Spotlight PERSONAL FINANCE Americans spend money to find joy. Then comes the guilt Rachel Barber USA Today Aug 28, 2026 Aug 28, 2026 Updated Oct 16, 2026 0 1 of 4 Tubers, rafters and river dwellers set their gear on the side of the Salt River on Sept. 1, 2025, in Mesa, Ariz. Patrick Breen, The Arizona Republic Passengers walk through the United Airlines terminal April 14 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. Joshua Lott, REUTERS Shoppers look for book bargains June 14 during the Great American Book Sale inside the Flo Fabrizio Ice Center in Erie, Pa. GREG WOHLFORD, ERIE TIMES-NEWS Patrons enjoy lunch Thursday at Asado Life, an Argentinian-inspired live fire grilling restaurant, in Jacksonville, Florida. Doug Engle, Florida Times-Union Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Rachel Barber USA Today Even as credit card debt and cost-of-living concerns mount, Americans still spend on things that bring them joy.kAm%96JVG6 ;FDE 8@E 2 3:E @7 8F:=E H9:=6 5@:?8 D@]k^AmkAm(9:=6 eT 766= E96J @G6CDA6?5 @? E9:?8D E92E >2<6 E96> 92AAJ[ faT D2J E96J 766= 8F:=EJ H96? E9@D6 AFC492D6D 4@>A6E6 H:E9 @E96C 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 *@Fv@G DFCG6J @7 >@C6 E92? d[___ &]$] 25F=ED 4@?5F4E65 7@C p==J q2?<’D :?2F8FC2= r@DE @7 {:76 %@52J C6A@CE[ 7:CDE D92C65 6I4=FD:G6=J H:E9 &$p %@52J]k^AmkAm%92E EF8\@7\H2C 96=AD 6IA=2:? H9J E96 2G6C286 &]$] 25F=E D4@C65 dc]a @FE @7 `__ @? p==J’D ?6H Qy@J x?56I[Q A=24:?8 4@?DF>6CD :? 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Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story The rich got richer in 2025. The poorest households? Not so much The figures do not yet capture the effects of the Trump administration’s policy changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP… Swimming in debt, record numbers of Americans seek credit counseling Household debt nationwide totals $18.8 trillion, the highest number on record, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 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The rich got richer in 2025. The poorest households? Not so much The figures do not yet capture the effects of the Trump administration’s policy changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP…
Swimming in debt, record numbers of Americans seek credit counseling Household debt nationwide totals $18.8 trillion, the highest number on record, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
What Trump’s trade war could cost Americans The collapse of Canada-U.S. trade talks will see a slew of goods from both sides of the border hit with new tariffs, but who will pay the pric…
