Where’s the Debt? | Consumer vs. National Debt Explained (Mortgages, Cars, Credit Cards & DTI)

2025-09-30

From AssetBuilder’s Plano HQ, host Joey Badinger sits down with Adam Morse, Janet Griffith, and Tommy Williams to unpack America’s debt picture—from household budgets to the federal balance sheet. We break down mortgages vs. auto/student/credit-card debt, what rising rates mean, how to use debt-to-income (DTI) the smart way (the 28/36 rule), and practical habits to avoid lifestyle creep and instant-gratification financing. You’ll learn: How much U.S. househo...

From AssetBuilder’s Plano HQ, host Joey Badinger sits down with Adam Morse, Janet Griffith, and Tommy Williams to unpack America’s debt picture—from household budgets to the federal balance sheet. We break down mortgages vs. auto/student/credit-card debt, what rising rates mean, how to use debt-to-income (DTI) the smart way (the 28/36 rule), and practical habits to avoid lifestyle creep and instant-gratification financing.

You’ll learn:

How much U.S. households owe (and where it sits by generation)
Why mortgages can be “productive” debt—and why long car loans aren’t
Current rate realities (mortgage, auto, student loans, credit cards)
Exactly how to calculate your DTI (with target ranges)
Behavior traps: BNPL, long auto terms, monthly-payment thinking
What “deficits” mean at home and at the national level—and why they compound

Hosts & Credentials:
Joey Badinger (Lead Advisor), Adam Morse (Director of Advising), Janet Griffith (Senior Advisor), Tommy Williams (Associate Advisor), AssetBuilder, Plano, TX.

Contact the show: podcast@assetbuilder.com | https://www.assetbuilder.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Disclaimer
00:32 Welcome, Hosts & Setup (Plano HQ)
01:00 What We’re Covering: Consumer vs. National Debt
02:00 U.S. Household Debt Snapshot (Totals & Averages)
03:15 Debt by Age Cohort (30–39, 40–49 peak, etc.)
05:10 Gen Z, Mortgages & Down Payments
06:00 Is Debt “Bad”? Productive vs. Dangerous Debt
07:20 National Debt vs. GDP (Post-WWII to Today)
09:40 Auto Loans Deep Dive (Long Terms, Delinquencies)
12:10 Average Loan Sizes (New vs. Used)
13:00 Deficits at Home & Nationally—What It Means
14:20 Growth Limits, Demographics & Reality Check
16:00 Rate Check: Mortgage, Auto, Credit Cards, Student Loans
18:30 Emergency Funds > High-APR Credit Cards
20:10 BNPL & Instant-Gratification Traps
21:10 Know Your Biases (Impulse, Overconfidence)
22:40 Budgeting Habits That Actually Stick
26:10 How to Calculate DTI (28/36 Rule)
28:30 Lender Approval vs. Healthy DTI
31:00 Why 70+ Debt Can Be Risky (Context Matters)
33:00 Depreciating vs. Appreciating Assets (Cars vs. Homes)
34:20 Action Steps: Start Small, Delay Gratification
36:00 How to Contact & Subscribe
36:30 Sign-Off & Disclosure

Key Takeaways

Debt is a tool, not a villain. Mortgages can raise quality of life; revolving/consumer debt at high APRs can snowball.
Auto loans are 2nd-largest consumer debt and loan terms are stretching—be wary of “just the monthly.”
Credit-card APRs >20% make balances dangerous; build emergency savings to avoid swipes under stress.
DTI targets: ≤28% housing (PITI+HOA), ≤36% total debts is healthy; 50%+ is a red flag.
Behavior beats hacks: budget regularly, delay gratification, prefer used cars/shorter terms, question “need vs. want.”

Hashtags & Keywords

Keywords: consumer debt 2025, debt to income ratio, 28/36 rule, mortgage vs rent, auto loan terms, credit card APR, student loans, national debt vs GDP, budgeting tips, AssetBuilder advisors
Hashtags: #PersonalFinance #DebtFreeJourney #DTI #Mortgage #AutoLoans #CreditCards #Investing #Budgeting #KeepItSimplePodcast #AssetBuilder

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