We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. By Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio May 7, 2026 / 12:34 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google If you're self-employed and in debt, a wage garnishment could be difficult, but that's not the only threat you face. Juleta Martirosyan / Getty Images Household debt levels are significantly elevated as we head into mid-2026, as are the interest rates tied to the more common short-term borrowing tools, like credit cards. In turn, more borrowers are falling behind on their debt payments , especially as the costs of everything from housing to gas and groceries continue to rise.β¦