Here’s the One Thing You Should Never Say to a Debt Collector
August 19, 2026
Usually, the debt collectors who call me are entities that have purchased my debt from the original lender "for pennies on the dollar,"
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Are You Loud Budgeting? How to Make Your Financial Goals Stick
June 17, 2026
“I think it’s amazingly wonderful that Gen Z and the younger generation are saying, ‘You know what? I’m going to talk about it,’” “‘I’m going to figure it out and not be ashamed.’”
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More Cardholders Making Only Minimum Payments
June 11, 2026
"They aren't YOLO-ing through life, running up their cards on travel and luxury goods," "They're reeling from inflation, stagnant wages, high rents or home prices and crumbling purchasing power. Credit cards are bridging a gap in their budgets – until they no longer can do so."
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1 in 5 Americans wait until reaching a breaking point to get help with credit card debt
June 2, 2026
“Waiting until you are in a financial crisis to get help is like waiting until your engine blows up to change the oil,”
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Debt Management Plan vs. Credit Card Hardship Program: Which Saves You More?
April 24, 2026
"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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Could Portable Credit Reports Cut Mortgage Costs in Half for Homebuyers?
April 14, 2026
“We encourage people to compare lenders to find the best rate, and those duplicate credit pulls can add up,”
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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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