2 guides
Debt
Getting out of consumer debt: why a minimum payment calculated as a percentage of the balance barely moves it, what freezing that payment achieves at no extra cost, and how to tell whether a consolidation offer is genuinely cheaper once its origination fee is priced into the rate.
March 27, 2026 · 8 min read
$6,200 at the Minimum Payment Takes 159 Years
A 2% minimum on a 22.9% card barely exceeds the interest, so the balance falls at a crawl. Paying the identical amount as a fixed sum instead clears it in 13 years, and $200 a month clears it in 4.
March 13, 2026 · 8 min readA 12.5% Consolidation Loan With a 5% Fee Really Costs 14.68%
Consolidating $22,000 of card debt saves $4,900 over five years, but only after the origination fee is priced in. Here is how to check whether an offer is genuinely cheaper, and the failure that undoes most consolidations.
Calculators for debt
Credit Card Payoff CalculatorFind out how long a fixed monthly payment takes to clear a credit-card balance, and how much interest it costs along the way.Credit Card CalculatorFind the monthly payment needed to clear a credit-card balance within a target number of months.Debt Payoff CalculatorSee how long a fixed monthly payment takes to eliminate a debt and how much interest it costs.Debt Consolidation CalculatorCompare your current debts with a single consolidation loan to see the payment and interest difference.Personal Loan CalculatorCalculate a personal loan's monthly payment, real APR, and the amount you receive after fees.