Personal Finance
Use Bankrate's advice and tools to help make all of your personal finance decisions.
Latest Articles
-
Unemployed and uninsured: The gamble of going without health insurance to save money
Sixty percent of Americans under age 65 — that’s about 164.7 million people — receive their health insurance through their employer, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis. That means losing [...]
10 min read Jan 29, 2026 -
Pros and cons of debt consolidation: Is it a good idea?
Weigh the pros and cons to decide if debt consolidation is right for your situation.
6 min read Jan 28, 2026 -
When to use a personal loan to pay off credit card debt
Taking on still more debt in pursuit of a goal can sometimes make sense. Here’s when.
5 min read Jan 28, 2026 -
Current credit card interest rates
View current credit card rates based on Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts.
6 min read Jan 28, 2026 -
Why debt relief typically doesn’t handle secured debt
Debt relief companies work on your behalf to negotiate your debts, usually through a settlement for less than you owe. While this can be a useful tool for some types of debt, not all debt can be handled [...]
3 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
What happened after one man’s home burned down: Insurance, loss and the emotional road to recovery
A survivor’s story of navigating home insurance and the emotional toll of starting over after a house fire.
6 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
12 million Americans live in banking deserts. How hidden costs hold them back
Without nearby banks, consumers pay more to cash checks, borrow money and save.
14 min read Jan 20, 2026 -
Complaints of housing discrimination are rising. But no one’s there to listen
Amanda Gomez submitted hundreds of rental applications for an apartment in Harlem, New York, last year. Most were met with silence. Fifteen, however, were outright rejected. When she subsequently noticed [...]
9 min read Jan 14, 2026 -
A guide to airline companion passes
Airline companion passes vary, but they can all save you money.
9 min read Jan 14, 2026 -
Bankrate’s Interest Rate Forecast for 2026: See what’s next for mortgage rates, credit card rates, auto loans and more
Rates could soon be within range of their pre-pandemic peaks. There’s a catch.
11 min read Jan 06, 2026