Olivia Peluso is an experienced journalist with over 1,500 published stories across personal finance, economics, and public policy. Pekic / Getty Images Tax refunds aren't free money. They're ...

Households are carrying record levels of debt. Balances climbed to $18.04 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for Microeconomic Data.

Struggling to pay down your debt? You’re not alone: Despite increasing growth in income, delinquent balances continue to ...

Sharon Wu, a senior writer with over a decade of experience, specializes in consumer-focused content covering home and finance topics such as insurance, investments, credit, debt, mortgages and home ...

Facing down high-interest debt can seem like an impossible hill to climb. If your own debt feels insurmountable, you’re not alone. Overall debt in the U.S. rose 2.4% between 2023 and 2024, according ...

Dear Liz: I’m way behind on retirement funds. I did get pension funds from my employer after 25 years of service but used a large portion to pay debt that was crushing me. I’m widowed, age 62 and work ...

If you're juggling multiple monthly debt payments, high interest rates and the constant worry of falling behind, it's natural to look for a way out. One option that many people consider in this ...

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have lower interest rates than credit cards. That can lead some homeowners to use them to pay down large credit card bills. But this method ...

Debt is a problem for many Americans. Nationwide, household debt has reached nearly $18 trillion, and for those who have credit cards, the average balance is a whopping $6,000-plus. If you’re one of ...

Figuring out when to take out a loan, pay cash, use leverage, or pass when something isn't affordable. Unpacking good vs bad debt. Myth: you should always pay cash if you can. Fact: investors should ...

Tax refunds aren't free money. They're reimbursements made to you by the state and federal government if you overpaid your taxes during the year. In other words, your tax refund is your money, which ...