Debt Management

Debt Management

The Student Loan 'Tax Bomb' Has Arrived: What Borrowers Need to Know About 2026's New Reality

As of January 1, 2026, student loan forgiveness through income-driven repayment plans is taxable again. Borrowers with $57,000 in forgiven debt could face a $12,000 tax bill.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

7 min

Debt Management

The SAVE Plan's Final Chapter: 7 Million Student Loan Borrowers Face a Dramatic Reset in 2026

The Trump administration's settlement ends Biden's SAVE student loan plan. Here's what 7 million borrowers need to know about new repayment options and higher costs ahead.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

Credit Card APRs Stuck Above 21%: Why Fed Rate Cuts Haven't Brought Consumer Relief

Despite three Fed rate cuts in 2025, average credit card interest rates remain above 21%. Here's why relief has been slow to arrive—and what cardholders can do.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

7 min

Debt Management

The Holiday Debt Hangover: 70% of Americans Enter 2026 Carrying Credit Card Balances

A record 70% of credit card users will carry balances into 2026 after holiday spending hit $1 trillion. Here's what the debt hangover means for consumers.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

7 min

Debt Management

The Phantom Debt Reckoning: Buy Now, Pay Later's Hidden Crisis Comes Into Focus

Buy Now, Pay Later debt has been invisible to lenders—until now. As credit bureaus begin reporting BNPL balances, a hidden crisis is emerging.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

The CFPB Survives: Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration's Latest Attempt to Defund Consumer Watchdog

A federal judge ruled the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must continue receiving funding, dealing a major blow to the administration's efforts to shutter the agency.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

Credit Card APRs Remain Above 21% Despite Fed Cuts: What Borrowers Must Know in 2026

Despite the Federal Reserve cutting rates by 175 basis points, credit card APRs remain above 21%. Here's what borrowers need to know about managing high-interest debt in 2026.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

New York's BNPL Crackdown: The First Major State Regulation of Buy Now, Pay Later

New York has enacted the nation's most comprehensive Buy Now, Pay Later regulations as federal oversight retreats. Here's what it means for consumers and the industry.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

7 min

Debt Management

Auto Loan Rates Finally Ease, But New Car Prices Cross the $50,000 Threshold

Average new-vehicle loan rates dropped to 6.6% in November, but affordability remains challenged as transaction prices officially exceeded $50,000 for the first time.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

7 min

Debt Management

The Student Loan Tax Bomb Starts Today: What Borrowers Need to Know About 2026's Biggest Financial Trap

As of January 1, 2026, student loan forgiveness through income-driven repayment plans is once again taxable income. Here's how to prepare for the financial hit.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

TransUnion Forecasts Slowest Credit Card Balance Growth Since 2013 as Consumers Pull Back

TransUnion's 2026 Consumer Credit Forecast projects credit card balance growth of just 2.3%—the smallest increase since 2013. Here's what the data reveals about American financial health.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min

Debt Management

The Student Loan Bankruptcy Myth Is Dead: 87% of Borrowers Who Try Now Succeed

A new study reveals 87% of student loan borrowers who pursue bankruptcy discharge now succeed, up from 40% in 2007. The myth that these debts can't be discharged is finally crumbling.

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The Money Unlock Editorial Team

8 min