Should I Pay Student Loans With a Credit Card?
Putting a student loan on a credit card trades income-driven payments, forgiveness, and death/disability discharge for an unprotected 22%+ balance.
credit cards
The Senate Just Killed Your Last Shot at Overdraft and Medical Debt Protections — Here’s What Still Works (May 2026)
The Senate just voted down the last chance to restore CFPB overdraft fee caps and medical debt credit reporting protections. Here is what protections still exist, how to opt out of overdraft fees, and what to do about medical debt on your credit report.
Steel Tariffs Are Making Canned Food More Expensive — The Quiet Tax on Being Poor That Nobody in Washington Will Say Out Loud (May 2026)
Steel tariffs are making canned food more expensive while food banks have less to give. Here is what the 50 percent tariff means for your grocery budget, who qualifies for SNAP, and what to do if groceries have moved to your credit card.
The New Fed Chair Was Just Confirmed — Here’s What Changes for Your Credit Card Rate This Week (May 2026)
Kevin Warsh was just confirmed as Federal Reserve chair in the most partisan vote in modern history. Here is what his inflation-first approach means for your credit card rate, HELOC, and ARM mortgage — and what to do this week.
Using a Credit Card on Venmo? You May Be Paying a Cash Advance Fee Without Knowing It
Using a credit card to send money on Venmo triggers a cash advance at most major banks — stacking Venmo’s 3% fee on top of your bank’s cash advance fee and immediate interest at up to 29% APR. Here’s which banks do it, which don’t, and how to avoid it.
Credit Lines Could Get Cut: What to Do Now
Banks are quietly cutting credit limits. If available credit is your emergency fund, here’s why that safety net could vanish — and what to do first.
No, Carrying a Credit Card Balance Does Not Build Your Credit — Here’s What It Actually Costs You
Carrying a balance to build credit? The CFPB calls it a myth. Here’s what 48% of Americans are getting wrong — and what it’s actually costing them.
Record Credit Card Debt Is Blocking First-Time Homebuyers: The DTI Math
Credit card debt at a record $1.28 trillion is working against first-time homebuyers through DTI calculations. Every $500/month in payments reduces your mortgage qualification by $80K–$100K. Here’s the math and what to do about it.
Personal Loans Are Booming: When Consolidation Helps and When It Doesn’t
Personal loan debt hit $276B with 25.9M borrowers. Does using a personal loan to pay off credit card debt actually make sense? The math by credit score.
Trump’s 10% Credit Card Rate Cap: Would It Actually Help?
President Trump called for a 10% cap on credit card rates, but banks ignored the deadline and Congress hasn’t acted. A rate cap could save $100 billion in interest but would cut credit access for 14+ million households. The real issue isn’t the rate — it’s the $1.23 trillion in debt that shouldn’t exist.
