Skip to main content
Financial Literacy

Good Debt vs Bad Debt

A distinction between borrowing that can build wealth and borrowing that drains it.

Good debt is borrowing at a reasonable cost for something that may increase in value or income, while bad debt is high-interest borrowing for depreciating or consumable purchases. The labels are simplifications, but they help prioritise which debts to avoid or repay first.

Examples

  • High-interest credit-card balances are often cited as classic bad debt.

Related terms

← Back to the glossary

Start learning today

Ready to take charge of your financial future?

Free, jargon-free education on financial independence and early retirement — no sign-up, no sales pitch. Just clear ideas you can actually use.