Student loan collections resumed: What it may mean for your credit score
Credit Sesame explains how student loan collections could affect your credit score, what steps you may want to consider, and how to stay on top of your financial future. Student loan collections resume in 2025 Federal student loan collections are back. As of May 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education is resuming collections on […]
Confused by the economy? Stay focused, not fearful
Credit Sesame looks at what to do when you’re confused by the economy and getting mixed signals about what comes next. This is one of those times when staying informed can add to your confusion. The news is full of mixed signals: on-again, off-again tariffs, speculation that the Fed may cut rates, unless it raises […]
News roundup April 19, 2025
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup April 19, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Consumer sentiment drops sharply across the board The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment declined 11% over the past month, with the latest survey describing the drop as “pervasive and unanimous across age, […]
How Trump tariffs could affect your credit score
Credit Sesame examines how Trump tariffs may strain household budgets, change credit behavior, and influence your credit score in unexpected ways. The link between Trump tariffs and your credit score At first glance, Trump tariffs and your credit score might seem unrelated. One involves international trade policy, and the other involves your personal financial reputation. […]
Why a rare consumer debt decline might not be good news
Credit Sesame explores what a rare consumer debt decline in February 2025 really means, and why this slight improvement may signal bigger financial trouble ahead. The latest consumer credit data delivered a rare twist: in February, total non-mortgage consumer debt dipped. After years of steady increases, any decline might seem like a welcome change. But […]
News roundup April 12, 2025
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup, April 12, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Credit card balances inch upward despite dip in total consumer debt Consumer debt declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.2% in February 2025. While modest, this marked only the fourth month of […]
10 ways to manage credit during economic uncertainty
Credit Sesame offers tips on how to manage your credit during economic uncertainty by using proactive strategies that help protect your score and access to credit. Economic ups and downs have been making headlines lately, with new tariffs, market swings, and rising costs putting extra pressure on household budgets. When inflation climbs or interest rates […]
Why credit card interest rates are high and how to pay less
Credit Sesame explains why credit card interest rates remain stubbornly high—and what you can do to reduce how much you pay. Americans are increasingly worried about rising prices, and credit card interest can quietly make everyday spending even more expensive. Compared to other major types of consumer debt, credit cards carry significantly higher interest rates. […]
News roundup April 5, 2025
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup, April 5, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Card rates climb sharply in 2025 A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York breaks down why credit card rates are currently so high. Default risk plays a significant role, with lower-credit-score […]
Credit at risk? What global market chaos may mean for your score
Credit Sesame explains how global market chaos, triggered by new tariffs and economic uncertainty, could put your credit at risk in unexpected ways. A sharp drop in the stock market and international backlash to U.S. tariff policies have reminded consumers that financial turbulence does not stop at national borders. Whether it’s higher prices on imported […]
The credit score bump from paused student loans may soon disappear
Credit Sesame looks at the looming credit score bump reversal and what it could mean for student loan borrowers. The government did more than pause student loan payments during the pandemic. It also effectively gave many student loan borrowers a bump in their credit scores. Now comes the bad news. Student loan forbearance programs expired […]
News roundup March 29, 2025
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup, March 29, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Bank of America shutters branches in latest digital shift Bank of America confirmed the closure of five branches across four states in early March 2025. As one of the nation’s largest banks, the closures […]
10 ways to get debt under control and reduce financial stress
Credit Sesame explains how to get debt under control, ease money-related anxiety, and take steps that could support your credit health over time. Living with debt can take a toll on more than your bank account. It can create ongoing stress, keep you up at night, and make it harder to plan for the future. […]
Fed interest rate outlook: Why it matters for your wallet
Credit Sesame explains how the Fed interest rate outlook could affect your credit cards, borrowing costs, and ability to manage debt in today’s economy. Six months ago, the Fed interest rate outlook pointed to lower borrowing costs. But that path has shifted. Inflation is rising again, economic growth is slowing, and the Federal Reserve’s latest […]
News roundup March 22, 2025
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 22, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Fed holds rates steady, slows Treasury cuts At its March 19, 2025 meeting, the Fed announced it would maintain the Fed funds rate between 4.25% and 4.5%. It cited persistently high inflation as a […]
