Credit card debt is at an all-time high in America. Half of all Americans with a credit card have carried a balance in the past year, and one in three have more credit card debt than emergency savings. And with interest rates soaring, that debt is becoming even more expensive.

It’s easy to see credit card debt as a personal failing, caused by overspending. While that’s often true, nearly a third of U.S. credit card holders say they use their cards to cover essentials like rent, food, or medical bills. That complicates the narrative. Credit card debt might be a burden—but access to credit can also be a lifeline.

On this episode of Top of Mind:

- How should we think about credit card debt in America?

- How much personal responsibility do we bear?

- What are the risks of making credit card debt “cheaper”?

- How can consumers navigate a system designed to promote debt?

Guests:

Jamie Feldman, journalist and co-host of the Debt Heads podcast (https://debtheadspodcast.com/)

Elena Botella, author of Delinquent: Inside America’s Debt Machine (https://elenabotella.com/books)

Tris, credit card user

Nicholas Anthony, policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives (https://www.cato.org/people/nicholas-anthony)

Matt Schulz, Chief Consumer Finance Analyst at LendingTree and author of Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More (https://www.mattschulz.com/book/)

Michael Reynolds, certified financial planner and owner of Elevation Financial (https://www.elevationfinancial.com/about)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Jamie's Debt Journey

03:35 The Reality of Credit Card Debt in America

09:23 Elena Botella's Insider Perspective

15:16 The Evolution of Consumer Credit

25:13 Tris' Story: Overcoming Financial Hurdles

26:25 Using Credit Cards Responsibly

28:18 Rebuilding Credit Scores

29:52 Debate and Impact: Interest Rate Caps

37:03 Tips for Managing Credit Card Debt

46:45 The Debt Snowball Method

48:49 Credit Card Rewards and Spending Habits

52:18 Conclusion