Bulletin Poll: Personal Debt

Do you currently have any of the following types of loans or obligations? (yes responses)

Total

18-49

50+

A credit card balance that is
not paid in full every month

30%

31%

29%

A mortgage payment

38%

40%

36%

A student loan

16%

25%

5%

A loan that you can pay on a vehicle
(for example, a car note)

33%

36%

29%

Cash that you owe other people

14%

17%

11%

Compared to your monthly income, would you say what you owe in total each month on your debt is: (asked of total who have any specified loans or obligations)

Total

18-49

50+

More than monthly income

17%

19%

14%

About 75% of your monthly income

25%

24%

26%

About half of your monthly income

23%

25%

18%

Less than half of your monthly income

33%

29%

38%

Have you ever considered filing bankruptcy owing to debts?

Total

18-49

50+

I’ve considered bankruptcy

6%

6%

5%

I’ve filed for bankruptcy before

4%

4%

5%

I’ve neither considered nor filed for bankruptcy before

89%

89%

89%

Which of the following things have you done in the last 6 months to reduce your debt?

Total

18-49

50+

I haven’t tried to reduce my debt over the last 6 months

53%

53%

53%

Over the last 6 months, to reduce your debt have you … (asked of those who have tried to reduce debt)

Total

18-49

50+

Put purchases on a debit card, or paid cash, rather than use your credit card

70%

72%

69%

Paid more than the minimum balance on your
credit card each month

55%

54%

56%

Cut down on expenses such as eating out, consumer goods purchases and vacations

70%

69%

71%

Negotiated better terms with lenders or people you owe money to

21%

21%

21%