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Read MoreExisting debt itself is not an emergency to be paid from this fund. The fund is strictly for new, unexpected events. Using it to pay down old debt would leave you vulnerable to the next crisis, forcing you back into debt.
The original creditor (e.g., your credit card company) is the entity you originally borrowed from. A debt collector is a separate company that now either owns the debt or is hired to collect it. They are often more aggressive in their tactics.
By calculating it consistently over time, you can observe the trajectory. As you aggressively pay down high-interest debt, the rate at which your negative net worth shrinks will accelerate because you're keeping more of your money from going to interest.
A bloated car payment consumes income that should go toward retirement savings, emergency funds, and other essential goals, crippling your ability to build long-term wealth and financial security.
Yes. High utilization (maxed-out cards) hurts your score regardless of whether you make minimum payments. The score reflects the reported balance, not your payment activity.