Americans can now Venmo the US Treasury to help pay down $36.7 trillion in national debt — should you give a patriotic 'gift' to Uncle Sam or is it a waste of money?

The update was spotted by NPR’s Jack Corbett, who shared a screenshot of the new payment options via X on July 23. The post quickly went viral, racking up millions of views from users, many of whom were not impressed.

“You can also take your hard-earned money and put it in a fire pit and burn it,” reads one comment.

It’s easy to see why people are skeptical. The U.S. national debt has ballooned to $36.7 trillion — and it’s growing at an alarming pace. Since 1996, Americans have personally contributed approximately $65 million toward the national debt, according to Treasury data. Hardly a dent.

Others pointed out that they already “help” the Treasury by paying taxes.

But the reality is, while the government does collect trillions in taxes, it consistently spends more than it takes in. In fiscal year 2024, the federal government brought in $4.92 trillion in revenue, but spent $6.75 trillion — resulting in a deficit of $1.83 trillion.

So, no, a Venmo payment won’t fix America’s debt crisis. And according to some experts, the consequences of a high national debt could be severe.

'A debt death spiral' — and how to protect your money

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, warned earlier this year that the U.S. is headed for what he calls “a debt death spiral.”

“A debt death spiral is that part of the cycle when the debtor needs to borrow money in order to pay debt service and it accelerates,” Dalio said. “And then everybody sees that and they don't want to hold the debt.”

Highlighting the dire situation, he noted that the U.S. federal government now spends almost $1 trillion a year just on interest payments.

When debt loads become unsustainable, lenders start fearing defaults. But according to Dalio, the U.S. is unlikely to default in the traditional sense. The bigger threat? Depreciation of our currency.

“There won’t be a default — the central bank will come in, and we’ll print the money and buy it,” he says. “And that's where there's the depreciation of money.”

To protect your wealth, Dalio emphasized the role of one time-tested asset.

“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he noted. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

Gold’s role here is straightforward: unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks.

It’s also widely regarded as the ultimate safe haven. Gold is not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.

Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged by more than 35%.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free.

A time-tested income play

Gold isn’t the only asset investors rely on to preserve their purchasing power. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today.

One option is Homeshares, which gives accredited investors access to the $35 trillion U.S. home equity market — a space that’s historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.