Getting through the holidays with credit card debt

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Credit card debt is crippling many Americans. The average card interest rate has reached 21%, the highest since the Federal Reserve began keeping track almost 30 years ago, and consumers' overall credit burden was a whopping $1.08 trillion at the end of September, another historic high.

With the holidays upon us, and many purchases destined to be paid with credit cards, USA TODAY's Money team profiled six people to find out how they'll balance the spending pressures of the season with the need to pay down debt.

Medora Lee also writes about how you can tick off your holiday gift list without breaking the bank. Those tips include using old gift cards to buy presents, paying only with cash, and of course, setting a budget.

Yellowstone drama

The drama on the popular TV series "Yellowstone" isn't only on screen. A coffee enterprise owned by the show's creator Taylor Sheridan has filed suit against Free Rein Coffee Company, a business launched by "Yellowstone" star Cole Hauser.

In a Nov. 21 filing obtained by USA TODAY, Sheridan's Bosque Ranch accused Free Rein of trademark infringement, false advertising and unfair competition. The claim, filed in the Northern District of Texas' federal court in San Angelo, says Free Rein's brand logo is "strikingly similar" to that of Sheridan's company, a move meant to falsely suggest the two businesses are connected, the suit says.

The court battle is playing out against the roiling backdrop of actor Kevin Costner reportedly leaving the series. Costner plays John Dutton, patriarch of the ranching family that is the central focus of the series.

So, do you even know how many subscriptions you have?

Most of us have done it. You want to see a particular movie, pick up a book, or order a gift box, so you say yes to a subscription service. Then, you forget about it. But that doesn't stop the monthly bills from coming.

The average consumer doles out $219 a month on subscriptions - $133 more than they thought they were spending, according to a 2022 survey from C+R Research. USA TODAY writers Jessica Guynn and Bailey Schulz share the scope of the problem and also offer suggestions for how you can avoid paying for subscriptions you no longer want or can no longer afford.

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