Disclaimer: example only, not financial advice
Normdale shows you how money math works, with the method shown and the sources named, so you can check every number yourself. It doesn't know your situation, so it can't tell you what to do. Here's what that means, and where to find free help when you need it.
Key points
- Education, not advice. Normdale explains how money math works, with labeled examples and named sources. It isn't financial, investment, tax, legal or credit advice.
- Estimates, not your exact numbers. A Payoff Calculator result is an estimate for the numbers you type, using the assumptions listed on the page. Your card statement and card agreement are the final word.
- A cartoon, not an advisor. Normdale is a cartoon character. Diego Franco, founder and editor, has no financial training and holds no financial, tax or legal license.
- No product picks. Normdale doesn't recommend lenders, credit cards or debt-relief companies, and takes no money from them.
- Free help exists. If debt is getting hard to manage, a qualified professional who knows your situation can help. The government links below explain where to start.
What "example only, not financial advice" means on Normdale
"Example" means the numbers show how the math works for one made-up case or for the numbers you type. They aren't a statement about your card, your debt or what you should do. "Not financial advice" means Normdale doesn't know your income, your other debts, your goals or your card's exact rules, so it can't tell you what's right for you.
Examples are labeled as examples
When a page or a video uses a price, a balance or a rate to show how something works, it says "example" and lists the assumptions. Example: the $3,000 TV in Normdale's videos uses the Federal Reserve's average credit card rate, not a rate for your card. The month-by-month math for that example is on How we calculate.
What the Payoff Calculator assumes
The calculator's answer is only as close as its assumptions. It assumes:
- interest is calculated once a month (balance × APR ÷ 12), while card issuers usually use a daily rate, so real numbers can be slightly different;
- no new purchases, fees or rate changes while you pay;
- every payment is made on time, starting next month;
- an example minimum-payment rule, which may not match your card's own rule in your card agreement.
Your statement's "Minimum Payment Warning" box shows how long your own balance would take at the minimum. The full method: How we calculate.
Rates and rules change
Interest rates, averages and rules change, and some figures are published as preliminary and revised later. Tool pages show when their numbers were last checked. A rate that was right on that date may be out of date when you read it.
Who's behind Normdale, and what Diego isn't
Normdale is made by Diego Franco, founder and editor, through Diego Franco Media SAS. Diego has more than ten years in online marketing and SEO, and no financial training. Diego isn't a financial advisor, credit counselor, accountant or lawyer, and holds no financial, tax or legal license.
That's why nothing on Normdale asks you to trust a person: every number is calculated with a published method or taken from a named source, with the year. No page on Normdale claims an expert review.
Normdale is a cartoon; the numbers are real
Normdale is a cartoon character: a regular guy who buys what regular people buy throughout life. He isn't a real person, an expert or an advisor. The visuals, sounds and music in the videos are made with AI tools, and the narrator is a synthetic voice based on Diego's own voice. AI is never the source of a number. Details: how Normdale uses AI.
No product picks and no paid placements
Normdale doesn't recommend or rank lenders, credit cards, loans or debt-relief services, and it takes no money from card issuers, lenders or debt-relief companies. At launch there are no ads and no affiliate links. Normdale plans to sell its own products, starting with Normdale's Debt Payoff Planner (a spreadsheet, not on sale yet). When a page mentions one, that's us talking about our own product.
A Normdale tool or product can show you the math. It can't promise any result, such as a payoff date you'll actually reach or an amount you'll save.
When to talk to a qualified professional
Talking to someone who knows your full situation is a good idea, and never a sign that you've failed. It's especially worth it when:
- you're behind on payments, or a debt collector has contacted you;
- you're thinking about a debt consolidation loan, a balance transfer, a debt management plan, debt settlement or bankruptcy;
- a debt is forgiven or settled (the forgiven amount may count as taxable income, CFPB, 2023);
- the numbers on your statement don't match what you expected and your card issuer can't explain why.
Depending on the question, that can be a reputable nonprofit credit counselor, a CFP® professional, a CPA or enrolled agent for tax questions, or a lawyer. Normdale doesn't refer you to anyone and gets nothing from any of them.
Where to get free, trustworthy information
These US government pages are free and don't sell anything. Normdale isn't connected to these agencies and gets nothing for linking to them.
- Credit cards, plain-language guides: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-cards
- How to find a reputable credit counselor: CFPB, "What is credit counseling?" consumerfinance.gov
- Debt relief and debt settlement, with warning signs: CFPB, "What is a debt relief program and how do I know if I should use one?" consumerfinance.gov
- Options for getting out of debt, and scams to avoid: Federal Trade Commission (FTC), "How To Get Out of Debt". consumer.ftc.gov
- A problem with your card issuer: CFPB, submit a complaint. consumerfinance.gov/complaint
If you find a mistake
We test the calculator and check our sources, but mistakes can happen. If a number looks wrong, email hello@normdale.com with the page and the number. We reply within 5 working days, and if we got it wrong, we fix the page and add a dated correction note. How corrections work: Editorial policy.
Related pages: Editorial policy · Terms of use · Privacy policy · Cookie policy