Personal Finance
Use Bankrate's advice and tools to help make all of your personal finance decisions.
Latest Articles
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DIY vs. professional debt relief: Which should you choose?
When you’re ready to get out of debt, you can either go it alone or work with a professional debt relief company. The decision is personal and strategic — and it depends on the kind of debt you owe. [...]
4 min read Feb 20, 2026 -
8 signs of a debt relief scam — and where to go instead
Debt relief scams offer to help relieve you of debt, but do not deliver on what they promise. They commonly target those with high debt amounts or poor credit scores. Legitimate debt relief companies are [...]
4 min read Feb 20, 2026 -
Tracking Trump’s affordability proposals: How his policies could affect your wallet
What President Donald Trump’s latest consumer finance proposals could mean for your money and long-term affordability.
10 min read Feb 20, 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 Feb 18, 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 Feb 18, 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 Feb 18, 2026 -
Affordability is a big problem. Lower rates won’t solve it
There is a lot in the news right now about high interest rates and unaffordability. But the rates aren’t the main problem. Here’s what is.
5 min read Feb 13, 2026 -
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 -
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