What percentage of millenials are debt free?
Only 10 percent of survey respondents said they have never had debt, which means that 90 percent of millennials have had some sort of non-mortgage debt in their lives.
| Type of debt | Average amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage | $295,689 |
| Credit card | $6,274 |
| Total non-mortgage* | $29,702 |
Exploring the financial lives of Millennials through a financial health framework offers new insight into the needs and challenges of this unique demographic. According to data from the 2019 U.S. Financial Health Pulse consumer survey, only 24 percent of Millennials are Financially Healthy.
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more.
| Generation | Average total debt (2023) | Average total debt (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Millenial (27-42) | $125,047 | $115,784 |
| Gen X (43-57) | $157,556 | $154,658 |
| Baby Boomer (58-77) | $94,880 | $96,087 |
| Silent Generation (78+) | $38,600 | $39,345 |
A good goal is to be debt-free by retirement age, either 65 or earlier if you want. If you have other goals, such as taking a sabbatical or starting a business, you should make sure that your debt isn't going to hold you back.
Of all generations, there's one that has more debt than the rest: Generation X. A Generation X consumer must work, on average, almost four full years to pay off all outstanding debts, compared to 3.3 years for millennials and two years for Gen Z, the youngest generation, and slightly more than baby boomers and seniors.
The analysis found good news for the much-beleaguered millennial generation: Their wealth grew at a historic clip. Per CAP's analysis, from the end of 2019 to the end of 2023, the average wealth of households under 40 grew by 49% — a $85,000 increase, to $259,000 from $174,000.
High housing costs have led to 47% of millennials saying they struggle to afford a home and 42% admitting to having difficulty affording groceries. Overall, this generation's finances could be better; many do not see things improving soon.
A gigantic wealth transfer over roughly the next decade will likely make millennials “the richest generation in history,” according to a report from global real estate consultancy Knight Frank.
What percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck?
A majority, 65%, say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to CNBC and SurveyMonkey's recent Your Money International Financial Security Survey, which polled 498 U.S. adults. That's a slight increase from last year's results, which found that 58% of Americans considered themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck.
Between mortgage loans, credit cards, student loans, and car loans, it's not uncommon for the typical American to have one or more types of debt. The ones who are living debt-free may seem like a rarity, but they aren't special or superhuman, nor are they necessarily wealthy.
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't spend more than 10 percent of your take-home income on credit card debt.
Stats from 538.com, for example, suggest the age is around 63. As each homeowner is unique, though, this type of information should only be used anecdotally. You should always stick with the financial plan that is tailored to your own objectives and personal situation.
$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. There are a few things you can do to pay your debt off faster - potentially saving thousands of dollars in the process.
| Generation | Average Credit Card Balance March '22 | Average Credit Card Balance Feb '24 |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomer | $5,700 | $6,800 |
| Gen X | $6,400 | $8,900 |
| Millennial | $4,500 | $6,700 |
| Gen Z | $2,000 | $3,300 |
So, when you hear about people who have absolutely no debt, live on less than they make, and have a stash of cash for emergencies, you might think they're . . . weird. But living a debt-free life isn't only for a special group of people. It's something anyone can do with hard work and some special characteristics.
Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high. The biggest piece of your DTI ratio pie is bound to be your monthly mortgage payment.
What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
The World Happiness Report is out and Finland has once again been declared the happiest country in the world. However, the report reveals that Gen Z (aged 15-24) are unhappy.
Why do millennials have so much debt?
King said millennials' purchasing preferences and the soaring cost of living has led many into "a vicious cycle of taking on more debt." Many were "forced" to rely on credit cards and loans to meet their needs, adding to their "crippling debt pile."
Americans — particularly Millennials and those with lower incomes — are becoming increasingly overextended financially: Credit card and auto loan delinquencies have not only surpassed pre-pandemic levels, they're the highest they've been in more than a decade.
Our survey found that the majority of Gen Zers (54%) and Millennials (52%) have less than $5,000 saved, compared to 42% of Gen X respondents and 29% of Baby Boomers. Unsurprisingly, the oldest generation—Baby Boomers—have amassed the most impressive savings balances.
When Millennials Make the 1% Mark — For Their Age Group. Consider that millennials are toward the younger end of earners, which plays a role in where they fall on the net worth continuum. “They hit the top 25% at around $50,000 and the top 1% at about $175,000,” Jennings said.
When your savings reaches $100,000, that's a milestone worth marking. In a world where 57% of Americans can't cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, having a six-figure savings account is commendable.
