Blog
Plain words and real numbers about debt. Start at the top.
Why the Minimum Payment Keeps You in Debt (With the Math)
Why does the minimum payment keep you in debt? See the math on a $3,000 card, why the balance can grow, and what to pay each month to clear it faster.
5 min read
What Is Interest? Why You Pay Back More Than You Borrow
What is interest? A plain guide to why you pay back more than you borrow, with a $4,200 debt worked out step by step and three things to do today.
5 min read
APR Explained in 2 Minutes: What It Means and How to Use It
APR explained in plain words: what it is, what it includes, and how to turn it into a monthly cost, with one worked example on a $4,200 balance.
4 min read
Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Debt Method Should You Pick?
Snowball vs avalanche: which debt payoff method wins? See both on four real debts, step by step, and how to pick the one you will actually stick with.
5 min read
How Credit Card Companies Make Money (and What You Pay)
How do credit card companies make money? From interest, fees and a charge stores pay on every purchase. See which ones you pay, with a worked example.
5 min read
Simple vs Compound Interest: One Example on a Real Debt
Simple vs compound interest on a debt, shown with one $4,200 example. See how interest on interest adds up, and how to make it work less against you.
5 min read
What 0% for 12 Months Really Means (and What It Costs)
What does 0% for 12 months really mean? See the fee, what happens when the deal ends, and the monthly payment that clears a $3,000 balance in time.
5 min read
Fixed vs Variable Rate: What Changes for Your Debt?
Fixed vs variable rate explained simply. See how each works, what makes a variable rate move, and a $9,800 loan example with the payment before and after.
5 min read
Monthly vs Yearly Interest Rate: The Math Most People Skip
Monthly vs yearly interest rate, made simple. Learn to turn one into the other, why 1.5% a month is not small, and how to compare offers fairly.
5 min read
Minimum Payment Less Than Interest? The Debt That Never Ends
When your minimum payment is less than your interest, the debt never ends. Learn the break-even payment, and the smallest payment that makes progress.
5 min read
Personal Loan vs Credit Card: Which Is Cheaper to Repay?
Personal loan vs credit card: which is cheaper? Compare APR, fees and term, see a $4,200 example, and learn the one risk that wipes out the saving.
5 min read
Buy Now, Pay Later: The Small Print and the Real Risks
How does buy now, pay later work? Learn the small print: late fees, stacking several plans, and paying by card. One example shows what is due when.
5 min read
How Much Does an Overdraft Cost? The Debt You Forget
How much does an overdraft cost? See the daily, monthly and yearly cost of $800 overdrawn, why it feels like it isn't debt, and a plan to clear it.
5 min read
Why a Low Car Loan Monthly Payment Can Cost You More
A low car loan monthly payment often costs more overall. See one $15,000 loan over 3 to 6 years, and how to compare the real cost before you sign.
5 min read
Store Cards and Catalog Credit: Is the Discount Worth It?
Store cards and catalog credit explained: how they work, why rates are often higher, and the math on when a sign-up discount is wiped out by interest.
5 min read
How Payday Loans Work, and Why the Fees Spiral (With Math)
How payday loans work: a fee per $100, due in a few weeks. See how 4 rollovers turn a $300 loan into $225 of fees, and where to find free help.
5 min read
How Much Interest Am I Paying a Month? One Number to Track
How much interest am I paying a month across all my debts? Add it into one number, see what it costs per day, and watch it fall as you pay down.
5 min read
Save or Pay Off Debt First? A Simple Way to Decide
Save or pay off debt first? Compare what your debt costs with what your savings earn, and see why a small emergency buffer still matters. With an example.
5 min read
What to Do With a Windfall When You Have Debt (With Math)
What to do with a windfall when you have debt: see how $1,500 on the right debt saves $558 and 3 months, and why a small safety buffer comes first.
5 min read
How to Find $100 a Month to Pay Off Debt Faster (5 Ways)
How to find $100 a month to pay off debt faster: five places to look, and the math on what $100 extra a month does to a $4,200 card balance.
5 min read
Why Paying Off a Loan Early Almost Always Wins (With Math)
Is paying off a loan early worth it? See the math on a $9,800 loan: $100 extra a month saves $449 and 15 months. Plus the times it may not pay.
5 min read
Debt Is Math, Not Shame: How to Turn Worry Into Numbers
Debt is math, not shame. Learn how to turn a vague money worry into a short list of numbers, using one worked example with four debts and one next step.
5 min read
Good Debt vs Bad Debt: A Simpler Way to Think About It
Good debt vs bad debt is too simple. Ask three questions instead: what it costs, how long it lasts, and if it fits your budget. With a $1,000 example.
5 min read
What to Do After Paying Off Debt: Your Next Three Moves
What to do after paying off debt: move your old payments into savings, build an emergency fund, and keep cards paid in full so the debt stays gone.
5 min read
Does Debt Affect Physical Health? What the Evidence Says
Does debt affect physical health? Studies find links, but the gaps are small and cause is hard to prove. See what the research says, and what it does not.
5 min read
Money Worries and Sleep: Why Debt Can Keep You Awake
Can money worries affect your sleep? Research finds a link, not proof. See what the NHS and a 2025 study say, and one way to answer the 2am question.
5 min read
How to Reduce Debt Stress: 5 Small Steps This Week
How to reduce debt stress: 5 small steps to take this week, with a worked example. Based on the NHS, the Mental Health Foundation and a US regulator.
5 min read
How Do Lenders Make Money From Your Debt? In Plain Words
How do lenders make money? From interest and fees, and they earn more the longer a debt lasts. See the math on a $3,000 loan, in plain words.
5 min read
The Payday Loan Cycle: How It Works and How to Leave It
The payday loan cycle explained: what US regulator data show about repeat borrowing, what it costs in real dollars, and calm steps to break the cycle.
5 min read
How to Talk About Debt With Someone You Trust (Simple Steps)
How to talk about debt with someone you trust: when to start, what to say and what to show them. Calm steps based on NHS and MoneyHelper guidance.
5 min read
Can Debt Cause Anxiety? What the Research Really Shows
Can debt cause anxiety? Research finds a link, not proof, and it runs both ways. See what the NHS and a 2013 review say, plus one calm first step.
5 min read