As of early 2025, total U.S. consumer debt has surpassed $18 trillion. The average household carries roughly $105,000 in combined debt, including mortgages, but if you focus on non-mortgage debt—credit cards, auto loans, student loans, and personal loans—the average is closer to $25,000 to $30,000 per household. Credit card balances alone exceed $1.1 trillion, with the average cardholder carrying over $6,500 in revolving debt.
If you searched this question, you are likely comparing your own situation to the national average. You may be carrying a balance that feels unmanageable, or you might be worried about rising interest rates and minimum payments that barely dent the principal. The most common hardship behind this question is cash flow pressure: income has stayed flat while monthly obligations have grown. A smaller but serious group faces delinquency or collection activity.
The risk level depends on your debt-to-income ratio and whether you are missing payments. If your monthly minimums exceed 15-20% of your take-home pay, or if you are using credit cards for essentials, you are in a high-risk zone. Professional review becomes useful when you cannot see a clear path to being debt-free within three to five years, or when you are considering bankruptcy.
A reasonable path forward starts with a complete inventory: list every account, balance, interest rate, minimum payment, and current status (current, 30 days late, charged off). Then, prioritize high-interest unsecured debt. Options include balance transfers, debt management plans through nonprofit credit counseling, or debt settlement for accounts already delinquent. Each has tradeoffs. Balance transfers require good credit and a low or zero percent offer. Credit counseling lowers your interest but requires closing cards. Settlement can reduce principal but harms your credit and may trigger tax consequences.
Availability of any debt relief program depends on your state, the type of debt, documented hardship, whether accounts are current or delinquent, and the specific criteria of the partner programs we review. No single solution fits everyone.
To get a clear picture without obligation, use the private assessment on our homepage. It takes a few minutes and gives you a preliminary review of your options before you speak with anyone.
Debt question guide