Gen Z's Debt Is Not Your Destiny
Gen Z carries more debt than millennials did at the same age, WPTA | 21Alive reported, and it's a good moment to look at your own budget.
Gen Z's debt is higher than what millennials carried at the same age, reported WPTA | 21Alive, a station in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And that raises an uncomfortable question: what are you doing with what you owe?
Comparing generations doesn't pay your bills
The comparison puts two generations side by side and doesn't get into your situation. It doesn't say how much you owe, who you owe it to, or since when. That gap is the one that matters to you: the general pattern is one thing, and your decisions this week are another.
A headline like this is easy to read as a scolding: "young people don't know how to save." I'd rather take it as a practical warning. Reading a statement, understanding what debt costs, and organizing your month are skills almost nobody teaches, not at school and not at home.
«The general pattern is one thing, and your decisions this week are another.»
The apostle Paul wrote something that sounds tough and freeing at the same time: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other" (Romans 13:8, ESV). It's not a condemnation for someone who already owes; it's a direction. The goal isn't guilt, it's getting out.
Write down the number you don't want to see
Open the notes app on your phone and make a list. One line per debt: how much you owe, what the minimum payment is, what day it's due, and what happens if you fall behind. Seeing it written down cuts the noise and gives you control back.
Then put it in order. You can start with the most expensive debt, the one charging the most interest, or with the smallest one to build momentum with a quick win. Both routes work; what doesn't work is paying only the minimum and hoping the balance drops on its own. And if you have several cards, put them away while you pay: every new purchase stretches out the process.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender" (Proverbs 22:7, ESV). The proverb describes a reality, not a punishment: whoever owes loses freedom to decide. Getting it back takes time and consistency.
Build a cushion before the storm
An emergency fund isn't a luxury for people with high salaries. It's a small amount, set aside in an account separate from your daily spending, for the unexpected thing that always shows up: the phone that breaks, the plane or bus ticket, the doctor's visit.
Start with an amount that doesn't hurt and add to it every pay period. The point isn't to have a lot; it's to not go back to the card every time something breaks. If you have a formal job, check your pay stub and ask about whatever you don't understand: understanding your paycheck is also stewardship.
And there's room for generosity. Deciding ahead of time what you'll give, at your church or to someone in need, reminds you that money is a resource, not your identity. Give with a plan, not out of guilt.
This week, before bed, write out the full list and set aside a small amount for a fund you won't touch. If debt is already costing you sleep, look for a certified financial professional or a debt counselor; you don't have to solve it alone. What's the first number you're going to write down?
