Find out how come Americans rack up so much debt
Debt from credit cards and other unsecured debts have become a large problem for the majority of families in the United States. So many people have become to acclimated to just using their card to get whatever it is they want, whenever they want it, without really having the income to pay for it. Below I will list the top reasons that people end up becoming so indebted with credit card debt.
1. Buying Impulsively and Weak Spending Habits!
Buying on impulse shows lack of willpower. People will simply locate an item in a shop and ring it on their plastic, because they just can't wait to get whatever item it is they bought, with no regard as to whether they actually have the income for it then or not. Credit cards feed into impulsive buying that is what the cards are there for to keep happy our need for instant gratification. You know the old motto "patience is a virtue" if some people kept to that belief they would never accrue those massive debts.
Poor spending habits run along the same line as buying on impulse. Some people just indulge way to often in life. A good example might be, somebody might end up at a four star restaurant, and instead of getting a chicken sandwich and chips, they buy the NY strips, the appetizer or two, the happy hour special, and the ice cream special. And of course charge it on their credit cards. Don't take me out of context every once in a while splurging isn't bad, but for some of us it is a everyday occurance. And these bad spending habits can blow up to a mountain range of debt in a rather fast time period.
My Advice: Upon the next time you find yourself at a store any type of store, and you are going to make a purchase with your credit card. Look down at the items you are going to purchase and think to one's self 'Are these items necessary?' If you see yourself purchasing merchandise that is more of a want then a true need then merely put it back on the shelf, and commit to yourself when you have "real money" not a credit card, to return and purchase that merchandise for yourself without using your card. The key here is to distinguish between wants and needs, your food is a need, your gas is a need, the video game is a want, the brand new pair of sneakers are a want. A oil change for your car is a need, a supercharger for your car is a want.
2. Having Too Many Credit Cards!
This is the next major problem to people getting into debt problems. People plainly just cannot reject the credit card offers they receive in the mail. They get these offers in the mail saying your already approved and your credit limit is five thousand. For a lot of people this is too much to handle and they will accept every card and almost instantly use them.
My advice: Just throw these offers away! These offers are not necessary. You must think of each one of these card solicitations you get in the mail as a giant financial time bomb waiting to explode. The only way to diffuse them is by tossing them promptly into the trash. Learn to resist the new credit applications you don't need them, this cannot be stressed enough.
3. Cash Advances!
This is an extremely big factor in people racking up debt. It is just so easy to go to the ATM and withdraw cash against your card. Becoming very addicting to people and becomes a large reason why they pile up such large debt amounts.
My Advice: Do not use cash advances. This essentially is just about the same as just purchasing on your card, because you still get charged interest and rack up debt.
Steve Bis is a debt analyst and research assistant with the US Consumer Advocate, which primarily practices in credit card debt settlement.
Published December 10th, 2007




