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More detailsLearn MoreTerms ApplyPaid PlacementBiz2CreditGet Prequalified up to $200,000 in business financing Learn MoreTerms ApplyPaid PlacementBig Think CapitalSmall Business financing that moves as fast as you doLearn MoreTerms ApplyMonarchOur top pick for being easy to use, Monarch's budgeting app is 50% off your first year of Core Plan with code CNBC50Learn MoreTerms ApplyBluevineBluevine offers fast funding options for your small businessLearn MoreTerms ApplySBG FundingFast and flexible financing options for your small businessSelect independently determines what we cover and recommend. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. This commission may impact how and where certain products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Read more about Select onCNBC, and clickhereto read our full advertiser disclosure.Summer may be unofficially over, but if you charged a vacation to a credit card, the debt may still be lingering.
In fact, just 26% of 2025 summer travelers who put their travel expenses on a credit card paid off the balance with their first statement, while more than a third still hadn't paid off what they charged even months after, according to a NerdWallet survey conducted in February 2026.
Here's how to pay off this year's lingering summer vacation debt before it follows you into next summer.
How to pay off summer vacation debt
- Balance transfer credit card
- Debt consolidation loan
- Budgeting app
- Nonprofit credit counseling
Freedom Debt Relief has resolved over $20 billion in outstanding debts since 2002. It offers free credit card debt relief consultations.
LEARN MOREAccredited Debt ReliefHighlightsAccredited Debt Relief has helped clients pay off over $3 billion in debt over the span of 13+ years. They are a great option for people with more than $20,000 in debt.
LEARN MOREBalance transfer credit card
Paying off debt while interest keeps piling on can make even steady payments feel like they're going nowhere. But a 0% APR balance transfer card helps solve that problem for a while by moving your existing debt to a new card that charges no interest for an introductory period, usually 12 to 21 months.
A balance transfer card can help make a dent in your debt for good. With the Wells Fargo Reflect, for example, cardholders have one of the longest introductory APR periods on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
The Citi Double Cash also offers an introductory APR on balance transfers, and it's a top-rated cash-back credit card that earns cash back as Citi ThankYou® Points, which gives you access to Citi's travel partners.
To minimize how much you pay in transfer fees, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card charges just 3% (minimum $5; after that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer) on transfers completed within the first four months.
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
CNBC Select Rating4.3Learn MoreOn Wells Fargo's site
CNBC Select Rating4.3Learn MoreOn Wells Fargo's site
Spotlight
This card offers one of the longest introductory APR periods for purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Credit scoreRegular APR17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonusNone
Terms apply.
Our expert take
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the absolute best cards you can apply for if you want to save on interest and pay down debit quickly thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Pros & cons
- Incredible intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
More details
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Citi Double Cash® Card
CNBC Select Rating5.0Learn MoreOn Citi's site
CNBC Select Rating5.0Learn MoreOn Citi's site
Spotlight
Receive an intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers and earn at least 2% cash back on every purchase.
Credit scoreRegular APR18.24% - 28.49% variable
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonusEarn $200 cash back
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.
Our expert take
What makes the Citi Double Cash® Card special is that it sits near the top of its class in several categories. It is an excellent option if you want flat-rate rewards, a balance transfer intro-APR or no annual fee.
Pros & cons
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- Earns transferable rewards
- No annual fee
- It has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance transfer
- Points transfer ratios are reduced compared to premium cards
More details
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
CNBC Select Rating4.3Learn MoreOn Citi's site
CNBC Select Rating4.3Learn MoreOn Citi's site
Spotlight
Receive a introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers, which is consistently one of the longest balance transfer offers.
Credit scoreRegular APR16.49% - 27.24% variable
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonusNone
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Our expert take
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has an exceptionally long intro-APR for balance transfers and is also notable for its reasonable 3% intro fee for balance transfers.
Pros & cons
- One of the longest intro-APR offers for balance transfers
- Lower intro balance transfer fee
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
More details
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 16.49% - 27.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don't come with a yearly charge.
- Buy now and pay later. Split your payment for eligible purchases of $75 or more into a fixed payment with Citi® Flex Pay.
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Foreign transaction fee
3%
The key with balance transfer cards is to make sure you pay off your transferred debt before the introductory period ends. At that point, interest kicks in again.
Debt consolidation loan
If you can't qualify for a balance transfer card, a debt consolidation loan can help as it rolls your multiple credit card balances into one loan with a fixed (ideally lower) rate and monthly payment.
Avant only requires a 550 FICO® Score to qualify, making it accessible if your credit card debt has hurt your credit score. If your vacation debt is more of a smaller, one-off balance than a mountain of it, Upstart offers loans starting as low as $1,000, so you're not stuck borrowing more than you actually need. Achieve offers repayment terms from two to five years, plus a rate discount if you let the lender pay your creditors directly.
Avant Personal Loans
Learn MoreLearn MoreSpotlight
Best for a 580 credit score and quick funding.
Avant has a minimum credit score requirement of 580, though most of their applicants have credit scores in the 600 to 700 range.
See if you're pre-approved for a personal loan offer.
Credit scoreTerms24 to 60 months
Loan amounts$2,000 to $35,000
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)9.95% to 35.99%
Our expert take
Lends to applicants with poor credit and offers next-day funding.
Pros & cons
- Lends to applicants with poor credit
- No early payoff fee
- Can prequalify with a soft credit check
- Funding often available next day
- Late-payment grace period of 10 days
- Origination fee
- Potentially high interest
- No autopay discount
- No direct payments to creditors for debt consolidation
- No co-signers
Upstart Personal Loans
Learn MoreLearn MoreSpotlight
Designed with applicants with low or no credit score in mind.
Upstart considers applicants with FICO Scores of 300 (the lowest possible) and those with insufficient credit history.
See if you're pre-approved for a personal loan offer.
Credit scoreTerms36 and 60 months
Loan amounts$1,000 to $75,000
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)6.30% - 35.99%
Our expert take
We like that Upstart considers factors besides credit score, including education, income and employment history. You can secure your loan with an eligible vehicle, but co-signers aren't accept.
Pros & cons
- Accept applicants with bad or no credit
- Minimum APR is lower than many competitors'
- Approves personal loans up to $75,000
- Most loans are funded the next business day
- Origination fee of 0% to 10%
- Doesn't allow co-signers or co-borrowers
Achieve® Personal Loans
Learn MoreLearn MoreSpotlight
Designed for fair credit.
Achieve considers applicants with credit scores starting at 620.
See if you're pre-approved for a personal loan offer.
Credit scoreTerms24 and 60 months
Loan amounts$5,000 to $50,000
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)8.99% to 29.99%
Our expert take
Flexible term lengths
Pros & cons
- Flexible term lengths
- Rate discounts available
- Works with borrowers with fair credit
- Loans may not be available in all states
- The lender charges origination fees
With debt consolidation loans, watch out for origination fees, prepayment penalties and rates that end up higher than what you're paying now if your credit isn't strong.
Budgeting app
If your repayment plan keeps slipping, not because the strategy is wrong but because it's hard to stay consistent, a budgeting app can help close that gap. These apps track balances, model payoff dates and send reminders.
Rocket Money offers a free version that helps you track your bills as well as trim spending on subscriptions, making it easier to pay off summer debt. If you want a budgeting app to help you moving forward, PocketGuard notifies you whenever you're approaching your limit in a spending category, so you catch it before it turns into another balance. Or if you want every dollar working toward a specific goal, like your payoff plan, You Need a Budget (YNAB) uses a zero-based system that assigns every dollar a job until the debt is gone. If the real goal is making sure this doesn't happen again next summer, Goodbudget's envelope-style budgeting is a straightforward way to start setting aside money for future trips instead of charging them.
Rocket Money
Learn MoreCost
The basic plan is free. Rocket Money Premium is $7 to $14 a month with a 7-day free trial. Bill negotiation services cost 35% to 60% of the first-year savings, if the negotiation is successful.
Standout features
Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions, track your spending and credit score, automate savings and get help lowering bills. Rocket Money Premium includes additional services like net-worth tracking, credit reports and a subscription cancellation concierge service
Security
Rocket Money accesses transaction data via an encrypted token, uses Plaid API so user credentials are never stored, provides bank-level 256-bit encryption and hosts servers on Amazon Web Services
Availability
Offered online and on both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Terms apply.
Pros
- Allows you to easily view and cancel unwanted subscriptions
- Offers a free version
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
Cons
- Nonrefundable bill negotiation fee can be up to 60% of savings
- Premium pricing varies
PocketGuard
Learn MoreInformation about PocketGuard has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by PocketGuard prior to publication.Cost
Basic PocketGuard plan is free. PocketGuard Premium is $12.99 per month or $74.99 ($6.99/month) annually. Lifetime membership available at a reduced rate.
Standout features
"In My Pocket" uses your income, recurring expenses and savings goals to determine how much you have for everyday spending.
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
Links to accounts
Yes, users can connect accounts through Plaid and Finicity or manually add cash accounts
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
PocketGuard utilizes bank-level encryption, PINs and biometrics like Touch ID and Face ID.
Terms apply.
Pros
- Includes payment tracker and bill-negotiation service
- Lifetime membership option for additional savings
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
Cons
- Limited free tier, with users encouraged to upgrade to Premium for full functionality.
- Transactions may be categorized incorrectly
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
Learn MoreCost
$14.99 per month or $109 per year ($9.08 per month). Users get 34-day free trial (College students get 12 months free)
Standout features
Employs a zero-based budgeting system, with users assigning every dollar a "job" (bills, savings, investments)
Categorizes your expenses
No
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
Terms apply.
Pros
- Offers a 34-day free trial (college students get 12 months free)
- Designed to help users pay off debts and break paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
- Syncs to bank accounts and credit cards
Cons
- One of the more expensive options, with no free version
- Set-up can be laborious
- No bill tracking or bill pay feature,
Goodbudget
Learn MoreCost
Free for 20 total envelopes, $10/month (or $80/year) for unlimited envelopes
Standout features
Allows couples to track debt and use a digital "envelope" system to budget funds
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but free users must manually input transactions
Links to accounts
No, users must manually input purchases and transactions
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android) and for desktop
Security features
Information is protected using bank-grade 256-bit SSL
Terms apply.
Pros
- Free tier available
- Can share budget and spending with a partner in real time across multiple devices
- Digital envelopes help couples and households stay aligned on spending goals
- Offers money management courses and educational resources
- Available on iOS, Android and desktop
Cons
- Free tier doesn't sync with bank accounts (all transactions must be entered manually)
- No bill-paying or investment-tracking features
To find a budgeting app that's actually worth using, compare apps on cost, how well they sync with your accounts, privacy practices and whether they include a payoff calculator. They won't lower your interest or replace an actual plan, so they work best paired with one of the strategies above.
Nonprofit credit counseling
When minimum payments start competing with rent or groceries, none of the above may be enough on their own. A nonprofit credit counselor can review your full financial picture and, if it makes sense, set up a debt management plan, negotiating lower rates with your creditors in exchange for one consolidated monthly payment.
Organizations like the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) can connect you with an accredited member agency near you and offer free or low-cost initial counseling sessions before you commit to anything.
To avoid getting scammed by a bad actor posing as a counselor, stick to reputable nonprofits and watch for red flags like upfront fees, guarantees to erase your debt or advice to stop talking to your creditors.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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