Trump’s 10% Credit Card Rate Cap: Would It Really Help?

Quick answer: President Trump called for a one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates, but the January 20 deadline passed without banks complying. An interest rate cap would save consumers an estimated $100 billion in interest, but the banking industry warns it would eliminate access to credit for more than 14 million households. The […]

Clerk Credit Systems sued for illegal credit repair advance fees

Quick answer: On January 30, 2026, a federal lawsuit was filed in Florida against Clerk Credit Systems LLC in Florida. The complaint alleges that the credit repair company charged illegal advance fees of nearly $400 plus $95/month, promised to remove negative items within 45 days, and failed to deliver meaningful results. This is a legal […]

NY AG fines Dollar Tree $560,000 for selling lead-contaminated baby food

Quick answer: New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a $559,250 settlement from Dollar Tree for continuing to sell recalled WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches that were contaminated with dangerously high levels of lead. The company waited more than 24 hours to activate the cash register locks after receiving the recall notice, and some stores left […]

TN Payday Lender borrowed at 279% to finance gambling

Quick answer: A ProPublica investigation shows that Advance Financial, a Tennessee lender that charges 279.5% interest, lets customers borrow money and deposit it directly into Action 247, an online sportsbook majority owned by the same family. The regulators were alarmed, but were politically outsmarted. No other state allows this arrangement. Borrow at 279%, gamble immediately […]

Changes in Student Loans 2026: What Borrowers Over 40 Need to Know

Quick answer: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will bring major changes to student loans in 2026 that will disproportionately impact borrowers over 40. Parent PLUS loans will be limited, income-driven repayment plans will be eliminated, and new Parent PLUS borrowers will lose access to forgiveness entirely. If you have Parent PLUS loans, you […]

Retired Couple Loses $802,000 to WhatsApp Crypto Scam

Quick answer: Jerry Dunaway, 74, and his wife Mindy lost $802,000 in a cryptocurrency scam that started with a WhatsApp message from a stranger. The scammers used AI-generated fake trading screens to make it look like their investments were growing. When they tried to withdraw money, the money was gone. According to the police, recovery […]

Arizona wipes out $642 million in medical debt for 485,000 residents

Quick answer: Arizona has canceled $642 million in medical debt for nearly 485,000 residents through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, funded with $30 million in federal ARPA money. The state buys medical debt for pennies on the dollar and cancels it – no application required. It is the largest state-run medical debt relief program […]

National debt relief sued for dismissal of employee after pregnancy announcement

Quick answer: A pregnancy discrimination lawsuit was filed against National Debt Relief LLC in New Jersey federal court. The complaint alleges that a sales associate was placed on a performance improvement plan three days after announcing her pregnancy and then fired a day before the plan expired. This is a legal application, not a judgment. […]

Frugal Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special for Kids

Published: Through Crystal Pain on January 31, 2026 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to remind your children how much you love them. To help you create special memories – without stressing yourself or your budget – we’ve rounded up simple, meaningful ways […]