When Compound Interest Hurts You

Instead of working in your favor (as with a savings account), the power of compound interest works against you with debt.

If you start with a $500 balance on your credit card at 19.8% interest, then each year make two additional charges of $75 each, and pay only the minimum monthly payment of 3.5% of the balance or $20, whichever is greater, after 25 years the interest charges amount to $3,121.

After 25 years, you still have a balance of $624!

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