Money

Study Finds -  On average, Americans will spend close to $2 million dollars on major debt payments before their life ends. That staggering figure, according to an eye-opening study, represents every car loan, mortgage payment, student loan bill, and credit card balance between age 18 and death at 78.

A new analysis by JG Wentworth concludes that the average American will pay off $1,786,810 in debt across their lifetime. That’s money tied up in monthly obligations rather than available for savings, investing, or simply having more breathing room in the budget.

The study breaks down exactly where that $1.8 million goes over 60 years of adult life. The calculation includes four major debt categories affecting most Americans: mortgages, auto loans, student debt, and credit cards. Each follows a predictable pattern, spiking at key life stages and gradually declining through years of payments. The total includes both principal and interest, though credit card interest was excluded due to variable rates.

Newsweek -   Debt is rising nationwide and across nearly every lending category, as Americans grapple with recent policy changes as well as broader financial strains toward the end of 2025.

In the third quarter of 2025, 49 states saw a year-over-year increase in average total debt levels, according to a recent study by the online lending marketplace LendingTree.