Why Financial Literacy Is Not Just a Buzz Term
UpdatedMar 18, 2025
- Most Americans do not understand finances well.
- This lack of understanding can cause debt problems in American households.
- You can improve your finances and yur life with a little knowledge about how credit works.
Most Americans have very low debt literacy
Not so long ago, cash was the preferred payment method for daily purchases, but times have certainly changed. As consumer shopping behaviors have evolved (think Amazon and online shopping) so has our relationship with credit cards and debt.
Credit can cloud our view of spending, making it easy to forget how much we have spent on something and/or how we are tracking our monthly budget. It can also lead to unintended debt that stays with us long after the useful life of whatever we bought on credit.
A research study from M.I.T. showed that since the 1970’s there has been growing evidence supporting the theory that credit cards encourage spending. In addition, a Dartmouth College study found that most Americans have very low debt literacy – with only one third of the population understanding the principal of compound interest or how credit cards work.
How credit works is an important part of financial literarcy
Unfortunately, this lack of understanding about the fundamentals of how credit works has had a terrible impact on the financial situation of the average American.
Today, the average American household carries an astounding $137,063 in debt, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest statistics. Yet the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the median household income was just $59,039 last year – it doesn’t seem sustainable.
The development of financial literacy skills is a lifelong process
Every day, consumers experience financial hardships and are in critical need of assistance to manage their personal debts every day.
Providing your children with personal financial management tools and education is imperative to putting them on the path to financial security. The development of fundamental financial literacy skills is a lifelong process that begins with something as simple as putting a few coins in a piggy bank, and eventually grows into understanding complex ideas such as compound interest, revolving debt and creating a budget.
Although financial literacy on its own won’t solve the consumer debt crisis. However, with increased financial capability, young adults will be able to better manage their personal finances in a way that will enable them to minimize debt, build wealth, and achieve their own financial freedom.
Debt relief stats and trends
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during November 2024. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In November 2024, people seeking debt relief had an average of 79% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Home-secured debt – average debt by selected states
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) (using 2022 data) the average home-secured debt for those with a balance was $212,498. The percentage of families with mortgage debt was 42%.
In November 2024, 25% of the debt relief seekers had a mortgage. The average mortgage debt was $236504, and the average monthly payment was $1882.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average mortgage balance.
| State | % with a mortgage balance | Average mortgage balance | Average monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20 | $391,113 | $2,710 | |
| District of Columbia | 17 | $339,911 | $2,330 | |
| Utah | 31 | $316,936 | $2,094 | |
| Nevada | 25 | $306,258 | $2,082 | |
| Massachusetts | 28 | $297,524 | $2,290 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a mortgage loan balance over $0.
Housing is an important part of a household's expenses. Remember to consider all your debts when looking for a way to get debt relief.
Regain Financial Freedom
Seeking debt relief can be the first step toward financial freedom. Are you struggling with debt? Explore options for debt relief to regain control of your finances. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your FICO score or credit utilization is. Take the first step towards a brighter financial future today.
Show source
