system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 how does the national debt affect day to day lives of its citizens?
gpt
Interest has to be paid on the loan.  Every dollar that goes towards the interest on the debt is a dollar that can’t be spent on other services.

It’s worth noting that just like in your own personal life, not all debt is bad.  Taking out a loan for college that then (usually) results in higher lifetime earnings is good.  Likewise, the government borrowing and spending can often have greater returns than the interest paid on the debt.