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"One big difference is that a hardship program is from one credit card issuer, while a debt management plan can apply to many – or even all – of your credit cards,"
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“We encourage people to compare lenders to find the best rate, and those duplicate credit pulls can add up,”
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"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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"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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“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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"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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“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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“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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“Paying off so-called ‘cheap debt’ might not feel urgent, but it should,”
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“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 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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“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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“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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"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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"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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“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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“More people are behind or juggling than those who are current. Without intervention, those balances will tip over into default,”
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"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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“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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“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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“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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"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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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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"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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