Millennials in California and elsewhere in the nation were once known for being careful with credit card debt. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case anymore. A survey by a credit card comparison company reveals that two in three young adults have credit card debt, and only 13% of credit card holders within the millennial age range are completely debt-free.
The debt-related survey was based on responses from more than 1,000 cardholders. Of the baby boomers who were questioned, nearly 30% were debt-free. As far as the type of debt that millennials are burdened with most, nearly 70% reported having credit card debt, and just under 40% said they had student loan debt.
More than 20% of credit card holders with older children or no kids at all said they were free of debt. However, only 7% of cardholders with children under the age of 18 could say the same thing. Millennials, on average, believe they’ll be debt-free by age 49. They also took on their oldest debt around age 24. Gen Xers, on the other hand, don’t expect to be free of debt obligations until they are around 67 years old. For baby boomers, the anticipated debt-free age is 81. Among all age groups, the survey found that roughly one in four cardholders expect to die in debt. Of debtors with this particular outlook, 16% have a household income greater than $100,000.
Credit card debt is a common reason for individuals to consider bankruptcy. If a young adult is already at this point, a bankruptcy lawyer may recommend counseling or attempts to work out reasonable and manageable payment arrangements first. If this isn’t possible, an attorney can help a debtor take the steps necessary to file for bankruptcy, including making sure required documents are filed on time.
