What to Do If You Trigger a Penalty APR
March 31, 2026
"A penalty APR is the company's way of saying, 'If you don't pay on time, we'll charge you more to make up for the risk and inconvenience,'"
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VantageScore Average Slips, Borrowers Fall Behind on Payments
February 2, 2026
"They're not paying bills on time, and they're likely using credit cards to make ends meet," she says. "That's unsustainable for them and costly to the larger economy."
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Higher prices could be killing your credit. Here’s what to do about it.
December 23, 2025
“Not everyone has the same buffer when costs go up. Lower- and middle-income households, and especially younger borrowers, often carry the biggest weight,”
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Holiday debt hangover: How to avoid carrying gift purchases into next year
December 11, 2025
"This isn't just about leftover balances," April Lewis-Parks said, Director of Education at Consolidated Credit. "It's a deeper sign of financial strain as families juggle inflation, credit use, and rising prices."
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Trapped by fast cash: How one woman escaped the payday loan debt spiral
December 10, 2025
“It is very difficult to break the payday loan cycle because once they’re stuck in it, they take another payday loan to help pay for everything else.”
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Survey Finds 36% Carry Holiday Debt Into 2025 Season
November 18, 2025
“This isn’t just about leftover balances,” Lewis-Parks said. “It’s a deeper signal of how many families are entering the holidays already behind, stressed and making trade-offs. With inflation still high, credit usage rising and BNPL taking off, the financial stakes have never felt higher.”
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5 Money Habits Millennials Need To Adopt in 2026, Even If Begrudgingly
November 15, 2025
“Paying off so-called ‘cheap debt’ might not feel urgent, but it should,”
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How key is teaching money lessons to toddlers? Here’s what experts say
November 9, 2025
“Money lessons work best when they grow with a child. The earlier kids understand basic money concepts like saving and trade-offs, the better equipped they’ll be to make sound decisions as teens and adults,”
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Teaching money smarts from toddler to teen: Experts share real-world lessons for parents
November 8, 2025
“Teaching financial literacy earlier means helping children see money as a tool, not a mystery,” “Money lessons work best when they grow with a child,” “When kids grow up making choices, setting goals, and watching their savings grow, they build confidence that carries into adulthood,”
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How parents can teach financial literacy from toddler to teen
November 6, 2025
“Teaching financial literacy earlier means helping children see money as a tool, not a mystery,” “It’s much easier to build good habits from the start than to unlearn bad ones later.”
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The Top Ways People Are Paying for Holiday Expenses This Year: Experts Weigh In on Which Is Best
October 30, 2025
“Earning 1%-2% in points sounds tempting, but it’s no deal if you’re paying 20%-24% interest on the balance,” “Using cash or debit keeps spending intentional and your finances stress-free.”
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Community Leader Nominated for Prestigious Business Award
October 22, 2025
"At Consolidated Credit, outreach isn't just a role—it's a mission to uplift communities through education, empowerment, and empathy. I’m deeply humbled to be nominated by the Hispanic Heritage Chamber of Commerce as Business Professional of the Year. This honor reflects the collective impact of nonprofit work and the lives we strive to change every day."
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6 Mistakes That Make Your Credit Card Debt Cost More
September 30, 2025
"You might be eligible for programs that can get you out of debt for good, but if nothing else, you hang up the phone with a complete budget of everything you earn and spend," says Parks. "After all, you can't get out of debt unless you know where your money is going."
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I’m a Financial Expert: This Is the Biggest Danger to Your Paycheck
September 16, 2025
“When you don’t set up automatic bill payments or transfers into savings, you’re relying on willpower and memory to stay consistent,” she said. “Life gets busy, you get distracted, forget a due date.”
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Your Money This Week: What Just Happened and What to Do Next
August 15, 2025
“More people are behind or juggling than those who are current. Without intervention, those balances will tip over into default,”
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Are Travel Credit Cards Good for Occasional Travelers?
August 14, 2025
"Travel rewards can beat cash back," says April Lewis-Parks, director of financial education at Consolidated Credit, a nonprofit credit counseling agency, "but only if you're booking frequently and redeeming smart."
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Why Car Payments Are the New Credit Card Debt Trap
August 6, 2025
“Auto loans are secured by the vehicle itself, so if you stop making payments, repossession becomes a real risk,” “Since there’s no collateral tied to credit cards, nonprofit agencies have more flexibility in helping you find a path forward.”
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Why Sale Prices Aren’t Guarantees You’ll Save Money, According To Experts
June 4, 2025
“Sales can work against you when you buy on emotion, especially if the deal feels ‘too good to pass up,'” said April Lewis-Parks, communications and public relations director at Consolidated Credit. “If you don’t need the item, you’re not saving — you’re just spending.”
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What to know before going to credit counseling
January 21, 2025
“The moment your credit card debt and monthly bills start to feel like a weight you can’t carry, it’s time to take action,” she says. “Don’t wait until you’re in freefall. Get help before you hit the financial breaking point. If you’re only paying the minimum on your credit cards and barely making a dent in your balance, that’s a red flag waving loud and clear.”
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How To Decide if Debt Consolidation Is for You
November 19, 2024
"Making a balance transfer can be a great tool for managing debt," says April Lewis-Parks, director of financial education at Consolidated Credit. "One of the main benefits is moving high-interest debt to a card with a lower or even 0% introductory interest rate. This saves you money on interest charges allowing you to pay off your balance faster."
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9 Ways you’re wasting money at the supermarket
November 13, 2024
A surefire way to overspend at the grocery store is to go without a shopping list. That causes “one of the biggest budget leaks,” says April Lewis-Parks, director of financial education at Consolidated Credit, a debt relief company. “You wander the aisles, picking up extras, and before you know it, your cart is full of things you didn’t plan for or really need.” By walking into the grocery store armed with a meal plan and an accompanying shopping list, you’ll be less susceptible to tempting displays and shiny packages. “You’ve got a plan, and sticking to it means no more impulse buys that inflate your bill,” she says.
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Smart Strategies to Escape Credit Card Debt
October 8, 2024
"Missing credit card payments can harm your credit score, making it harder to get credit when you need it for emergencies or to improve your quality of life," explains April Lewis-Parks, director of financial education at Consolidated Credit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "It can also cause interest rates on your current debt to go up, adding more pressure to your finances.
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10 Ways You’re Wasting Money at the Supermarket
September 3, 2024
“You wander the aisles, picking up extras, and before you know it, your cart is full of things you didn’t plan for or really need.”
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April Lewis-Parks Speaks to NBC News about a how Boston has the largest debt increase in the US
August 9, 2024
“We always don't have to shoot for the moon and say, I’m going to pay everything off, because sometimes it's not realistic. Make micro moves that will really help you pay down your debt and get your finances back on track,” Lewis-Parks said.
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