Debt is part and parcel of our lives as no one has the means or wish to pay for every expense up front in cash. Hence, credit cards were invented to cater to the need of the consumer to assume ownership of goods or services without actually deducting their bank accounts. If one is lacking some discipline in the swiping of his card, he'll be certainly floored when the bills arrives at end of month. Since many of us own more than one credit card, multiply this phenomenon by the number of cards and population size. Funnily we live so much on plastic. Perhaps the push to go green is appropriately timed. It's also not a wonder that individuals and companies declare bankruptcy on a regular basis as they struggle to settle mounting credit card debts due to bad or no planning.
To overcome this situation, there is a flourishing industry in the provision of debt planning advice as well as many other types of advice to help consumers get a firm hold of their financial states. It's important to realize that you can do your part in simple yet wise decisions on whether to plunge yourself deeper into financial debt. Do you really need that designer dress or the latest gadget? Perhaps it's best to leave your credit cards at home when you go shopping, going in a reverse direction to the famous tagline of not leaving home without it.
The most common debt planning advice from experienced financial advisers is to only spend what you can afford. This doesn't necessarily mean spending based on whatever cash you have at hand and in your bank account. Your employment state, investments and assets in the form of properties constitute towards your level of affordability. Have a go at the various financial calculators offered free of charge by the financial sites. Itemize your expenses and see what remains after the outlay. You can then make informed decisions on whether to splurge or save.
As mentioned earlier, most people own numerous credit cards and are probably stuck in credit card debts. A possible avenue to look into is debt consolidation as it merges all payments into a single payment with lower payments or interest rates. There are other options to consider in case this is not the answer to your financial woes.