Many Americans are relying on multiple forms of credit to cover expenses. When is it a warning sign?

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Updated on: September 23, 2026 / 9:15 AM EDT / CBS News

Credit can provide you with necessary breathing room when your budget is tight, whether it's used to cover an unexpected bill or spread a larger expense across several months. But when the financial pressure won't let up, what may have started as occasional borrowing can gradually turn into something more routine. And, before long, you may be relying on several different sources of credit to cover expenses while also trying to keep up with the payments on what you've already borrowed.

That's becoming a real issue for many borrowers right now. Case in point? About 42% of adults with at least $10,000 in unsecured debt regularly use a credit card or borrowed money to cover essentials like groceries, gas or utilities, according to a new survey from Accredited Debt Relief. And, nearly three in 10 rely on credit or borrowing every month just to get through a typical month, while 33% say they're relying on credit more than they were a year ago.

But using multiple forms of…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/