Generational Divide: Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers Can Avoid Holiday Debt with this Advice

USA - español

Consolidated Credit analyzes four years of data finding commonality among the generations

News provided by

Dec 10, 2019, 06:35 ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- What do Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers have in common? Not much, except that they all rack up debt this time of year. With each generation having its unique financial issues, Consolidated Credit is offering specific advice.

The holiday shopping season is the most expensive time of year for most households. Penny Wise offers 7 tips on how to spend less on gifts at the holidays so you can make the season merry and bright without debt. Learn how to budget carefully and plan gifts to avoid high interest rate holiday credit card debt.

Consolidated Credit analyzed four years of debt management program data and found that Millennial enrollments are at an all-time high and have an average of $13,000 of debt on their program. Although Gen X has the highest average debt load put on a program, Millennials surpass Baby Boomers as the second most enrolled generation.

With consumer credit card debt almost $1.5 trillion, Millennials are facing pressure to pamper their children while paying off student loans. Baby Boomers, who are in or headed towards retirement, make up 35 percent of their clients and have more than $15,500 of debt on their program. Leading the pack are the current 'sandwich generation'. Gen Xers enroll in the debt management program at the highest rate and have the highest debt load at over $16,000.

"It was said that Millennials aren't using credit cards at the same pace as past generations, but they now make up a third of our clients base," says April Parks-Lewis, Consolidated Credit's education director. "Now that Millennials have grown-up and are starting families, they're facing credit card debt in addition to high student loan debt."

The holidays are the worst time for family budgets – but possibly the best time to create peace across generational lines. All members of the family can lend a hand in saving by tackling spending.

Holiday tips for the ages:

Millennials should give the gift of financial literacy. Steward the next generation by helping your kids understand the value of money and help them curb expectations this holiday.
Gen Xers, who do most of their holiday shopping online, need to comparison shop and consider giving gifts of "experiences' – like group travel, cooking classes and other activities where family and friends can be together.
Baby Boomers should use tech to help them manage their finances. They need to use money-saving apps like camel-camel-camel, RetailMeNot, and interactive holiday budget planners.

About: Consolidated Credit is a non-profit 501©3 organization that has helped over 7 million people over 26 years. Their mission is to assist families throughout the United States to end financial crises and solve money management issues through education and counseling.

SOURCE Consolidated Credit