Our deficit and our debt are at record levels, even compared to WWII. Then, the debt was financed internally, not by other countries, so the interest we could pay was lower and the money was recycled in the U.S. Now, the debt and deficit are mostly financed by other countries through bond offerings and the like. And as they grow, those debtor countries will want higher interest rates on repayments, which drains money out of the U.S. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Oct 5, 2009 - 4 answers

Will my student loan interest rate and the rate of inflation cancel one another out? [more inside]
posted by delosic on Mar 9, 2009 - 17 answers

Yesterday, I paid off Citibank for the last time. Today, I logged in to verify it had posted, and noticed my interest rate had jumped 5.5%. Has my new regime of frugality displeased the overlords? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 30, 2009 - 18 answers

[EconomistFilter] Are interest based money systems fundamentally broken? [more inside]
posted by symbollocks on Dec 11, 2008 - 23 answers

Investing 201: Given the economic news of late, If the value of my mutual funds drop and the interest rate of my debts go up would it be prudent to liquidate the mutual funds to pay off my debts or should I "stay the course" despite this? Financial details inside... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 29, 2008 - 8 answers

I'd welcome hearing of Mefites who have had experiences with the Prosper website as a borrower. (Or, if no one can help me on that, recommendations for Chicago or national credit unions accessible to most anyone.) [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Mar 7, 2007 - 6 answers

Is it better to pay off all my debts, or keep the debts and invest the money I would have paid them off with? [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jan 11, 2007 - 24 answers

I've got two credit cards with interest rates of 21.24% and 23% - both with balances over $5K. Both banks have sent me convenience checks - one with 3.99% fixed APR for life of balance - the other with 0% through August (then 17% after). Can I 'swap' the debt from one card to the other by using a convenience checks to pay the balance and getting lower interest rates? I'm paying my debt off every month - but if I can get it to grow slower, I thought this would be a way to do that.
posted by anonymous on Jan 4, 2005 - 16 answers