It’s no secret why so many Americans are in debt up to their eyebrows. The moment a teenager reaches his or her eighteenth birthday; if not sooner, credit card companies begin sending offers for credit cards. Some of the offers are extremely tempting, screaming promotional and introductory rates of 0% for the first six months, or balance transfer rates designed to help you save money on existing debt. Many first time credit card users are not fully aware of the problems that are caused by credit card spending; they think- “Wow, great, I can buy now and pay at the end of the month after I get my paycheck!” Then of course, as seasoned credit card users have learned, when the end of the month comes, there are other things that must get paid. Your car needs gas. Your car insurance and/or loan payment is due. You need a pair of shoes for the wedding of your best friends cousin’s daughter. You get the point. Once these other incidentals are paid, you’re lucky if there is enough to pay the minimum payment, let alone the entire balance.
The mindset of the typical credit card disaster user is one of “get it now, deal with it later”....