Rising levels of personal debt among working adults represent one of the most significant sources of financial insecurity in contemporary economies, and the problems this creates extend from individual households into the broader economic systems on which everyone depends. At the individual level, carrying substantial personal debt generates chronic financial stress that has measurable effects on mental and physical health. Households where a significant portion of income is committed to debt repayment — often at high interest rates on credit card balances or consumer loans — have limited capacity to build savings, respond to unexpected expenses, or invest in their own future. A medical bill, a car repair, or a period of reduced income that would be manageable for a household with savings becomes a crisis for one already managing at the edge of its repayment capacity. This vulnerability is not evenly distributed: people on lower incomes typically face higher interest rates and lower credit limits, meaning they pay more to borrow less and are more exposed to the debt spiral in which interest charges outpace the ability to repay. At the macroeconomic level, an over-indebted consumer population is fragile: when economic conditions tighten, over-leveraged households reduce spending sharply, amplifying downturns in ways that harm employment and growth broadly. Both individuals and governments have meaningful roles in reducing excessive borrowing. Individuals who are building financial habits benefit most from developing a monthly budget that makes the real relationship between income, spending, and saving visible — a simple tool that many people have never formally constructed. Debt counselling services, where available at no cost, provide professional support for those already in difficulty. Governments should regulate lending practices more actively, capping interest rates on high-cost credit products and requiring clearer disclosure of total repayment costs at the point of sale. Financial literacy education embedded in secondary school curricula provides the next generation with the fundamental skills that many working adults currently lack.