Credit card debt in America has reached $905 billion dollars, according to a recent NerdWallet survey. Kimberly Palmer, Personal Finance Expert at the company, joins Cheddar to explore some of the reasons behind the increase.
Two categories have outpaced income growth over the past decade: medical expenses and food. Healthcare costs, in fact, have increased by 34% while income has only grown by 20%. She gives some alternatives for how to pay off those expenses without whipping out the credit card.
Plus, people always say you're throwing out money when you rent a home, but how much money are homeowners throwing away in credit card interest? Palmer says that a house may be a great asset, but owners tend to ring up double the amount of credit card interest versus renters when spending on things like upkeep.
Where you live can dictate how much you pay for housing. Danielle Hale, chief economist with Realtor.com, joined Cheddar News to discuss where the hottest markets for real estate are and how you can find a home in a current difficult market.
Financial stress can take a mental toll on people. Dr. Regine Muradian, clinical psychologist and member of the National Debt Relief Financial Wellness Board, joined Cheddar News to discuss strategies to ease those worries over money.
