Vance Barse - Credit Card Stress

MORE AMERICANS UNDER CREDIT CARD STRESS

A new report shows more Americans are under the stress of rising credit card balances. At the start of this year, Americans’ total credit card debt was approaching $1.17 trillion. And the latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia shows average individual credit card balances at the end of last year hit their highest levels since 2012.  Nearly 11% of card holders are making only the minimum payment each month, and more than 3.5% of balances are at least 30 days past due.  In addition, according to Lending Tree, the average interest rate on a credit card right now is 24.25%.  While inflation has cooled, prices are still up from five years ago, like groceries, which are 28% more expensive than in 2020. The Federal Reserve Bank says more consumers are leaning on credit cards to get by.  If that’s you, and you’ve already taken steps to cut weekly spending, the Federal Trade Commission recommends talking to your credit card company about lowering your interest rate. You can also reach out to nonprofit credit counseling agencies, which are often based out of credit unions and universities. Your bank might be able to recommend one.  The FTC says you can also try a debt consolidation loan, which could mean making one lower payment each month, saving you on interest across multiple credit cards. The key to that approach is not running up your credit card balances again.

Americans of all ages are in credit card debt, but many young people are digging a hole they may never be able to climb out of.

A financial strategist and the founder of Your Dedicated Fiduciary. He has some of the highest designations in the financial services industry, VANCE BARSE