How much debt is normal at 23?
Here's the average debt balances by age group: Gen Z (ages 18 to 23): $9,593. Millennials (ages 24 to 39): $78,396. Gen X (ages 40 to 55): $135,841.
| Generation | Average total debt (2023) | Average total debt (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z (18-26) | $29,820 | $25,851 |
| Millenial (27-42) | $125,047 | $115,784 |
| Gen X (43-57) | $157,556 | $154,658 |
| Baby Boomer (58-77) | $94,880 | $96,087 |
$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.
Is $2,000 too much credit card debt? $2,000 in credit card debt is manageable if you can pay more than the minimum each month. If it's hard to keep up with the payments, then you'll need to make some financial changes, such as tightening up your spending or refinancing your debt.
Millennials and Gen Z represent a wide range of ages and credit profiles, but both include consumers in their 20s. Having more than $10,000 of debt might sound like a lot for someone at the beginning stages of their career, but it's not all bad as long as you're strategic with your pay-off plan.
There's no specific definition of “a lot of debt” — $10,000 might be a high amount of debt to one person, for example, but a very manageable debt for someone else. Calculating your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio gives you a rough idea.
Consumers in the 18-25 bracket have an average FICO® credit score of 679. Though considered, it is comparatively lower as they are still building up their credit history. Consumers in the 26–41 bracket have an average FICO® credit score of 687.
Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
“That's because the best balance transfer and personal loan terms are reserved for people with strong credit scores. $20,000 is a lot of credit card debt and it sounds like you're having trouble making progress,” says Rossman.
It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
How much debt is unhealthy?
Key Takeaways
If you cannot afford to pay your minimum debt payments, your debt amount is unreasonable. The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of a household's gross income should be spent on housing and no more than 36% on housing plus other debt.
Research from financial services company Northwestern Mutual found that excluding mortgages, the average personal debt per individual sat at $21,800 in 2023, significantly lower than the $29,800 recorded in 2019.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
There are people of all ages living in poverty. It is sad and tragic in EVERY case. Don't think for a second that being poor makes you less of a person, or less deserving of basic human needs. And don't think that being 26 means that you have no business being poor.
Gen Z (up to age 26): 20.8% have no loan, 72.4% have one loan, 6.3% have two loans; average monthly payment is $429. Millennials (27-42): 36.8% have no auto loan, 52.9% have one, 9.3% have two; average monthly payment is $547.
Bottom line. Knowing how credit building works and applying sound strategies could help you have a solid credit foundation no matter what stage of life you're in. Fortunately, it's never too late to get started.
The 28/36 rule dictates that you spend no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on housing costs and no more than 36 percent on all of your debt combined, including those housing costs.
Personal debt can be considered to be unmanageable when the level of required repayments cannot be met through normal income streams. This would usually occur over a sustained period of time, causing overall debt levels to increase to a level beyond which somebody is able to pay.
Instead, rich people tend to use debt as a tool to help them build more wealth. For example, very rich people might borrow money to acquire a company if they think they can improve its profitability.
- Apply for a secured credit card.
- Become an authorized user.
- Get credit for paying monthly bills on time.
- Take out a credit-builder loan.
- Keep a close eye on your credit utilization.
- Make small purchases and pay them off quickly.
- How long does it take to build credit?
- How to check your credit score for free.
How many cards should I have at 23?
But most experts recommend sticking with as many credit cards as you can effectively manage and keep track of. For some people, that's one or two cards. For others, it could be many more. Having at least one card can help you build credit, but having too many cards can lead to missed payments and debt.
Anywhere between 670 to 739 is considered good. A credit score between 740 to 799 is considered very good. Credit scores 800 and up are considered excellent. Someone with a VantageScore that's 600 or less is considered to have poor or very poor credit.
Myth 1: Being debt-free means being rich.
A common misconception is equating a lack of debt with wealth. Having debt simply means that you owe money to creditors. Being debt-free often indicates sound financial management, not necessarily an overflowing bank account.
Each household should spend no more than 36% of their income on debt overall. This includes housing, car loans, credit cards, etc. For example, if you take home $4,000 a month, you should not be spending over $1,120 on housing expenses and $320 total on other debts each month.
A good debt to equity ratio is around 1 to 1.5. However, the ideal debt to equity ratio will vary depending on the industry because some industries use more debt financing than others. Capital-intensive industries like the financial and manufacturing industries often have higher ratios that can be greater than 2.
