Money Management International

10/21/2026

Personal bankruptcies have jumped nearly 50% in just three years, so if you're weighing this option, you're not alone. A big first question: do you qualify for Chapter 7? It comes down to a "means test" comparing your income to your state's average. Read More:

10/20/2026

Buy now, pay later can feel like a lifesaver when the AC breaks or the grocery bill comes in higher than expected. But those small payments add up quietly, and before long you might be juggling three or four at once without realizing it. If that sounds familiar, you’re definitely not the only one, and adding up every installment in one place is a good first step toward getting back on top of it:

A broken air conditioner can be an urgent, expensive problem. For Lera Pauling, the repair cost more than $2,300, so she used a buy now, pay later loan rather than paying the full amount upfront.

10/19/2026

Groceries, gas, a car repair, a medical bill. When prices are up about 30% since the pandemic and paychecks haven’t kept pace, the difference has to come from somewhere.

Our new 2026 data shows that for more people, it’s coming from personal loans. Nearly half of the people who came to us for help this past quarter had one, up from about a third in 2020. And the average amount of credit card and other unsecured debt they carry is now $40,200.

Debt usually comes from everyday life, not bad choices. See what’s behind the numbers: https://hubs.la/Q04BFVFh0

10/16/2026

Debt isn't usually about a vacation or a shopping spree. For most people, it's groceries, gas, a car repair, a medical bill, the everyday cost of living that's climbed faster than paychecks have. There's no shame in that, and there's no reason to stay stuck in it either. If you're paying 20, 25, even 30 percent interest on your cards, you deserve a better way. When you're ready, we're here. Visit https://hubs.la/Q04Bdk0G0 to for a free conversation about your options.

10/15/2026

Groceries, gas, a surprise car repair. Prices are up about 30% since the pandemic, and for a lot of families, paychecks haven’t kept up. That’s why so many people are leaning on credit cards just to cover the basics.

Our new data shows more people are seeking help with debt than we’ve seen in more than a decade. In September alone, more people started a plan to pay down their debt with us than in any month since 2011.

See what’s driving it and how people are getting back on track: https://hubs.la/Q04Bk8M60

10/14/2026

We’re proud to share that Money Management International’s “Ask a Debt Expert: Live & Local” is a finalist for The Anthem Awards!

Debt can happen to anyone, but too many people feel like they have to hide it, so we teamed up with WSB-TV, WSOC-TV, CBS Philadelphia, and azfamily 3TV CBS 5 to remind viewers that it’s OK to ask for help and give them a free, private way to do it.

Thank you to our station partners and counselors, who helped hundreds of people take that first step.

10/12/2026

Americans now owe $1.26 trillion on credit cards, with average interest rates near 21%.

Ernesto Alvarez was carrying $70,000 of that across more than a dozen cards when he reached out to MMI, and just over a year later he was debt-free and saving for his daughter's college. "I feel a huge weight off my shoulders," he told ABC News, and if you're feeling that weight too, you don't have to carry it alone:

A surge of inflation is squeezing household budgets as many American shoppers weather mounting credit card debt and rising interest payments.

10/09/2026

Happy Friday! Gas is averaging $4.36 a gallon nationwide, but Amazon Prime members can now save 20 cents a gallon at BP, Amoco, and ampm stations every Friday through January.

MMI's Ted Rossman shared a few more simple ways to save at the pump with KPRC2 / Click2Houston, and they work any day of the week:

With gas prices climbing, Amazon is giving Prime members a bigger break at the pump just in time for the holiday travel season.

10/08/2026

Credit card balances are near record highs, and Jennifer felt every bit of it when $37,000 in credit card and student loan debt piled up while she was finishing school and building her own business.

She was nervous, anxious, and didn't know a way out, so she reached out to MMI, and she's already paid off about $14,000 while working toward something she can one day leave to her kids.

Does this sound familiar? Let Jennifer's story be proof that one decision can get the ball rolling for you:

Financial experts say consumers don’t have to wait until they are overwhelmed to seek help.

10/06/2026

Did you know your child's identity could be stolen before they're even old enough to read?

It happens more than you'd think, about 1 in 50 kids every year, often through something as simple as a Social Security card left in the wrong place or a little too much shared online. The good news is a few small habits, like locking up important documents and checking their credit now and then, go a long way.