Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

For many Americans, debt isn’t just a balance on a screen—it’s a daily weight. In a 2025 survey by financial services company JG Wentworth, it was found that nearly half of respondents worry about ...

Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

Debt management restructures your debt so you can pay it off. Debt settlement involves some amount of debt forgiveness. If you don't qualify for debt management, debt settlement might work for you.

A debt management plan (DMP) helps overwhelmed borrowers pay back unsecured debts, like credit cards or personal loans. Read Next: 5 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money ...

An example of good debt is a student loan used to pay for education that increases your earning potential or a mortgage for a ...