After Hurricane Helene devastated much of the southeastern U.S., survivors of the wreckage wrought by the storm are grappling with another issue: How to pay for goods and services. Across much of the region,

Currently, Americans owe $1.14 trillion in credit card debt. Higher prices and interest rates put pressure on consumers, making it harder for many to keep up with their payments. Young adults, in particular, are affected by this.

If your credit score is lower than average, it may be tough to pursue debt consolidation — but it's not impossible.

Credit card holds can take up to a week to disappear from your credit card account. But it's not always the hotel that causes the wait time to be so long. Here's what to know.