Staff Writer

Katherine Pilnick

Katherine Pilnick is a writer for Debt.org. She educates readers about their various personal finance options. She is a graduate of New York University.

Western Sky predatory lending

Regulations Target Western Sky and Native American Predatory Lending

By Katherine Pilnick | February 25, 2013

Imagine a financial service that could help you pay all your bills while at the same time fixing your credit history. That’s the promise of Western Sky Financial. Sound too…

Counting bills next to tax form

Identity Theft, Tax Fraud Increase as IRS Attempts to Curb Crimes

By Katherine Pilnick | February 15, 2013

As if tax season isn’t difficult enough, taxpayers must now be on alert for suspicious activity that could indicate that they are victims of tax-related identity theft. During last year’s…

Young woman with credit card

Young Americans Incur More Debt, Pay It Off More Slowly, Study Says

By Katherine Pilnick | January 21, 2013

Young Americans take on more credit card debt than previous generations did and are slower to repay it, according to research released last week.   New evidence suggests that those…

Students Graduating College

Can a College Degree Buy You a Better Future?

By Katherine Pilnick | January 15, 2013

Is college worth it? This is the question countless high schoolers ask themselves each year — especially as they apply to college this time of year — and the answer…

LGBT Americans better with finances

Study: LGBT Americans Better at Earning & Saving

By Katherine Pilnick | December 12, 2012

Gay Americans deserve a pat on the back, and not just for continuing to overcome added hardships and prejudices. Members of the LGBT community are also significantly better at managing…

Groupon struggles

Groupon and LivingSocial Struggle as Daily Deals Lose Popularity

By Katherine Pilnick | November 30, 2012

Groupon executives decided Thursday to keep their CEO, Andrew Mason, but for how long? Amid rapid revenue declines in the daily deal industry, experts wonder if the fad has run…

Cyber Monday

Consumers Gear Up for Online Shopping on Cyber Monday

By Katherine Pilnick | November 20, 2012

Cyber Monday is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Acting as the online counterpart to Black Friday, it occurs the Monday after Thanksgiving. It is a day for…

black friday image

Black Friday: America’s Holiday Tradition at Thanksgiving

By Katherine Pilnick | November 15, 2012

There’s nothing in America quite like Black Friday. It’s an annual day of overabundant consumerism, a day of great deals and great mayhem. And it’s famous for holiday bargain shopping…

Dream Home

Five Reasons to Refinance Before 2013

By Katherine Pilnick | November 5, 2012

Mortgage refinancing is a great option for any homeowner who doesn’t have the lowest interest rate possible on his or her mortgage. It effectively creates a new mortgage at current…

Unemployment dips

Unemployment Dips Below 8 Percent, Giving Obama a Big Boost

By Katherine Pilnick | October 6, 2012

The economy and President Barack Obama received some good news Friday, as the unemployment rate dipped below the 8 percent mark for the first time during Obama’s presidency. According to…

us cost of iraq war

War Debt: America’s Cost of Going to War

By Katherine Pilnick | September 26, 2012

Wars throughout history have racked up debts for the countries involved. In the United States, conflicts tend to lead to the rise of both debt and taxes as the government…

arianna huffington post liberal consumer debt

Some Liberal Theories about Why America Has So Much Consumer Debt

By Katherine Pilnick | August 12, 2012

There’s no denying that a nationwide consumer debt crisis continues to wreak havoc on middle- and lower-class households. But those on opposing sides of the political spectrum disagree about how…

conservative heritage foundation debt report

Some Conservative Theories on Why America Has So Much Consumer Debt

By Katherine Pilnick | August 10, 2012

Conservatives and liberals agree that high levels of national consumer debt continue to deter financial freedom and stifle the economy as a whole. But those with opposing political views disagree…