‘Very depressing’: Retiree turned to credit cards for groceries and racked up $10,000 in debt — and she’s not alone As grocery prices surge, some Americans are going into debt over it, relying on credit cards and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options to pay for their food.
Laurie Lumbra, a 72-year-old retired teacher from Rotterdam, New York, lives on about $1,400 a month
A few years ago, she started paying for groceries with her credit cards, ultimately racking up $10,000 worth of debt. Must Read – Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one – Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP – The tax breaks in Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won’t act in time.
What to do before the window closes “It gets very depressing. You feel like you’re just such a failure,” she told Marketplace. To pay off her debt, she ended up selling her car — and then cutting up her credit cards to avoid going into debt again.