'The System Punishes You '— Why Completely Paying Off Your Only Credit Card And Doing 'Everything' Right Isn't Always The Smartest Financial Move

For six months, one person did exactly what personal finance advice tells struggling people to do. They worked extra shifts. Sold belongings. Skipped meals. Every spare dollar went toward wiping out a $3,000 credit card balance. When the balance finally hit zero, they felt proud. That feeling lasted for only one evening. When they checked their credit score the next morning, it had dropped 28 points. After months of sacrifice, their reward was a worse score and fewer options. The post, shared in r/pover ...