Debt stress is triggered by everyday expenses large and small. A grocery bill that is higher than expected. A car repair that overwhelms your monthly budget. The cost of keeping your kid in sport or caring for a loved one’s medical care without the money to do it. The anxiety of not making ends meet or missing out on important things because of debt can affect your wellbeing.
These financial problems are common, and their impact on wellbeing can be profound. Americans owed $18.8 trillion in household debt as of the second quarter of 2026, with 4.7% of that total in some stage of delinquency, according to the New York Fed’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit.
The scale of the problem is part of why we partnered with award-winning actor, producer, entrepreneur and author Rob Lowe to get the word out about a better way to overcome the challenges of debt.
Millions of Households Struggle With the Same Problem
Credit card balances rose by $21 billion in the second quarter of 2026 and stood at $1.26 trillion, according to the New York Fed. Over the previous 12 months, those balances grew by $54 billion.
The impact of debt is widespread. The National Endowment for Financial Education polled 1,200 U.S. adults in December 2025 and found that 88% reported some form of financial stress heading into the new year. Seventy-seven percent had hit a financial setback during the previous year, and 22% named falling behind on bills or debt obligations as one of them.
Debt weaves itself into everything, including the way people let it — or don’t let it — influence their relationships. Our own survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with at least $10,000 in unsecured debt found that 22% say their spouse or partner does not know the full extent of what they owe. Of those who hide the full extent of their debt, 56% said they feel like they should be able to fix it themselves, 52% don’t want to stress others out, and 48% are ashamed or worried they will be judged.
Debt is a problem that requires both financial and emotional development to get free from. And that’s why we do what we do: give our clients breathing room to get back on their feet and become free from debt, for less than they originally owed.
Waiting to Take Action on Debt Can Cost You
Oftentimes, it’s not the debt itself that gets borrowers stuck — it’s the interest rate. Banks charged an average annual percentage rate of 22.15% on credit card accounts assessed interest in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit report. That figure covers accounts carrying a balance month to month — the accounts most likely to belong to a family already stretched.
Here’s how that interest rate plays out for a $10,000 credit card balance at a 22% APR. Assuming that the minimum payment is 3% of the balance or $15, whichever is greater, and no new charges get added, you’d become debt-free in 308 months. That’s almost 26 years of minimum payments at an additional cost of about $15,200 in interest. That means that the total cost to borrow $10,000 ends up being closer to $25,000.
Waiting and weighing your options gives your debts extra time to grow. For each month that adds interest, your balance piles up. And that risk is exactly why we wanted a trusted person to help spread the news about our program — to get people out of procrastinating, and into action.
Why We Partnered With Rob Lowe
Seeing the math doesn’t always move the needle, but a story someone recognizes might.
Rob Lowe joined our first major national campaign, launched in August, alongside Academy Award-winning cinematographer and director Wally Pfister, whose credits include Inception, The Dark Knight and Moneyball. Lowe took an active role in shaping the direction, helping keep each scenario grounded in the pressures families actually face.
What drew him in, Lowe said, was our understanding that “behind every financial situation is a real person.” We built this campaign around that idea, because sometimes the hardest obstacle to overcome is ourselves. People put off the call because they believe their situation is unusual or their own fault. But it’s clear that the problem is bigger than you — and you can change the game to work in your favor.
Accredited Debt Relief has helped more than 1.3 million clients and resolved more than $15 billion in debt since 2011. Our award-winning program works with creditors to reduce monthly payments and can help you become debt-free in as little as 24-48 months, saving our clients an average of $608 a month.
Want to Take the First Step?
Talk to a certified debt specialist today: There’s no obligation, and it’s 100% free to check your options.
Sources Cited
“Household Debt Balances Decreased Slightly; Credit Card Delinquency Transition Rates Remained Steady.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York, August 11, 2026.
“Poll: Americans Feeling Stressed to Begin 2026.” National Endowment for Financial Education, January 29, 2026.
“Consumer Credit – G.19.” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, August 7, 2026.
“Rob Lowe Partners with Accredited Debt Relief to Challenge Stigma Around Consumer Financial Hardships.” PR Newswire, August 11, 2026.
The content on this page is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Financial wellness is deeply personal — for guidance specific to your situation, please consult a licensed professional. Rob Lowe is a paid spokesperson of Accredited Debt Relief. Individual results may vary.