When the cost of groceries, gas, and electricity rises sharply with inflation, debt can rise with it.
It’s a common challenge, and one that’s entirely out of your control. A 2026 Accredited Debt Relief and Money.com survey of 2,000 American adults who reported having debt in the past year asked borrowers about their main reasons for carrying debt. Nearly eight in 10 participants said inflation was their No. 1 reason.
At the same time, two-thirds of respondents blamed their debt on something very much within their control: their own spending or borrowing habits.
Certified financial therapist Jasmine Johnson tells Business Insider that feeling personal responsibility for your debt isn’t uncommon, and…