Finance Basics
Understanding the basics makes everything easier. Here's a plain-language guide to the concepts that matter most when paying off debt.
APR vs Interest Rate: What's the Difference?
Learn the difference between APR and interest rate, why APR gives you a more accurate picture of borrowing costs, and how to compare loans.
Read moreCompound Interest Explained
Understand how compound interest works against you when you're in debt, with clear visual examples showing how it makes balances grow over time.
Read moreHow Debt Affects Your Credit Score
Understand how your debt impacts your credit score, from payment history to credit utilization, and what you can do to improve it.
Read moreHow Debt Affects Your Mental Health
Understand the real connection between debt and mental health, including the anxiety-avoidance cycle, shame spirals, and evidence-based ways to break the pattern.
Read moreBuilding an Emergency Fund While in Debt
Should you save or pay off debt first? Learn why a starter emergency fund protects your progress and how to build one while paying down what you owe.
Read moreGood Debt vs Bad Debt
Not all debt is created equal. Learn the difference between good debt and bad debt, and when even good debt can become a problem.
Read moreDebt-to-Credit Ratio (Credit Utilization) Explained
Learn what credit utilization is, why keeping it below 30% matters for your credit score, and practical steps to improve your ratio.
Read moreHow Auto Loans Work and How to Pay Them Off Early
Understand how auto loan interest is calculated, why early payments save you money, and practical strategies to pay off your car loan ahead of schedule.
Read moreHow Buy Now Pay Later Debt Adds Up
BNPL feels painless by design. Learn the psychology behind why it's easy to stack plans, miss payments, and end up with more debt than you realized.
Read moreHow Collection Agencies Work
Learn what happens when your debt goes to collections, what your rights are under the law, and how to negotiate with collection agencies.
Read moreHow Credit Cards Work
Understand how credit cards really work, including grace periods, minimum payments, interest charges, and billing cycles.
Read moreHow Interest Works on Debt
Learn how interest is calculated on your debt, the difference between simple and compound interest, and how monthly accrual affects what you owe.
Read moreHow Debt Forgiveness Works (and the Tax Trap)
Learn how debt forgiveness actually works across student loans, settlements, and federal programs, plus the IRS tax consequence most people don't see coming.
Read moreHow Medical Debt Works
Learn how medical billing works, your options for negotiating bills, protections under the No Surprises Act, and how to access charity care.
Read moreHow to Create a Budget
Learn how to create a simple budget using the 50/30/20 rule, track your income and expenses, and find extra money to put toward debt.
Read moreHow to Read a Credit Report
Learn the sections of a credit report, how to get your free reports, and what to look for to spot errors and protect your financial health.
Read moreHow to Negotiate Medical Bills
Learn how to review, challenge, and negotiate medical bills, access charity care, compare fair pricing, and protect your credit from medical debt.
Read moreMinimum Payments Explained: Why They Keep You in Debt
Understand how minimum payments work, why they're designed to keep you paying longer, and what to do about it.
Read moreHow to Stop Debt Collector Calls
Learn your rights under the FDCPA, how to request debt validation, send a cease-and-desist letter, and file complaints against abusive collectors.
Read moreThe Psychology of Debt: Why It's Hard to Pay Off
Learn the behavioral science behind why debt is so hard to escape, from loss aversion to hyperbolic discounting, and how to use these insights to your advantage.
Read moreSecured vs Unsecured Debt
Learn the difference between secured and unsecured debt, how collateral affects your borrowing, and the risk differences for each type.
Read moreStatute of Limitations on Debt
Understand what time-barred debt means, how statutes of limitations vary by state, and the risks of zombie debt collectors trying to revive old debts.
Read moreStudent Loan Basics
Understand the difference between federal and private student loans, forgiveness programs, and income-based repayment options.
Read moreTypes of Debt
A clear breakdown of the most common types of debt, from credit cards and student loans to medical debt, BNPL, and personal loans.
Read moreWhat Happens If You Stop Paying Your Debt
A clear timeline of what happens when you stop making payments, from late fees at 30 days to collections, lawsuits, and wage garnishment.
Read moreVariable vs Fixed Interest Rates: What Debt Holders Need to Know
Understand the difference between variable and fixed interest rates, when each helps or hurts, and how to decide whether to lock in your rate.
Read moreWhat Happens to Debt When You Die
A clear guide to what happens to your debt after death, including which debts your family may be responsible for and how to protect your loved ones.
Read moreWhat Is a Balance Transfer?
Learn how 0% APR balance transfers work, including fees, promotional terms, and common gotchas to watch out for before you apply.
Read moreWhat Is Bankruptcy? Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Explained
Learn what bankruptcy actually is, the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, which debts can be discharged, and when filing makes sense.
Read moreWhat Is a Hardship Program?
Learn about creditor hardship programs, how to apply for one, and what they can offer when you're struggling to make debt payments.
Read moreWhat Is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)?
Understand how Buy Now Pay Later services like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay work, their hidden risks, and what deferred interest can cost you.
Read moreWhat Is Credit Counseling?
Learn what credit counseling is, how nonprofit agencies work, what happens in a session, how debt management plans operate, and how to spot scams.
Read moreWhat Is Debt Consolidation?
Learn how debt consolidation works, the main types available, and whether combining your debts into one payment is the right move for you.
Read moreWhat Is Debt Fatigue (and How to Beat It)
Debt fatigue is the exhaustion that makes people quit their payoff plans. Learn why it peaks at months 4-12, the behavioral science behind it, and how to push through.
Read moreWhat Is Debt Settlement?
Learn how debt settlement works, the risks involved, its impact on your credit, and the tax implications of settling debt for less than you owe.
Read moreWhat Is Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)?
Your debt-to-income ratio is one number that lenders care about most. Learn what it means, how to calculate it, and what a good ratio looks like.
Read moreWhat Is Wage Garnishment?
Learn what wage garnishment is, federal and state limits on how much can be taken, which income is protected, and how to stop or reduce a garnishment.
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