Are in debt but brought up the children (6)
I believe the answer is:
reared
'brought up the children' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'are in debt' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'debt' becomes 'red' ('in the red' means 'in debt').
'are' inserted inside 'red' is 'REARED'.
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reared that I've seen before include "Provided and cared for during childhood" , "Brought up, nurtured" , "upright" , "Fostered, brought up" , "Trained" .)