Debt Dedication: The Average American Prepared to Work Over 6 Hours Overtime to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

For millions across the U.S., credit card debt is a daily burden. Whether it stems from a little too much indulgence in shopping or the need to manage unforeseen expenses, credit card debt often accumulates before one realizes it. But what if the stakes were higher? What would you do to wipe the slate clean? How many additional hours would you work, and what sacrifices would you be willing to make to achieve that coveted debt-free status?

We recently commissioned a survey of 3,000 credit cardholders, asking them a hypothetical question: How much overtime would they be willing to work each week until their credit card debts were paid off?

Our survey revealed some fascinating regional disparities.

South Dakotans appear to have the strongest work ethic when it comes to paying off their debts. Residents of the Mount Rushmore State would be prepared to work a whopping 13 hours of overtime per week until they are debt-free. South Dakotans appear to be the most willing to sacrifice their free time for the peace of mind of being debt-free.

On the flip side, Vermonters are the least willing to put in the hours to clear off their debts. In the Green Mountain State, holders of credit card debt are only prepared to work 2 hours and 40 minutes of overtime.

5 States Most Willing to Work Overtime to Clear Card Debt:

1. South Dakota: 13 hours

2. Arkansas: 10 hours 13 minutes

3. Nevada: 9 hours 3 minutes

4. Wyoming: 9 hours

5. New Mexico: 8 hours 30 minutes

5 States Least Willing to Work Overtime to Clear Card Debt:

50. Vermont: 2 hours 40 minutes

49. Hawaii: 2 hours 45 minutes

48. Connecticut: 3 hours 43 minutes

47. Delaware: 3 hours 51 minutes

46. Minnesota: 4 hours 15 minutes

Full Dataset:

The commitment isn’t just about putting in more hours. The survey also explored what other sacrifices people are prepared to make to achieve a debt-free life, and the results were interesting. 

A significant 35% of respondents said they’d forgo personal luxuries — think $7 lattes, streaming services, or new shoes. Another 24% were willing to skip or shorten vacations, indicating a willingness to trade sandy shores for financial peace of mind. Additionally, 22% said they would cut back on dining out and other recreational activities, while 18% were even prepared to dip into their emergency savings.

One of the most striking findings came from another hypothetical scenario posed to respondents: if guaranteed to be debt-free, would they be willing to work a 60-hour workweek for a year? An overwhelming 91% said yes, underscoring the strong desire to shed the burden of debt, at least in theory. 

When it comes to strategies for managing debt, there’s no universal solution. About 34% of respondents favor debt consolidation, a method that combines multiple payments into one and often offers a lower interest rate. Another 24% would employ the Snowball Method, where smaller debts are paid off first to build momentum. 

Meanwhile, 23% would tackle the debts with the highest interest rates first, known as the Avalanche Method. A smaller, yet significant, 9% indicated that they might consider declaring bankruptcy as a last resort.

Perhaps the most surprising finding from the survey was the extent to which people said they were willing to change their living arrangements to become debt-free. A significant 64% of respondents said they would be prepared to move back in with parents or other family members if it meant clearing their credit card debts.

“The results of this poll are heartening,” said CardRates Finance Expert Erica Sandberg. “Clearly most people want to escape credit card debt and are willing — at least on paper — to take action. It also shows just how tough it is to be saddled with pressing financial obligations.”

Sandberg continued: “Working extra hours every day is serious, as it removes time spent on family and leisure. Giving up the things that make life pleasurable takes dedication, too, especially in the long-term.”

Online panel survey of 3,000 respondents with debts based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.