- How to Dig Out of Debt, Part 1
At the end of 2008, the total credit card debt of Americans exceeded $972 billion. For those households that had a credit card, the average outstanding credit card debt was $10,679. Uninsured medical expenses, lost jobs, and other emergencies no doubt contribute to many Americans falling behind. However, overspending—otherwise known as deliberately living beyond your means—is a significant cause as well.
If overspending describes your behavior, the next few blogs are for you. Later postings will address approaches used for debt relief, no matter what the cause. - A Responsible Use of Credit
My next several blogs will cover the financially responsible use of credit. The year 2009 has clearly been one of financial uncertainty, both in the stock market and in the credit market. The days of abundant and cheap credit are gone. The easy underwriting standards of 2007 seem like distant history. More than $1 trillion of credit lines extended by banks have been eliminated in the last few months.
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