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Card Interest Is Near 24%. Don't Let It Eat Your Savings

The Fed held rates steady, and new credit card offers average almost 24% APR. A 30% discount disappears fast if you carry a balance.

By the Deal Dudes · Monday, November 2, 2026

How-toDeals we checked for this story

Here's the math nobody puts on the sale sign: new credit cards now average 23.96% APR. If you carry a holiday balance for a year, that interest can wipe out most of the discount you worked so hard to find.

Takeaway: a deal is only a deal if you pay it off when the bill comes.

Today's picks

$118 at Walmart · ✓ verified
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum at Walmart Only $118 (Reg. $168)! $50 off a vacuum with more than 14,000 shopper reviews.
Why we picked it: 4.4★ from 14K reviews · $50 below Walmart's regular price · Solid Deal on our Dude Meter
See the deal →
$299.99 at Walmart · ✓ verified
KitchenAid Deluxe 4.5-Qt Stand Mixer at Walmart Only $299.99 (Reg. $449.99)! $150 off, which is real money if you can pay it in full.
Why we picked it: 4.6★ from 9.1K reviews · $150 below Walmart's regular price · Solid Deal on our Dude Meter
See the deal →
$74.62 at Walmart · ✓ verified
BISSELL Little Green Deep Cleaner at Walmart Only $74.62 (Reg. $101.97)! A holiday-guest lifesaver for spills and pet messes.
Why we picked it: 4.4★ from 30K reviews · $27.35 below Walmart's regular price · Solid Deal on our Dude Meter
See the deal →

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Bottom line

Set a holiday budget you can pay off in one statement, and let the interest-free part of the card do the work.

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Sources

Prices change fast; the store's price at checkout is the one that counts. Some links earn us a commission, which never changes our picks or ratings.

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