The average amount of credit card debt the average American carries is rising. A majority of the people who file bankruptcy state that credit card debt and medical bills were the main reasons. Credit card debt is causing many people to suffer from depression or contemplate suicide. If you or someone you love is suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide, please seek medical attention immediately.
If you are not careful, credit card debt can add up rapidly. There are excessive fees and interest charges that make debt harder to tackle. When you make a purchase, you should always have a clear plan for how you are going to pay it off. There are too many people who run up their balances and do not have any idea about how to pay it off. Do not think about only making the minimum payment. You should think about how you are going to pay off the entire amount. If you cannot find a payment plan, then you should reconsider making the purchase.
When you buy items with your credit card, you should understand that have to pay interest. If you pay off the balance each month, you will not incur any large interest charges; however, most people carry a balance from one month to the next. If you do, then please understand that you are incurring finance (interest) charges on your balance. These charges will add up quickly if you are not careful.
If you only pay the minimum payment and continue to charge more, then you will never pay off the balance. The minimum payment amount is meant to keep you in debt for life. On average, it will take 30 years or more to pay off a credit card if you only make the minimum payment.
On your next credit card statement, review the finance charge amount. You will notice that the amount is almost as much as the minimum payment. Each month you make the minimum payment, you are only paying a small fraction on the overall balance. This is why so many complain that their credit card balances are not going down. If it is possible, add a little extra to the minimum payment amount and you should start to see your balance drop.
If you notice your debt is getting out of control, move to making all your purchases with cash only. When you pay cash for items, you are more cautious about how much you spend.
