The impact of high-interest rates on credit card debt - 3 minutes read


There are several ways to address the impact of high-interest rates on credit card debt:


Paying more than the minimum payment is a effective way to reduce the amount of interest you pay over time on your credit card debt.


When you make the minimum payment on your credit card, most of the payment goes toward paying off the interest, and only a small portion goes toward paying down the actual balance. By paying more than the minimum payment, you can reduce the amount of interest you pay over time and pay off the balance faster.


For example, let's say you have a credit card balance of $5,000 with an interest rate of 20% and a minimum payment of $150. If you only make the minimum payment, it will take you over 12 years to pay off the balance and you will end up paying over $5,600 in interest. However, if you pay $300 per month, it will take you just over 2 years to pay off the balance and you will end up paying less than $1,500 in interest.


It's also important to keep in mind that paying more than the minimum payment is also an effective way to improve your credit score, as it shows that you are making a serious effort to pay off your debt.


It's important to prioritize paying off high-interest credit card debt first, as it will have the greatest impact on the total amount of interest you pay over time.


Prioritizing paying off high-interest credit card debt first can have a significant impact on the total amount of interest you pay over time.

When you have multiple credit cards, it's important to focus on paying off the ones with the highest interest rates first. This is because credit cards with high-interest rates will accrue interest at a faster rate than those with lower interest rates. As a result, paying off high-interest credit card debt first will help you reduce the overall amount of interest you pay over time.

For example, let's say you have two credit cards: one with a balance of $5,000 and an interest rate of 20%, and another with a balance of $3,000 and an interest rate of 15%. If you make the minimum payments on both cards and don't add any new charges, it will take you over 12 years to pay off the card with the higher interest rate and you will end up paying over $5,600 in interest. However, if you focus on paying off the card with the higher interest rate first, you will save a significant amount of money in interest charges over time.

Additionally, paying off high-interest credit card debt first can also improve your credit score, as it shows that you are actively working to pay off your debt and manage your finances.

It's recommended to have a budget plan and to make extra payments as much as you can afford, also consider balance transfer option, or getting a consolidation loan with lower interest rates.