Final answer:
A major difference between the way households and countries manage debt is that only governments use deficit spending to buy goods and services they can't afford now. Therefore, the correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major difference between the way households and countries manage debt is that only governments use deficit spending to buy goods and services they can't afford now. Governments spend more money than they collect in taxes, resulting in a budget deficit. They then borrow money to cover the deficit. This is different from households, who use debt for various purposes such as buying houses or cars, paying for medical expenses or college tuition, and investing for the future.