Amid ongoing high food prices, many Americans are accumulating debt to afford groceries. Elevated costs have led families to use savings, credit cards, buy now, pay later programs, or payday loans, as highlighted by new Urban Institute research. Although these methods provide immediate relief, they can cause financial instability. Kassandra Martinchek from the Urban Institute notes that while food price increases are slowing, households still face higher grocery bills than last year, leading them to rely on financial sources beyond their income to meet basic needs.