Payday Loan Consolidation: How It Works and When It Wins
Payday loan consolidation compared with a DMP and debt settlement, with real dollar math on three typical loans. See which exit costs least.
By Aaron Kim
HomeBorrow Smarter
Borrow Smarter - 7
Reporting, analysis, and plain-language explainers on payday loans, state rules, credit scores, and the lower-cost alternatives most borrowers never hear about.
Money Guides and Plain-Language Explainers
Washington State Payday Loan Rules: Fees, Limits, and Your Rights
Washington caps payday loans at $700 with a $95 max fee, 8 loans a year, and a free installment plan. Know your rights before you borrow.
By Carmen Ortiz
Payday Loan vs Cash Advance: What the Same $400 Really Costs
Payday loan vs cash advance: we price the same $400 through a credit card, a payday store, and an app, and show which costs least.
By Lena Whitfield
Payday Loan Alternatives: What $400 Really Costs With Each Option
See nine payday loan alternatives priced on a real $400 loan, from free employer advances to bank small-dollar loans and credit union PALs.
By Derrick Washington
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Low Income: A 26-Week Plan
How to build an emergency fund on a low income: a 26-week plan, $40 a week to $1,000, using Bank On accounts, EITC sprints, and SaverLife fallbacks.
By Aaron Kim
Payday Loan Scams to Avoid in 2026: Seven Patterns and How to Recover
Payday loan scams to avoid in 2026: advance-fee texts, phantom collectors, lender impersonators, tribal traps. Spot the red flags and recover if you paid.
By Lena Whitfield