 TITLE: How to Save Money if You’re Still Employed During COVID-19 CONTENT: Avoid Credit Card Debt\n----------------------\nNot running up any credit card debt, or at least reducing it, can put more money in your pocket.\nInvestment giant Fidelity offers the following example of why it pays to stay away from piling up high-interest debt: You buy a $2,000 flat-screen TV on a credit card with a 15% interest rate. If you make only the minimum monthly payment, it would take you more than 17 years to erase the original debt. During that time, the credit card issuer would collect over $2,500 in interest—more than you paid for the TV in the first place.\nAs this example illustrates, it's best to pay off your credit card balances in full each month to avoid interest charges and save more money. Consider these six other steps to avoid or reduce credit card debt:\n1.  Use credit cards only for purchases you know you can afford to pay off each month.\n2.  Negotiate with credit card companies to lower your interest rates.\n3.  Explore an introductory 0% balance transfer offer on a credit card as a way to consolidate your debt. Only do this if you know you can pay off the transferred balance before the intro period ends and won't run up the paid-off cards' balances again.\n4.  Look into a debt consolidation loan, which can allow you to pay off your credit card debt at a lower interest rate and with a single monthly payment.\n5.  Consider contacting a nonprofit credit counseling agency if you're overwhelmed by credit card debt. END