Search

Home > Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life > How Your Debt Compares With the Average American’s
Podcast: Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
Episode:

How Your Debt Compares With the Average American’s

Category: Business
Duration: 00:14:42
Publish Date: 2026-03-25 09:00:00
Description:

With U.S. consumer debt hitting a record $18.8 trillion, it’s time to see how your balances measure up. In this episode, Laura breaks down average debt by age group and type—from Gen Z’s $35k average to Gen X’s $158k peak—to help you determine if your debt is "healthy" or a hurdle to retirement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Big 4: Current averages for mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards.
  • Debt Rules of Thumb: Learn the 30/30/3 rule for housing and the 20/4/10 rule for car buying.
  • Know Your Ratios: How to calculate your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio like a lender.
  • Payoff Strategies: Why high-interest debt is "bad" and how to use consolidation or balance transfers to escape it.


Whether you're looking to buy a home or just sleep better at night, learn how to stop being "average" and start building wealth.


Find a transcript on your podcast player. 

Have a money question? Send an email to money@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at (302) 364-0308.

Find Money Girl on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more personal finance tips.

Money Girl is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links:

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/money-girl-newsletter

https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Total Play: 0

Users also like

1K+ Episodes
Aubrey Marcu .. 1K+     90+

Some more Podcasts by Macmillan Holdings, LLC

300+ Episodes
The Public S .. 50+     8
900+ Episodes
1K+ Episodes
The Savvy Ps .. 200+     10+
800+ Episodes
200+ Episodes
The House Ca .. 10+     2
300+ Episodes
200+ Episodes
The Clever C .. 3     1
700+ Episodes
The Savvy Ps .. 20+     20+