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Don’t miss this Woot! deal on super cute Blowfish Women’s Shoes! Through June 6th and while supplies last, hurry over to Woot.com where you can score up to 55% off Blowfish Malibu Women’s Sneakers. Plus, shipping is free for Prime Members when you opt to ‘Checkout with Amazon! Otherwise, shipping adds $6. Although there areRead MoreDeals, Shoes, Teens, Womens, Woot

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Are Personal Loans a Smart Move in a Recession? Here's How to Decide

Yuri Arcurs / Getty Images Due to a higher risk of layoffs, a recession is often a poor time to start making new debt payments.With a potential recession on the horizon, it’s worth asking whether a personal loan is your best option during an economic downturn. At first glance, this type of loan may seem like a particularly smart choice if the Fed decides to cut interest rates. However, taking on any debt comes with risk, and your decision to apply for a loan should only be made after fully assessing your risk tolerance and whether a loan fits your unique financial situation.Key TakeawaysDuring a recession, interest rates on personal loans may drop due to the Federal Reserve cutting the Fed funds rate.Layoffs are a common occurrence amid an economic downturn, and having new debt to repay can put you in a particularly vulnerable position should you lose your job.Potentially safer alternatives to getting a personal loan during a recession include dipping into your savings, borrowing from friends and family, and taking out a short-term 401(k) loan.Pros and Cons of Taking Out Personal Loans During a RecessionProsLower interest ratesDebt consolidation opportunityConsJob insecurityLack of loan availabilityStricter lending requirementsPros ExplainedLower interest rates: During a recession, the costs of everyday goods and necessities rise, so people naturally spend less. To stimulate economic activity, the Federal Reserve typically cuts the Fed funds rate, which ultimately lowers the cost of lending. As a result, banks and other financial institutions are able to offer lower interest rates than they might otherwise.Debt consolidation opportunity: If you have multiple outstanding loans when a recession hits, taking out a new, larger one to consolidate them may be worth considering. Since interest rates are likely to drop, an economic downturn can be the perfect opportunity to streamline and possibly lower your monthly loan payments—potentially saving you a substantial amount in interest in the long run.Cons ExplainedJob insecurity: On top of increased costs for everyday expenses straining your budget, recessions also tend to result in layoffs. If you take out a personal loan during an economic downturn and later lose your job, you’ll have incurred a debt that you no longer have the means to repay, which could put you in a substantially worse financial situation than before.Lack of loan availability: Financial institutions also have to navigate the financial hardships of a recession, and lower interest rates mean they stand to earn less from new loans. While some leaders may choose to continue lending, others may decide to reprioritize their efforts toward less risky and more profitable products.Stricter lending requirements: Lending during a recession is inherently risky, as borrowers are more likely to struggle with repaying their debts. To offset this heightened risk, lenders tend to tighten their lending standards. As such, borrowers may need to have better credit scores, lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and cleaner credit reports to get a loan they might have more easily qualified for under better economic conditions.Alternatives to Personal Loans During a RecessionConsidering the risks that come with taking out a personal loan during a recession, you may want to consider one of these alternatives that are typically safer.Emergency savings: This won’t be a viable option for everyone, as you might lack sufficient savings to cover certain expenses. However, if you’re able to build a decent nest egg ahead of an economic downturn, then you’ll be able to avoid (or at least delay) needing to take out a personal loan just to afford necessities. Additionally, being able to even partially cover the cost of something will minimize how much you’ll have to pay back (and, by proxy, how much it’ll cost you in interest).Borrowing from friends and family: Instead of taking out a high-interest loan from a financial institution, you can ask a friend or family member to lend you whatever funds you require. Before accepting money from your loved ones, make sure all involved parties sign a written agreement that includes the terms of this loan. This way, you can head off any potential misunderstandings and/or strain on your relationship. This option might also be infeasible during a recession, as your friends and family may be struggling financially themselves, but there’s no harm in asking.401(k) loans: Essentially tax-free and requiring no credit check, a short-term loan from your 401(k) account can allow you to secure the amount of money you need without taking on any actual debt. When you borrow from your 401(k), you’re essentially borrowing from yourself, as any interest paid goes into your account. As such, so long as the loan is repaid correctly, you stand to lose little to none of your retirement savings. A 401(k) loan is different from a 401(k) withdrawal, as with the latter you won’t get those funds back once they're taken out, and the amount withdrawn will most likely be taxed.ImportantIf you’re considering a 401(k) loan, it’s crucial that you be diligent about repaying it. Removing funds from your 401(k) disrupts the growth of your retirement savings, and any amount that you fail to pay back will be treated as a taxable distribution. This can get especially complicated if you have to leave your job while you have an outstanding 401(k) loan, as you may then be required to repay the loan in full.The Bottom LinePersonal loans are normally a fairly safe way to borrow money, but this isn’t always true during an economic downturn. Being aware of your risk tolerance and fully understanding your financial situation can make all the difference between safely securing funding and taking on an unreasonable amount of debt. So be sure to review your finances and assess how much risk you’re willing to assume before you apply for a personal loan.We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Is Now a Good Time to Refinance Your Car Loan?

miniseries / Getty Images Deciding whether or not to refinance depends on your credit situation and the broader economy.Car loan rates have dropped recently, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should run to the closest bank and refinance your car loan. Compared to pandemic-era lows, rates remain high. The potential upsides of refinancing vary by your original deal, loan type, and financial health. Key TakeawaysAuto loan rates typically move alongside the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.If the fed funds rate has decreased since you took out an auto loan, it could be a good time to refinance.You could also benefit from refinancing if you took out a car loan when interest rates were at their highest or your financial circumstances were poor.Determine whether to refinance by checking your credit, determining eligibility, and comparing top offers against your current auto loan.Have Auto Loan Interest Rates Gone Up or Down?Auto loan rates are influenced by the federal funds rate, the target interest rate range banks use to trade with one another overnight. The Federal Reserve sets this rate to influence economic conditions. It lowers the rate to stimulate growth and raises it to cool an overheated economy. Following over two years of steady increases meant to curb inflation, the Fed cut the federal funds rate three times in the back half of 2024. Auto loan rates largely moved in tandem. Per Experian, the average auto loan rate on a new car was 6.35% in Q4 2024, down from a recent high of 7.18% one year earlier. The average auto loan rate on a used car dipped from 11.97% to 11.62% in the same timeframe.Where Are Auto Loan Rates Headed Next?The Fed has kept the federal funds range the same through 2025, a trend analysts expect to continue in the short term. The CME Group publishes a tool that shows the probability of fed rate changes at upcoming meetings, as given by interest rate traders. You can check this tool anytime to see the current likelihood of a rate increase or decrease in the near future, which can help you decide if now is a good time to refinance. If rates are expected to go down, it might make sense to wait; if rates are expected to go up, you might want to refinance sooner rather than later. Don’t take those odds as guarantees; they’re subject to changing quickly in response to economic conditions.When it comes to 2025 rate changes, at the beginning of the year, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank is adopting a wait-and-see approach to rate cuts, given uncertainty over how the Trump administration’s trade policies will affect the economy. Even if the Fed starts lowering rates, there’s no guarantee car loan rates will immediately follow suit. “Auto loan rates tend to be sticky on the downside, while not as sticky on the upside,” said Robert R. Johnson, chartered financial analyst (CFA) and professor of finance at Heider College of Business, Creighton University. Current auto loan rates remain high relative to pandemic-era lows. According to Experian data, the average auto loan rates on new cars and used cars were 3.95% and 8.84%, respectively, in Q2 2020.Should You Refinance? Here's How to KnowSome borrowers can likely benefit from refinancing right now. “If you got stuck with something in the double digits when rates were still climbing, now could be a window to shop around for something a little less impactful to your finances,” said Christopher M. Naghibi, executive vice president and chief operating officer at First Foundation Bank. You can also benefit by refinancing if your financial situation has improved since getting your auto loan, as lenders factor your credit history, credit score, debt, and income level into their offers.Start by checking your current loan amount, your APR, the amount you’ll pay in interest, and your payoff timeline. Then, compare those details to the best auto refinance loan offers you can get.These additional steps can help your decision-making process.Determine Eligibility Some auto lenders have waiting periods (related to title transfers), mileage requirements, or vehicle age caps for borrowers looking to refinance. They also might impose minimum and maximum loan amounts to qualify.Shop for and Compare OffersExplore the top auto refinancing loans on the market. Look at current annual percentage rates (APRs) from lenders as opposed to pre-qualification or application offers, which are sometimes outdated and not guaranteed. “The bottom line is that you must be able to beat your current interest rate for it to be worthwhile,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for AutoTrader.Evaluate the Full PackageIf you want to refinance to lower your monthly payment, understand what you’ll pay in the long term.“Don’t get blinded by ‘lower payments’ if it means stretching the loan out another five to seven years,” Naghibi said. “That interest can more than double the real cost of your purchase price.”Investopedia’s auto loan calculator can help you understand the trade-offs. Prepayment penalties, origination fees, and title transfer and re-registration fees can also sour a refinancing deal. Be sure to include these in your cost comparison.The Bottom Line Auto loan rates dipped a bit in 2024. However, in Q2 of 2025, they were still high relative to pandemic-level lows. It’s difficult to say how auto loan rates will move in the future, given the degree of economic uncertainty. In general, the decision-making process always remains the same. Borrowers can benefit from refinancing now if they took out a loan when rates were elevated or their financial situation was poor. It’s worth checking to see where rates are headed in the coming months, because if they’re expected to drop it may make sense to wait before refinancing. Compare top offers to what you're paying currently to determine the best move for you.
You Can Dramatically Lower Your Credit Card Bills With This Trick — Do This Before Your Next Due Date

Ippei Naoi / Getty Images You don't have to pay credit card interest in most cases if you follow this simple rule.Credit card balances can accumulate interest at extremely high rates, compared to other forms of debt. This makes it crucial to manage your credit cards wisely if you’d like to enjoy their many benefits.The good news? Credit cards generally offer a grace period, giving you time to pay off your purchases without interest if you follow certain rules. Here, we’ll dive into credit card grace period basics, plus common but avoidable pitfalls that may lead you to accumulate interest.Key TakeawaysYou can avoid paying credit card interest completely if you understand how grace periods work. This is wise because credit cards tend to have higher rates than personal loans and other debts.Each billing cycle, you’re given a few weeks to pay off your statement balance before interest is charged—this is the grace period.If you pay your statement balance in full by the due date, you won’t be charged interest.If you don’t pay it in full, you’ll incur interest charges on that balance (with some exceptions), plus on any other purchases you make afterward.How to Avoid Paying Credit Card Interest: The Grace PeriodYou can avoid paying credit card interest completely if you take advantage of your card’s grace period.Here, we’ll explore how the grace period works by walking through a typical credit card billing cycle.Your billing cycle begins soon after you open a credit card. Your card issuer will provide you with a “closing date,” which you should be able to find after logging in to your issuer’s mobile app or online portal.When your closing date arrives, your “statement balance” is generated. This combines all transactions from the first day of the billing cycle until the closing date, including any purchases, fees, credits, and adjustments that have fully processed. Transactions that are still pending will be applied to your next statement balance.Once your statement balance is generated, you should see a “payment due date” for that statement period. It’s usually one billing cyclen away, a few weeks in the future. Those weeks, starting with your closing date and leading up to your payment due date, are your grace period.Pay your statement balance in full by the payment due date, and you won’t be charged interest. Fail to do so, and you’ll be charged interest on the part of your statement balance you didn’t pay, plus on any new purchases you make after that.Most issuers let you set up automatic payments. Consider using autopay to pay your statement balance by the due date. Just be sure to check that the payment goes through every month.Losing Your Grace Period (and Getting It Back)If you don’t pay your full statement balance by the closing date, you’ll likely lose your grace period. And you won’t just be charged interest on the rest of your statement balance. Interest will begin to accumulate on any other purchases you make, too, starting the day you make them.You can often get your grace period back, though. Pay your statement balance by the due date for consecutive months, and it may be reinstated. Policies vary, so check your card terms or contact your issuer if you’re curious about their rules.ImportantSome credit cards offer 0% purchase APR for a limited promotional period. You won’t be charged interest on purchases during this period, although you’ll still have a minimum monthly payment to make. And if you carry a month-to-month balance, you’ll still lose your grace period. This means interest will begin to accumulate at the standard rate as soon as the promotional period ends, so be sure to pay off your balance before that.Other Situations Where You Might Pay InterestLosing your grace period isn’t the only situation where you might be hit with credit card finance charges. Other things to look out for include:Cash advances: Cash advances have no grace period. Interest accrues starting the day of the transaction, and often at a higher rate than normal. You may also be charged a fee.Deferred interest offers: Some zero percent offers use deferred interest. Rather than charging you interest on any remaining balance when the promotional period ends, you’re charged interest on the full initial balance retroactively if you miss a payment or don’t abide by the terms. Balance transfers: Interest is usually charged separately on balance transfers, so even if you have a 0% APR for new purchases, you may be charged interest on a transferred balance (some balance transfer offers provide a “low” interest rate, rather than 0%). The common theme? Most of these nuances should be spelled out clearly in your card's terms and conditions. Always read them thoroughly before you proceed.Use Your Credit Cards—Don't Be Used By ThemCredit card interest can, understandably, feel intimidating. At such high rates, charges can quickly spiral out of control. But if you’re mindful, you’ll never have to pay a penny of it. Pay your statement balance on time and in full, and you’ll steer clear of interest charges while enjoying the vast array of perks that credit cards bring to the table. And you’ll be building your credit in the process—a bonus with long-term benefits.