Money Management International

For the third year in a row, Money Management International has won The Anthem Awards. This year, “Ask a Debt Expert: Live & Local” earned a Bronze award for Local Community Engagement, out of more than 2,500 entries from 43 countries.

Debt can happen to anyone, but it can feel like something you have to hide. That’s why we teamed up with WSB-TV, WSOC-TV, WFTV Channel 9, 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.
Read more about the award: https://hubs.la/Q04DtD5m0

Need a car but worried about your credit? Before you sign at the dealership, look at the interest. On a $25,000, five-year loan, a borrower with good credit pays about $2,900 in interest. With poor credit, it’s closer to $11,600.

There are often better paths: getting pre-approved by a bank or credit union, choosing a less expensive car, or holding off a few months while you build your credit and save for a down payment.

Our MMI blog breaks down the risks of subprime auto loans and safer ways to get on the road:

www.moneymanagement.org

Higher prices are adding up for a lot of families, and our new 2026 data shows it. The average person who came to us for help this year carries $40,200 in credit card and other unsecured debt, up 4.8% from last year. And Gen Z is the fastest-growing group seeking help, up 31%.

Debt usually comes from everyday life, like groceries, car repairs and medical bills, not bad choices. See what else our data revealed, in this story from KSNV News 3, Las Vegas:

Consumer financial stress rises as Americans take on more debt, new data shows Financial stress on American consumers is continuing to build as rising costs push more people into debt, according to new data released Thursday by Money Manag

More people are seeking help with debt than at any point since 2011, according to our new data, and the average person who comes to us now carries $40,200 in credit card and other unsecured debt.

One of them is an Indianapolis man, paid on commission, who went through his emergency savings just to make ends meet. “It’s getting harder and harder,” he told WISH-TV. So he reached out to us for help getting out of credit card debt, and he’s glad he did.
“I’m psyched, actually.”

Watch his story:

Debt crisis hits milestone not seen in 15 years Explore the debit crisis impacting many people like Jonathan Levine, facing challenges in managing finances and emotional well-being.

Car registration, the holidays, that annual membership that renews right when money’s tight. The expenses that throw off a budget usually aren’t the monthly bills. They’re the ones that only show up a few times a year.

One simple fix: add up those once-in-a-while costs for the year, divide by 12, and set that amount aside each month. When the bill comes, the money’s already there.

Learn how to plan for all three types of expenses:

www.moneymanagement.org

The holiday shopping season is here, and it’s earlier than ever. 🛍️

Gifts. The holiday dinner. Travel to see family. It adds up fast. When it goes on a credit card, the interest keeps adding up long after the decorations come down.
Here’s the hard truth: a lot of people are still paying for holidays from years ago.

This year can be different. Make a plan before the shopping gets going, not after the bills arrive. If you’re already carrying balances, our counselors can help you build a budget that works for the season and beyond. 8 out of 10 people feel relief after their first call.

Start with a free counseling session 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04BFS7g0

31% more Gen Z adults came to us for help with debt this year, according to our new 2026 data.

For a lot of young adults, the math just isn’t working. Rent is high, a car payment is often a must, and everyday costs keep climbing. Their average debt is still lower than any other generation’s, but it rose 10.5% in just one year.

The earlier you ask for help, the more options you usually have. See what else our new data shows about debt by generation: https://hubs.la/Q04BFTb70