Jennifer Betances Brito said she turned to credit counseling in 2024 after her credit card and student loan debt reached about $37,000. She said the program helped her consolidate what she owed, though the available account does not say how much she has repaid.
Brito, 32, moved to South Florida in 2021 to complete her education and start a business. She now has a full-time job alongside Brito Beauty, her makeup artistry and styling business. Much of her debt was on high-interest credit cards, she said.
Credit card balances across the United States totaled about $1.26 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported. An Experian analysis placed Miami second among U.S. metro areas, with an average balance of just over $8,000.
Thomas Nitzsche of the nonprofit Money Management International said many people seeking its help already struggle to balance their monthly budgets. He advises people to make a budget, trim avoidable spending and seek help before accounts reach collections.
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