Jesse, a Tennessee caller to The Ramsey Show, had a problem many Americans would envy. His company was rewarding his strong performance with an all-expenses-paid cruise. But with roughly $20,000 in debt weighing on his mind, the "free" vacation felt anything but celebratory. His quandary underscores a challenge millions of Americans face. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, the total U.S. consumer debt reached $18.59 trillion as of September 2025, with credit card balances climbing to $1.23 trillion (1 ...