{"id":47884,"date":"2026-03-05T12:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/common-reasons-for-debt"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:10:35","slug":"common-reasons-for-debt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/common-reasons-for-debt","title":{"rendered":"The Most Common Reasons for Debt"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"47884\" class=\"elementor elementor-47884\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b59c251 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b59c251\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-787a151c e-con-full elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-hidden-mobile_extra e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"787a151c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2326c7fc blog-post-cta e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2326c7fc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e41aec4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2e41aec4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">On this page<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c47185f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6c47185f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-428128c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"428128c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#keyfindings\">Key findings<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a59a290 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a59a290\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#common\">How common is debt in America?<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-210db08f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"210db08f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#reasons\">The most common reasons for getting into debt<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d2e50eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d2e50eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#effective\">The most effective ways to clear personal debt<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cc8601 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6cc8601\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#commonmethods\">The most common methods to reduce personal debt<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b3700c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3b3700c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#impact\">The impact of personal debt<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75fcefa7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75fcefa7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#methodology\">Methodology<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddf86c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ddf86c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#sources\">Sources<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-699b9b6c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"699b9b6c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fed3e20 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1fed3e20\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cb477bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2cb477bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What's next<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6618e482 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6618e482\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c04d134 elementor-grid-1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-loop-grid\" data-id=\"6c04d134\" 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.elementor-element.elementor-element-2ae5ee4b .elementor-heading-title{font-size:18px;line-height:28px;}}\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\/* Start custom CSS for container, class: .elementor-element-4e39701 *\/.blog-post-v-meta {\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/\n\n\n\n\n\/* Start custom CSS for container, class: .elementor-element-765d732 *\/.blog-post-v-category {\n    overflow: hidden;\n    text-overflow: ellipsis;\n    max-width: 50%;\n    white-space: nowrap;\n}\n\na.blog-post-card {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/\n<\/style><?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"5707\" class=\"elementor elementor-5707 e-loop-item e-loop-item-23367 post-23367 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765d732 e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"765d732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/11-word-phrase-to-stop-debt-collectors\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-754d47d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"754d47d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bfe12be elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7bfe12be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stopping-debt-collectors-300x183.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-23368\" alt=\"Stopping debt collectors\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stopping-debt-collectors-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stopping-debt-collectors-1024x626.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stopping-debt-collectors-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stopping-debt-collectors.jpg 1310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab917a4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ab917a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c721395 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c721395\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d92f2ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d92f2ba\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b6235 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"07b6235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0c746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"ff0c746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e39701 e-con-full blog-post-v-meta e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e39701\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ab0ff7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ab0ff7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Feb 4, 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0da9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0da9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76e2f415 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76e2f415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">11 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae5ee4b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ae5ee4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the 11-Word Phrase to Stop Debt Collectors?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"5707\" class=\"elementor elementor-5707 e-loop-item e-loop-item-9119 post-9119 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured tag-form\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765d732 e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"765d732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/how-to-get-a-debt-lawsuit-dismissed\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-754d47d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"754d47d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bfe12be elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7bfe12be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Judge-Dismissing-Debt-Lawsuit-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-11199\" alt=\"Judge Dismissing Debt Lawsuit\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Judge-Dismissing-Debt-Lawsuit-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Judge-Dismissing-Debt-Lawsuit-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Judge-Dismissing-Debt-Lawsuit.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab917a4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ab917a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c721395 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c721395\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d92f2ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d92f2ba\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b6235 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"07b6235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0c746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"ff0c746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e39701 e-con-full blog-post-v-meta e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e39701\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ab0ff7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ab0ff7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Aug 14, 2025<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0da9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0da9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76e2f415 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76e2f415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">10 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae5ee4b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ae5ee4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Get a Debt Lawsuit Dismissed<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"5707\" class=\"elementor elementor-5707 e-loop-item e-loop-item-13832 post-13832 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-annuity-purchasing tag-featured\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765d732 e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"765d732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/when-should-i-start-taking-money-out-of-my-annuity\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-754d47d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"754d47d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bfe12be elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7bfe12be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Icon-of-man-about-to-break-piggy-bank.jpg-300x225.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-13833\" alt=\"man breaking piggy bank\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Icon-of-man-about-to-break-piggy-bank.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Icon-of-man-about-to-break-piggy-bank.jpg-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Icon-of-man-about-to-break-piggy-bank.jpg.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab917a4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ab917a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c721395 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c721395\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d92f2ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d92f2ba\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b6235 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"07b6235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Annuity Purchasing<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0c746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"ff0c746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e39701 e-con-full blog-post-v-meta e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e39701\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ab0ff7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ab0ff7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Apr 3, 2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0da9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0da9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76e2f415 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76e2f415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae5ee4b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ae5ee4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When Should I Start Taking Money Out of My Annuity?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"5707\" class=\"elementor elementor-5707 e-loop-item e-loop-item-12417 post-12417 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured tag-form\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765d732 e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"765d732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/can-i-still-use-my-credit-card-after-debt-consolidation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-754d47d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"754d47d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bfe12be elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7bfe12be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12418\" alt=\"man with phone and credit card\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab917a4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ab917a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c721395 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c721395\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d92f2ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d92f2ba\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b6235 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"07b6235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0c746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"ff0c746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e39701 e-con-full blog-post-v-meta e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e39701\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ab0ff7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ab0ff7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mar 20, 2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0da9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0da9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76e2f415 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76e2f415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae5ee4b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ae5ee4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Can I Still Use My Credit Card after Debt Consolidation?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52659264 e-con-full blog-post-cta elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-hidden-widescreen elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet_extra elementor-hidden-mobile_extra e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"52659264\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-724309dc elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"724309dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Earn a high-yield savings rate with JG Wentworth Debt Relief<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a743282 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a743282\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a 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href=\"\/our-blog\">BLOG<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e800ac5 elementor-widget__width-initial icon-12 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"e800ac5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-right\" viewbox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M285.476 272.971L91.132 467.314c-9.373 9.373-24.569 9.373-33.941 0l-22.667-22.667c-9.357-9.357-9.375-24.522-.04-33.901L188.505 256 34.484 101.255c-9.335-9.379-9.317-24.544.04-33.901l22.667-22.667c9.373-9.373 24.569-9.373 33.941 0L285.475 239.03c9.373 9.372 9.373 24.568.001 33.941z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6e54b5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c6e54b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/category\/debt-resolution\" rel=\"tag\">Debt Resolution<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac096f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac096f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Can I Still Use My Credit Card after Debt Consolidation?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eafb310 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"eafb310\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99c8f5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"99c8f5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">by<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eba1cb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eba1cb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">JG Wentworth<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42c7206 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"42c7206\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc30b6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc30b6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">March 20, 2024<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1de9112 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1de9112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fbf251 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5fbf251\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 min<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-701ec117 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"701ec117\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fe19e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fe19e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By late 2025, household debt in the U.S. had climbed to a staggering $18.59 trillion. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorkfed.org\/microeconomics\/hhdc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[1]<\/a> Alongside this, Experian reports that the average American held $104,755 in debt as of mid-2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experian.com\/blogs\/ask-experian\/research\/consumer-debt-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[2]<\/a> People take on debt for many reasons, ranging from student loans to fund education to auto loans that support everyday travel, and these obligations can build up over time.<\/p><p>To explore why people borrow money, we surveyed 1,011 U.S. adults about the reasons they have taken on personal debt throughout their lives. This includes credit cards, personal loans or using overdrafts. The findings reveal recurring themes of financial pressure and urgency, with many respondents reporting that they borrowed to cover unexpected or emergency expenses.<\/p><h2 id=\"keyfindings\">Key findings:<\/h2><ul><li><strong>85.6%<\/strong> of participants have <strong>taken on personal debt<\/strong>, such as <strong>credit cards<\/strong>, <strong>personal loans<\/strong> or <strong>overdrafts<\/strong> at some point in their lives.<\/li><li>The average American will have <strong>7 different personal debts<\/strong> in their lifetime totalling <strong>$8,742 on average<\/strong>.<\/li><li>The <strong>most common reason<\/strong> for taking on personal debt is to <strong>cover unexpected emergency expenses<\/strong> (31.4%).<\/li><li>This is followed by <strong>medical expenses<\/strong> (27.9%) and <strong>day-to-day living expenses<\/strong> (26.4%).<\/li><li><strong>Reducing spending<\/strong> (43.5%), <strong>increasing income<\/strong> (35.8%), and <strong>help from friends and family<\/strong> (26.6%) were the <strong>most common methods to overcome the debt<\/strong>.<\/li><li><strong>Over three quarters<\/strong> (75.6%) admitted to <strong>missing or delaying payments<\/strong> because of their <strong>personal debt situation<\/strong>.<\/li><li><strong>Over half <\/strong>(51%) admitted that their personal debt had <strong>significantly affected<\/strong> their ability to<strong> cover basic living expenses,<\/strong> such as rent, utilities or groceries.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24866e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24866e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"common\">How common is debt in America?<\/h2>\nThe research shows that borrowing is a common part of financial life for most people, with 85.6% of participants saying they have taken on personal debt at some point, whether through credit cards, personal loans, or overdrafts.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c91da69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c91da69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt-1024x455.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-47886\" alt=\"85.6% of people surveyed have taken on personal debt\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt-1024x455.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt-768x341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt-1536x682.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Personal-debt.jpg 1875w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a916851 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a916851\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Just 14.4% of respondents said they had never taken on this type of debt. However, most of this group (65.1%) still use credit products, choosing to pay their balances in full each month to avoid accumulating debt. Careful budgeting was cited by 55.5% as the main reason they have stayed debt-free, and many expressed confidence (38.4%) that they could continue to avoid debt even in the event of a major unexpected expense.<\/p><h3>On average participants hold 4.3 types of personal debt at the same time<\/h3><p>On average, respondents reported holding 4.3 personal debts at the same time at their peak, rising to 6.7 in total across their lifetime to date. When asked about the total value of debt accumulated, participants reported an average of $8,742, highlighting how multiple smaller debts can quickly add up over time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19bf8bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19bf8bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12418\" alt=\"man with phone and credit card\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b814bb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b814bb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"reasons\">The most common reasons for getting into debt<\/h2><p>The primary aim of the study was to uncover the most common reasons Americans take on personal debt, including credit card balances, personal loans, and overdraft usage.<\/p><p>The findings reveal that emergencies are the leading driver of borrowing, with nearly a third of participants (31.4%) citing unexpected expenses such as car or home repairs. Research suggests that emergency car repairs could range from $3,000 to $7,000 to cover issues such as transmission or engine replacement, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/saving-money\/savings-advice\/common-emergency-expenses-and-how-much-they-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[3<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/saving-money\/savings-advice\/common-emergency-expenses-and-how-much-they-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">]<\/a> while home repairs, such as plumbing problems, a leaking roof or HVAC failures could cost as much as $2,000 to $4,000. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/saving-money\/savings-advice\/common-emergency-expenses-and-how-much-they-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[3]<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1473a58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1473a58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The most common reasons for getting into debt<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13c9dce elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-advanced-data-table\" data-id=\"13c9dce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-advanced-data-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap\" data-id=\"13c9dce\"><div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap-inner\">\n                <table class=\"ea-advanced-data-table ea-advanced-data-table-static ea-advanced-data-table-13c9dce\" data-id=\"13c9dce\"><thead><tr><th>Rank<\/th><th>Reason for getting into debt<\/th><th>Percentage of participants<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Emergency expenses (i.e. car or home repairs)<\/td><td>31.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Medical expenses<\/td><td>27.90%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Day-to-day living expenses<\/td><td>26.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Education costs<\/td><td>26.20%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>Job loss or income reduction<\/td><td>23.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Cost of housing<\/td><td>22.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Financially supporting a partner<\/td><td>20.60%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Unnecessary spending<\/td><td>20.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>Financially supporting a family member<\/td><td>19.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>Having a child<\/td><td>18.30%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>Marriage (i.e. wedding costs)<\/td><td>17.90%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>Financially supporting a friend<\/td><td>14.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>Having another child<\/td><td>11.60%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>Divorce<\/td><td>5.40%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n            <\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36cf3e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"36cf3e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses-1024x455.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-47887\" alt=\"Emergency expenses causing personal debt\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses-1024x455.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses-768x341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses-1536x682.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Emergency-expenses.jpg 1875w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f809977 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f809977\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Medical expenses were cited as the second most common reason for falling into debt. In 2025, the average household was reported to hold $10,570 in medical debt, <a href=\"https:\/\/wallethub.com\/edu\/d\/medical-debt-statistics\/140567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[4]<\/a> and because medical emergencies can affect anyone at any time, it is perhaps unsurprising that these costs are pushing many Americans into borrowing.<\/p><p>The third most common reason for taking on personal debt was the rising cost of everyday living expenses. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that prices for essential goods and services, including food (2.9%), medical care services (3.9%), and electricity (6.3%), increased in the 12 months prior to January 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/cpi.nr0.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[5]<\/a> This, combined with an increase in the unemployment rate from 3.7% in January 2024 to 4.3% in January 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/charts\/employment-situation\/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[6]<\/a> may have contributed to a growing reliance on debt to cover basic necessities.<\/p><p>The least common reasons for taking on debt were divorce (5.4%), having an additional child (11.6%), or providing financial support to a friend (14.5%). Despite the fact that over 1.8 million Americans divorced in 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/16\/8-facts-about-divorce-in-the-united-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[7]<\/a> and the average cost of a divorce is around $11,300, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fool.com\/money\/research\/average-cost-of-divorce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[8]<\/a> relatively few respondents reported taking on debt because of it.<\/p><h3>Over four in five (83.2%) are still paying off their personal debts today<\/h3><p>When asked if they were still paying off personal debts, a striking 83.2% of participants said they were, leaving just 16.8% who had fully cleared their balances. On average, respondents still owed $7,354, which is only $1,388 less than the total amount they had originally borrowed, showing how debt can persist long after it is first taken on.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b5599c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2b5599c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off-1024x455.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-47888\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off-1024x455.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off-768x341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off-1536x682.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Pay-off.jpg 1875w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b733b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b733b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmong participants who are no longer paying off their debt, more than a quarter (26.9%) said it took just one to two years to become debt-free. For just over one in five (22.1%), it took slightly longer, between two and three years, while around one in six (17.2%) managed to pay off their debts in less than a year.\n\nWhen asked which strategies helped them reduce their personal debt the most, the most common approach was making more than the minimum required payment (32.4%). This was followed by cutting back on social or leisure spending (26.2%) and focusing on paying off smaller balances first (23.4%).\n<h2 id=\"effective\" style=\"text-align: center;\">The most effective ways to clear personal debt<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92d6761 elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-advanced-data-table\" data-id=\"92d6761\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-advanced-data-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap\" data-id=\"92d6761\"><div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap-inner\">\n                <table class=\"ea-advanced-data-table ea-advanced-data-table-static ea-advanced-data-table-92d6761\" data-id=\"92d6761\"><thead><tr><th>Rank<\/th><th>Used to help pay off debt<\/th><th>Percentage of participants no longer paying off debt<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Making more than the minimum payment<\/td><td>32.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Reducing social or leisure spending<\/td><td>26.20%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3T<\/td><td>Paying off smallest balances first<\/td><td>23.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3T<\/td><td>Reducing discretionary spending<\/td><td>23.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3T<\/td><td>Paying off highest-interest debt first<\/td><td>23.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Freelancing or contract work<\/td><td>22.10%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Overtime at an existing job<\/td><td>21.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Tracking balances regularly<\/td><td>20.70%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>Canceling subscriptions<\/td><td>20.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10T<\/td><td>Changing jobs for higher pay<\/td><td>19.30%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10T<\/td><td>Taking on a second job<\/td><td>19.30%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10T<\/td><td>Switching to cheaper brands<\/td><td>19.30%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>Selling unwanted items<\/td><td>18.60%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>Consolidating debts into one loan<\/td><td>17.90%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>Family or friends providing financial help<\/td><td>16.60%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>Freezing or closing credit accounts<\/td><td>13.10%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>17<\/td><td>Negotiating interest rates with lenders<\/td><td>12.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18T<\/td><td>Declaring bankruptcy<\/td><td>11.70%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18T<\/td><td>Monetizing a hobby<\/td><td>11.70%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>Seeking debt advice<\/td><td>10.30%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n            <\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f32beff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f32beff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>*Participants could select multiple options.<\/em><\/p><p>&nbsp;On the other hand, participants reported that some strategies were less effective in reducing their personal debt. Seeking professional debt advice helped only 10.3%, while monetizing a hobby and declaring bankruptcy were each cited by 11.7% as useful in paying down debt.<\/p><h2 id=\"commonmethods\">The most common methods to reduce personal debt<\/h2><p>The survey asked participants which methods they were using to reduce or clear their personal debt. The most common approach was simply cutting back on spending, chosen by 43.5% of respondents. This was followed by increasing income (35.8%), seeking help from friends or family (26.6%), and setting up a payment plan with a lender (26.4%).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84afbdb elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-advanced-data-table\" data-id=\"84afbdb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-advanced-data-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap\" data-id=\"84afbdb\"><div class=\"ea-advanced-data-table-wrap-inner\">\n                <table class=\"ea-advanced-data-table ea-advanced-data-table-static ea-advanced-data-table-84afbdb\" data-id=\"84afbdb\"><thead><tr><th>Rank<\/th><th>Method<\/th><th>Percentage of participants<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Reduced spending<\/td><td>43.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Increased income<\/td><td>35.80%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Help from family or friends<\/td><td>26.60%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Payment plan with lender<\/td><td>26.40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>Debt consolidation<\/td><td>23.10%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Professional financial advice<\/td><td>20%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Refinancing<\/td><td>19%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Bankruptcy<\/td><td>15%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n            <\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb98bbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb98bbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>*Participants could select multiple options.<\/em><\/p><p>On the other hand, methods such as declaring bankruptcy (15%), refinancing (19%), or seeking professional financial advice (20%) were less commonly used. Despite bankruptcy being a less popular strategy for reducing or clearing debt, research from 2024 shows that bankruptcy filings in the U.S. rose by 14.2% compared with the previous year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscourts.gov\/data-news\/judiciary-news\/2025\/02\/04\/bankruptcy-filings-rise-14-2-percent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[9]<\/a> Our recent research found that California is the best U.S. state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/second-chance-states\">for financial second chances<\/a>, while New Jersey offers the most challenging conditions for getting back on your feet.<\/p><h3>Almost one in five (19.6%) turn to friends and family for financial support<\/h3><p>In addition to traditional methods for reducing debt, the survey asked participants about the types of support they have turned to. Over a third (34%) said they relied on friends or family for help managing their personal debt. While only 20% reported seeking professional advice, popular forms of support included financial advisors (29.7%), banks or lenders (26.9%), and online tools or budgeting apps (26.9%).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70c706b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"70c706b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-47889\" alt=\"Where survey participants have turned for financial support\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support.jpg 1875w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support-768x489.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Support-1536x979.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7fd674 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7fd674\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In addition, participants were asked which formal debt solutions they had used for managing their personal debt. The most common approach was a debt management plan, used by 38.4% of respondents. This was followed by debt consolidation loans (34%) and debt settlement (27.5%), otherwise known as debt resolution or debt relief.<\/p><p>Debt solutions include a range of strategies designed to reduce or clear debt outside of the formal bankruptcy process. The most common types of <a href=\"\/debt-relief\">debt relief<\/a> include debt consolidation, debt negotiation, debt settlement, or credit counseling. It&rsquo;s important to note that each of these methods work differently, and each person&rsquo;s individual financial circumstances will dictate which method is most effective for them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75b3a1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75b3a1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"impact\">The impact of personal debt<\/h2>\nThe survey explored the lasting effects of personal debt and how it continues to influence participants&rsquo; financial decisions.\n<h3>Over one in ten (11.1%) say the debt did not help the issues they were facing<\/h3>\nWhen asked whether the personal debt they had taken on helped resolve the financial issue they were facing at the time, 58.5% of participants said it completely solved the problem. Another 30.4% said it was somewhat helpful but did not fully resolve the issue.\n\nHowever, 7.3% admitted that taking on the debt actually made their financial situation worse, and 3.8% said it had no real impact either way. A 2025 Bankrate study found that taking on too much credit card debt is one of the biggest financial regrets for Americans, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/financial-regrets-survey\/#fewer-gen-zers-have-financial-regrets-this-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[10]<\/a> highlighting the importance of carefully considering any borrowing before using it to address financial challenges. Our own research echoed this as 76.6% said they regret taking on their personal debts.\n<h3>Personal debt is impacting basic living expenses for almost nine in ten (86.7%)<\/h3>\nOver half (51%) admitted that their personal debt had significantly affected their ability to cover basic living expenses, such as rent, utilities or groceries. This is echoed by 35.7% who said it had somewhat affected their essential spending. Likewise, a staggering 75.6% admitted to missing or delaying payments because of their personal debt situation.\n\nAlongside this, almost two in five (39.9%) said this debt had caused them a significant amount of stress, anxiety, or affected their day-to-day lives. A previous study we conducted in September 2025 found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/debt-numb\">credit card debt is the most stressful form of debt<\/a>, and 47% of U.S. adults worried about their debt everyday.\n\nNot only that, but half of participants (54.5%) reported that their personal debt had affected their ability to save for the future, including for retirement or unexpected emergencies. Another 38.3% said it had somewhat limited their ability to save, while just 7.3% felt that their savings had not been impacted at all.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76ae4bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"76ae4bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future-1024x455.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-47890\" alt=\"Over half of survey respondents say debt has affected their ability to save\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future-1024x455.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future-768x341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future-1536x682.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JGW_Debt-reasons_V1_Future.jpg 1875w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdd906c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fdd906c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In addition, almost half of participants (49.7%) said they had to make significant changes to their lifestyle as a result of taking on debt, such as cutting back on leisure, travel, or hobbies. Even more concerning, 44.7% admitted that their debt had limited their ability to pursue opportunities, including furthering their education, advancing in their careers, or relocating for a job.<\/p><h3>Over two-fifths admit their debt has affected their personal relationships<\/h3><p>In our recent study, we found that 75.1% of those who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/shadow-debt-family-and-friends-debt-survey\">borrowed or lent money from friends or family<\/a> are no longer as close as they used to be. The impact of debt on personal connections goes beyond these situations, with over three quarters (79.5%) reporting that their personal relationships had been affected by their debt to some level. In contrast, just one in five (20.5%) said it hadn&rsquo;t had any impact at all.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f93c52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f93c52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"methodology\">Methodology<\/h2>\nThe survey was conducted between January and February 2026 and asked 1,011 adults in the U.S. from a range of backgrounds questions surrounding their personal debt, including what caused them to take this debt on and how they have managed it alongside other financial responsibilities.\n\nFor some questions, respondents were able to select multiple answers, therefore the results do not all add up to 100%.\n\nThe demographics of the survey respondents were:\n\nGender:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Male &ndash; 55.8%<\/li>\n \t<li>Female &ndash; 42.4%<\/li>\n \t<li>Prefer not to say &ndash; 1.3%<\/li>\n \t<li>Non-binary &ndash; 0.3%<\/li>\n \t<li>Not listed &ndash; 0.2%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAge:\n<ul>\n \t<li>18-28 &ndash; 11.4%<\/li>\n \t<li>29-44 &ndash; 69.9%<\/li>\n \t<li>45-60 &ndash; 16.3%<\/li>\n \t<li>61-79 &ndash; 2.3%<\/li>\n \t<li>80+ &ndash; 0.1%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbcdce1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbcdce1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"sources\">Sources<\/h2><p>[1] Federal Reserve Bank of New York, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorkfed.org\/microeconomics\/hhdc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HOUSEHOLD DEBT AND CREDIT REPORT (Q4 2025)<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[2] Experian, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.experian.com\/blogs\/ask-experian\/research\/consumer-debt-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Average American Debt by Age, US State, Credit Score and Type in 2025<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[3] GoBankingRates, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/saving-money\/savings-advice\/common-emergency-expenses-and-how-much-they-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">5 Common Emergency Expenses &mdash; And How Much They Cost on Average<\/a>&rsquo;, 2024<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[4] WalletHub, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/wallethub.com\/edu\/d\/medical-debt-statistics\/140567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Medical Debt Statistics<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[5] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/cpi.nr0.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Consumer Price Index Summary<\/a>&rsquo;, 2026<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/charts\/employment-situation\/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Civilian unemployment rate<\/a>&rsquo;, 2026<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[7] Pew Research Center, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/16\/8-facts-about-divorce-in-the-united-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">8 facts about divorce in the United States<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[8] Motley Fool Money, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fool.com\/money\/research\/average-cost-of-divorce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Average Cost of a Divorce<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[9] United States Courts, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscourts.gov\/data-news\/judiciary-news\/2025\/02\/04\/bankruptcy-filings-rise-14-2-percent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bankruptcy Filings Rise 14.2 Percent<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p>[10] Bankrate, &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/financial-regrets-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Survey: Nearly 3 in 4 Americans have a financial regret<\/a>&rsquo;, 2025<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777ce62 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"777ce62\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c42f221 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c42f221\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Creative Commons License\" style=\"border-width:0\" src=\"https:\/\/i.creativecommons.org\/l\/by-sa\/4.0\/88x31.png\"><\/a><br>This work is licensed under a <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fb9cd48 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2fb9cd48\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e7f53fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"6e7f53fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"container\" data-elementor-id=\"1972\" class=\"elementor elementor-1972\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c4ddeb3 e-con-full blog-post-author e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7c4ddeb3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e309cf8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3e309cf8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37a051fb elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"37a051fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f9eedf e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7f9eedf\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d120753 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d120753\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About the author<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-661e21c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"661e21c5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0c8f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3ae0c8f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/author\/jg-wentworth\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/FB-96x96.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39382164 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"39382164\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49e5a49e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49e5a49e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/author\/jg-wentworth\">JG Wentworth<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70137974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70137974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJG Wentworth is a financial services company that specializes in structured settlement\/annuity purchasing and debt relief solutions, among other offerings. For over 30 years, we have established a sterling reputation, including an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, a 4.8 rating with TrustPilot, and 4 stars from Consumer Affairs among countless rave reviews from satisfied customers.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b4985fc e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b4985fc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f465151 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"7f465151\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"container\" data-elementor-id=\"1990\" class=\"elementor elementor-1990\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-304a1d6c e-con-full page-content e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"304a1d6c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-700f0e9d e-con-full e-con-jgw-boxed e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"700f0e9d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ff119d8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4ff119d8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e9942c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3e9942c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Recommended reading for you<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f944f15 elementor-grid-4 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-loop-grid\" data-id=\"f944f15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" 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.elementor-element.elementor-element-63e2468f{--width:100%;}}@media(max-width:1024px){.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-b92bc70 img{height:200px;}}@media(max-width:767px){.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-b92bc70 img{height:168px;}.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-9989779{--justify-content:flex-start;}.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-e3b1d68{--align-items:flex-start;--container-widget-width:calc( ( 1 - var( --container-widget-flex-grow ) ) * 100% );}.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5f334874{--align-items:center;--container-widget-width:calc( ( 1 - var( --container-widget-flex-grow ) ) * 100% );}.elementor-2009 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5cb7e76e .elementor-heading-title{font-size:16px;line-height:24px;}}\n\n\/* Start custom CSS for heading, class: .elementor-element-71fded65 *\/.blog-post-card .elementor-heading-title {\n    vertical-align: middle;\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\/* Start custom CSS for container, class: .elementor-element-9989779 *\/.post-text {\n    height: 165px;\n    overflow: hidden;\n    flex-wrap: initial;\n    --mask: linear-gradient(to bottom, \n      rgba(0,0,0, 1) 0,   rgba(0,0,0, 1) 70%, \n      rgba(0,0,0, 0) 99%, rgba(0,0,0, 0) 0\n  ) 100% 50% \/ 100% 100% repeat-x;\n  -webkit-mask: var(--mask); \n  mask: var(--mask);\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/\n\n\/* Start custom CSS for container, class: .elementor-element-63e2468f *\/a.blog-post-card {\n    text-decoration: none;\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/\n<\/style><?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"2009\" class=\"elementor elementor-2009 e-loop-item e-loop-item-23367 post-23367 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63e2468f e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"63e2468f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/11-word-phrase-to-stop-debt-collectors\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b694e78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b694e78\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92bc70 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b92bc70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Stopping-debt-collectors-qrona18xvzt9cbgywnyrfz1ohs5jrupapzm90hgknc.jpg\" title=\"Stopping debt collectors\" alt=\"Stopping debt collectors\" loading=\"lazy\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9989779 e-con-full post-text e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9989779\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b1d68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3b1d68\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71fded65 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71fded65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f334874 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f334874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51481055 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51481055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Feb 4, 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2077109a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2077109a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d01b46 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18d01b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">11 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a0dd5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"21a0dd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb7e76e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cb7e76e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the 11-Word Phrase to Stop Debt Collectors?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ebb83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"5ebb83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSounds like magic, right? Thankfully, there&rsquo;s no spell required. In this blog, we'll explore this phrase, its origins, how to use it, and what it means for your rights as a consumer....\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"2009\" class=\"elementor elementor-2009 e-loop-item e-loop-item-9119 post-9119 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured tag-form\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63e2468f e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"63e2468f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/how-to-get-a-debt-lawsuit-dismissed\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b694e78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b694e78\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92bc70 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b92bc70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Judge-Dismissing-Debt-Lawsuit-qq6r0zkzb9qfif3wa14eo4xlx97ndatwpb4jnrc5ai.jpg\" title=\"Court of Law Trial in Session: Honorable Female Judge Pronouncing Sentence, striking Gavel. Focus on Mallet, Hammer. Cinematic Shot of Dramatic Not Guilty Verdict. Close-up Shot.\" alt=\"Judge Dismissing Debt Lawsuit\" loading=\"lazy\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9989779 e-con-full post-text e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9989779\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b1d68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3b1d68\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71fded65 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71fded65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f334874 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f334874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51481055 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51481055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Aug 14, 2025<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2077109a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2077109a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d01b46 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18d01b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">10 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a0dd5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"21a0dd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb7e76e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cb7e76e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Get a Debt Lawsuit Dismissed<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ebb83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"5ebb83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThere are several legitimate legal strategies that can lead to debt lawsuit dismissal. Let's take a look at the top 3....\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"2009\" class=\"elementor elementor-2009 e-loop-item e-loop-item-13832 post-13832 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-annuity-purchasing tag-featured\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63e2468f e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"63e2468f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/when-should-i-start-taking-money-out-of-my-annuity\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b694e78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b694e78\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92bc70 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b92bc70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Icon-of-man-about-to-break-piggy-bank.jpg-qpju7z5llu8mb1v4m2a7s2cg62adwlmqyjn1clgng8.webp\" title=\"Icon of man about to break piggy bank\" alt=\"man breaking piggy bank\" loading=\"lazy\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9989779 e-con-full post-text e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9989779\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b1d68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3b1d68\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71fded65 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71fded65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Annuity Purchasing<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f334874 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f334874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51481055 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51481055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Apr 3, 2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2077109a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2077109a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d01b46 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18d01b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a0dd5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"21a0dd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb7e76e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cb7e76e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When Should I Start Taking Money Out of My Annuity?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ebb83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"5ebb83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover expert advice on when to start taking money out of your annuity with JG Wentworth. Learn about the best strategies for maximizing your retirement income and making informed financial decisions. Visit our page for...\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"2009\" class=\"elementor elementor-2009 e-loop-item e-loop-item-12417 post-12417 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-debt-resolution tag-featured tag-form\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63e2468f e-con-full blog-post-card e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"63e2468f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}' href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/can-i-still-use-my-credit-card-after-debt-consolidation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b694e78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b694e78\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92bc70 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b92bc70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/man-with-phone-and-credit-card-qq6r34nqvonxyfzxryftclhemunqwhbwbwmd0g5vfo.jpg\" title=\"man with phone and credit card\" alt=\"man with phone and credit card\" loading=\"lazy\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9989779 e-con-full post-text e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9989779\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b1d68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3b1d68\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71fded65 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71fded65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Debt Resolution<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f334874 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f334874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51481055 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51481055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mar 20, 2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2077109a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2077109a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&bull;<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d01b46 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18d01b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 min<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a0dd5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"21a0dd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb7e76e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cb7e76e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Can I Still Use My Credit Card after Debt Consolidation?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ebb83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"5ebb83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCan you use your credit card after debt consolidation? Learn about the implications, benefits, and strategies for responsible credit card use post-consolidation to maintain financial health....\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4b2244 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e4b2244\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New research reveals the leading causes of personal debt in the U.S., along with its effects and the strategies people use to manage it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":47891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-financial-education"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v25.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Most Common Reasons for Debt | JG Wentworth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New research reveals the leading causes of personal debt in the U.S., along with its effects and the strategies people use to manage it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jgwentworth.com\/resources\/common-reasons-for-debt\" \/>\n<meta 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