More than half of all schoolchildren have been in debt by the time they reached 17, an education charity says.
Teenagers have a good understanding of financial matters
Research from The Personal Finance Education Group found a "worryingly laid-back" attitude towards debt and spending amongst teenagers.
About 90% of respondents said they worried about money, but tended to think of overdrafts and credit cards as easy ways to spend more than they earn.
One in 20 thought credit card debt did not have to be paid back at all.
When asked why someone might have an overdraft, one in four said it was so they would not have to worry about overspending every month.
A further 23% stated that it would allow you to spend more than your salary would allow.
Just under a quarter of 18-year-olds said a credit card was something with which to buy goods and services, where parents pick up the bill.
But almost two thirds said they would like to learn more about investing, while more than half were interested in learning about how to save and control their spending.
And teenagers also had a generally good understanding of financial matters.
Wendy van den Hende, chief executive of the education group, said: "Whilst we are pleased to see that today's young people are relatively clued up on the mechanics of spending and saving money, it is also alarming to note how seamlessly they appear to be drifting towards an adulthood of debt.
"We owe it to our young people to ensure that they have the financial acumen to deal with the responsibilities of being an adult."