Military veteran Dean shares how his debts wrecked his health and led to personal bankruptcy, while student Melissa talks about struggling with student loan interest. The podcast discusses the rising consumer debt in the US and explores solutions with experts in the field.
High consumer debt levels in the US are impacting households, especially those with lower incomes.
Stories like Dean's and Melissa's highlight the emotional, physical, and financial toll of debt on individuals, emphasizing the challenges faced by many young Americans.
Deep dives
High Consumer Debt in the United States
Consumer debt in the United States has reached $4 trillion, the highest ever recorded. Although the percentage of debt has decreased compared to a decade ago, the average American adult carries over $4,000 in credit card debt. This high level of debt signifies challenges for households, especially those with lower incomes.
Impact of Personal Debt on Individuals
Dean Ledbetter, a military veteran, shares his struggles with debt after experiencing injuries and a traumatic divorce. Despite receiving a pension, he faced financial hardships, resorting to borrowing from friends and payday loans, leading to a debt of over $100,000. Dean's story highlights the emotional and physical toll of debt on individuals.
Challenges of Student Debt
Melissa Haggety, a psychology graduate, faces the burden of a $140,000 student loan, with an interest rate of 11% annually. Despite working in a decent-paying job, Melissa finds it challenging to make ends meet, impacting her future plans and health. The increasing student debt poses a significant challenge for many young Americans.
Payday loans, auto loans and student loans are overwhelming a sector of American society - what can be done to help them dig their way out of their debts?
Ed Butler speaks to Dean, a military veteran who says his debts wrecked his health and forced him into personal bankruptcy. Plus student Melissa says her inability to keep up with the interest on her student loans, despite working a well remunerated middle class job, is typical of her Millennial generation.
Such stories are becoming commonplace among the young and the poor in the US. In search of solutions to their plights, Ed speaks to Mary Jackson of the Online Lenders' Alliance, Harvard economist Ken Rogoff, and Martha Wunderli of the AAA Fair Credit Foundation in Utah.
(Picture: Senior man receiving bank debt documents; Credit: THEPALMER/Getty Images)
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