If you're stuck with high interest rates or unaffordable monthly payments, you might feel that taking out a loan was a mistake. While a bad loan can feel overwhelming, it's not uncommon — 29% of respondents said their biggest financial regret was taking on too much debt, according to a Clarify Capital survey. The good news is that you're not stuck with a bad loan forever. With a clear plan and dialed-in budget, you can dig yourself out of debt and close that loan for good. If you regret a past borrowing d ...

Quick Read Suze Orman recommends eliminating all mandatory monthly payments (mortgage, car loans, credit cards, student loans) before retirement. Fixed retirement income cannot support debt payments without reducing quality of life. Investors rethink ‘hands off’ investing and decide to start making real money Think you're ready for retirement? Even if you hit your retirement savings goals and you're ready to collect your gold watch, influential financial planner Suze Orman says you are really not r ...

Core Insights - Total household debt in the U.S. reached $18.9 trillion by the end of Q3 2025, with the average household debt at $154,152 [1] Mortgage Debt - The average household mortgage debt is $108,425, which is a normal increase correlated with rising home values [2] HELOC Debt - HELOC debt rose by $8 billion in Q3 2025, marking the fourth consecutive increase in this category, indicating that individuals are borrowing against their homes [3] Credit Card Debt - Credit card debt increased to $1.23 trillion by the end of Q3 2025, reflecting Americans' attempts to manage stagnant wages against rising costs [4] - Credit card debt saw a slight drop in Q1 2025 but increased in Q2 and Q3, with projections indicating an overall rise for the year due to typical consumer spending patterns [5] Overall Assessment - The increase in mortgage debt is attributed to rising home prices, while the increases in HELOC and credit card debt are concerning as they suggest reliance on debt as a financial resource [6]