If you put $100 on a credit card with a high interest rate and never make a payment, here’s what happens:
- At 29% APR (compounded monthly), that $100 grows into $1,000 in about 8 years.
- At 21% APR, it takes about 11 years to hit $1,000.
That means a single dinner out at 20 could still be haunting you at 28 — ten times more expensive than you thought.
It’s not magic. It’s math. Compounding is relentless.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself:
- Credit is a tool, not free money.
- Pay more than the minimum, always.
- Learn how compounding works — it’s either your enemy or your greatest ally.
The earlier you understand this, the more control you have. Don’t let a $100 mistake compound into a $1,000 burden.
🛞