Real estate investor and entrepreneur Grant Cardone stirred a debate last week by calling credit scores “a trap to keep you in debt.” He added that “the wealthy buy assets that don't require a credit score,” implying that building true financial independence means avoiding the traditional credit system altogether. Critics Say That's Easy To Claim From The Top Cardone's post on X on Thursday drew mixed reactions. “Quite easy to say that when you're wealthy enough to buy assets,” one person responded. “E ...

If you consider yourself financially savvy, you’ve likely made wise financial moves, such as budgeting your income, having emergency savings and regularly investing. But you might feel you’re still off track and unhappy with how your efforts have shaped your financial situation. In a recent YouTube video, money expert Rachel Cruze explained that you might be overlooking seven key things many people miss when trying to build wealth. Find out if you’re making these mistakes and which changes you should make ...

A $1,600 monthly car payment turned unmanageable after a blown engine left the vehicle undrivable. Danielle told "The Ramsey Show" she earns $65,000 a year and still owes about $65,000 on a 2019 Audi Q8 she has owned for about 18 months. The vehicle needs a full engine replacement estimated at roughly $20,000. The warranty would cover $7,000, leaving her responsible for the remaining $13,000. "I made a bad decision," Danielle said, adding that she also carries about $32,000 in student loans and $2,000 i ...

A $130,000-a-year income left little room to breathe once a Florida caller laid out nearly $200,000 in consumer debt and just $3,000 in savings. Alyssa from Naples, Florida, contacted "The Ramsey Show" after reviewing her finances with her husband. Once their combined figures were tallied — including nearly $200,000 in consumer debt, $60,000 tied up in cars, and just $3,000 in savings — personal finance host Dave Ramsey delivered a blunt assessment. "You're freaking broke," Ramsey said, adding, "That li ...

Steve Leeman is here at Post9 with the numbers. And Steve, this question about how inflation is impacting holiday spending. >> We're calling it inflation the red-nosed reindeer.How it's really leading spending. Uh it's factoring heavily into consumers views on spending this holiday season. The All-American Economic Survey finding it's affecting where people choose to shop and of course how much.Of the thousands people surveyed across the nation, uh here are some of the results you can see there. 61% say the ...

Our senior economics reporter Steve Leeman is here at Post9 with the numbers. And Steve, this question about how inflation is impacting holiday spending. >> We're calling it inflation the red-nosed reindeer.How it's really leading spending. Uh it's factoring heavily into consumers views on spending this holiday season. The All-American Economic Survey finding it's affecting where people choose to shop and of course how much.Of the thousands people surveyed across the nation, uh here are some of the results ...

With inflation still squeezing household budgets and interest rates staying high for most of the year, national consumer debt continues to climb across borrowing categories — from mortgages and credit cards to auto loans and HELOCs — compared to last year. Read More: 3 Signs You’ve ‘Made It’ Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley Find Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too In June 2025, Americans collectively owed $18.33 trillion in ...

Core Insights - The average total debt balance among U.S. consumers remained largely unchanged in 2025, with an average balance of $104,755, slightly down from $105,580 in June 2024 [1][2] - There has been an increase in average balances for common types of consumer debt, including auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages, indicating persistent debt levels among consumers [1][2] Debt Breakdown - Auto loans in 2025 averaged $24,596, up from $24,187 in 2024 [6] - Credit card debt in 2025 averaged $6,735, slightly up from $6,699 in 2024 [6] - Mortgage debt in 2025 averaged $258,214, an increase from $250,479 in 2024 [6] Financial Management Recommendations - Financial experts suggest creating a monthly budget and controlling non-essential spending as fundamental steps to manage debt [4] - Listing all balances and interest rates in one place can help consumers understand their financial situation better [4] - Using credit wisely and aiming to pay off credit card balances monthly is recommended to maintain financial health [4][5] - For those with significant debt, consolidating at lower rates or using home equity for consolidation may improve cash flow and reduce overall debt [5]

Core Insights - Equifax's Market Pulse report indicates a moderate increase in U.S. consumer debt, reaching $18.03 trillion in September 2025, up from $17.91 trillion in August 2025, with a delinquency rate of 1.562% [1][6]. Consumer Debt Trends - Total consumer debt increased by 0.7% month-over-month and 2.7% year-over-year in September 2025 [6]. - Mortgage debt rose to $13.33 trillion in September 2025, reflecting a 0.7% increase from August 2025 and a 3.7% increase year-over-year [7]. - Non-mortgage debt, which includes auto loans, bankcards, and student loans, reached $4.70 trillion, showing a 0.4% month-over-month increase and a slight 0.2% year-over-year increase [7]. Auto Loans and Leases - Auto loan and lease debt totaled $1.68 trillion in September 2025, up 1.4% from September 2024, with lease balances growing by 11.5% to $95.8 billion [5]. - Delinquency rates for auto loans increased to 1.64%, while lease delinquencies slightly decreased to 0.46% [5]. - Rising costs of car ownership are leading consumers to prefer leasing over purchasing vehicles [5][2]. Bankcard and Private Label Credit Cards - Bankcard balances reached $1.08 trillion, a 4.0% increase from September 2024, with accounts rising to 586.2 million [5]. - The delinquency rate for bankcards increased slightly to 2.83% but decreased from 3.01% year-over-year [5]. - Private label credit card balances and accounts saw significant declines, with balances down 11.7% and accounts down 25.5% year-over-year [5]. Student Loans - Student loan delinquencies have stabilized around 18%, with severe delinquency rates at 16.32% in September 2025, up from 0.79% a year ago [5]. - Outstanding student loan debt rose to $1.34 trillion, a 4.8% decrease compared to September 2024, with accounts down 8.6% [5].

Group 1 - The total U.S. household debt reached $18.39 trillion in Q2, with housing debt increasing by $131 billion from Q1 and non-housing debt growing by over $51 billion [1] - A significant portion of Americans, approximately 71%, report that their monthly debt payments hinder their ability to save, while 17% feel their debt prevents future planning, and 18% find their debt overwhelming [3] - Reducing debt is a top financial priority for many Americans, with nearly one-third listing it as their top New Year's resolution, second only to saving more money, which 45% identified as their primary goal [4] Group 2 - Experts suggest that many Americans are not utilizing available strategies to reduce debt, despite the desire to do so [5] - Recommended debt-reducing tools include creating a budget, negotiating lower interest rates, and consolidating balances [6] - Working with nonprofit credit counselors can provide personalized assistance in managing budgets and developing repayment plans [7]