other Debt•20 minutes
- Credit Card Basics•7 minutes
- Components of Credit Cards•4 minutes
- Credit Card Repayment Options•5 minutes
- Other Debts•7 minutes
- Types of Debt•8 minutes
This module will help you understand strategies to pay down debt, how to determine which strategy is right for your personal situation, and ways to implement your chosen strategy.
What's included
6 videos5 readings3 assignments
6 videos•Total 24 minutes
- Using the Good Debt/Bad Debt Framework to Prioritize Your Debt•4 minutes
- Debt Paydown in the Context of Your Next Money Move•5 minutes
- Paying Down Debt•4 minutes
- The Snowball Method•3 minutes
- The Avalanche Method•3 minutes
- The Fireball Method•5 minutes
5 readings•Total 35 minutes
- Summary of Good Debt Types, Bad Debt Types, & Prioritization•5 minutes
- How to Pay Off Debt in 9 Steps•5 minutes
- Creating a Debt Reduction Plan•5 minutes
- Activity - Credit Card Payoff Calculator•15 minutes
- Putting Your Debt Paydown Strategy into Action•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 39 minutes
- Paying Down Debt Strategically•24 minutes
- Debt Repayment•5 minutes
- Paying Down Debt•10 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Explore more from Personal Development
- Status: Free TrialM
McMaster University
Course
- Status: Free TrialJ
John Wiley & Sons
Course
- Status: Free Trial
Course
- Status: Free Trial
Course
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
- 5 stars
82.14%
- 4 stars
10.71%
- 3 stars
3.57%
- 2 stars
0%
- 1 star
3.57%
Showing 3 of 28
Reviewed on Oct 10, 2021
Extraordinary! Great way to learn how to get our of the Debt from different theories.
Reviewed on Sep 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this course as it was easy to follow.
Reviewed on Apr 11, 2025
Coverage of personal loans including mortgage, student, auto, credit card, and how to manage them.
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
More questions
Financial aid available,