Debt from credit cards and other debts that are not secured such as personal loans, have turned into a large problem for the majority of families in the United States. People have become to acclimated to just utilizing their card to get whatever they want, whenever they want, without really having the ability to pay for it. Below I will list the top reasons that Americans end up becoming so stuck with credit card debt.

1. Impulsive Buying and Poor Spending Habits!

Buying on impulse demonstrates a lack of self-control. People will merely see something in a shop and pay for it on their credit card, because they just can't wait to get whatever item it is they want to purchase, regardless of whether they have the money for it then or not. Credit cards feed the fire of buying on impulse that is what the cards are there for to gratify our need for instant gratification. You know there is a adage "patience is a virtue" if some debtors kept to that law they would never accrue those massive debts.

Weak spending routines run along the same line as impulse buying. Some debtors just spoil themselves far to often in life. For example, someone might end up at a four star restaurant, and instead of buying a sandwich and chips, they order the prime rib, the appetizer or two, the happy hour special, and the ice cream special. Par for the course they 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 individuals it's an everyday way of life. And these undisciplined spending routines can lead up to a skyscraper of debt very fast.

My Advice: Upon the next time you find yourself at a store any kind of store, and you are intending to make a purchase with your plastic. Think twice about the items you are going to buy and think to one's self 'Are these items necessary?' If you find yourself charging merchandise that is more of a want then a true need then simply put it back on the shelf, and promise yourself when you have actual cash not a credit card, to come back and purchase that merchandise for yourself without charging your card. The key here is to distinguish between wants and needs, your groceries are a need, your soap is a need, the video game is a want, the brand new pair of shoes are a want. A oil change for your automobile is a need, a supercharger for your automobile is a want.

2. Holding Too Many Credit Cards!

This is the next major contributor to debtors getting into heavy debt issues. People plainly just can't say no to the credit card offers they receive in the mail. They get these cards in the mail saying your already approved and your line of credit is 5k. For a lot of people this is too much to take on and they will accept every card and almost instantly use them.

My advice:Ignore these offers, they are only going to hurt you! These offers are not necessary. You must think of each one of these credit offers you receive in the mail as a giant financial time bomb waiting to blow you out of the water. The only way to diffuse them is by throwing them right into the trash. Learn to reject the new credit offers you don't need them, this cannot be stressed enough.

3. Cash Advances!

This is a seriously tremendous factor in people compiling up debt. It is just so easy to go to the automatic teller machine and take out cash against your card. However this becomes addictive to debtors and becomes a big reason why they accumulate such large debt amounts.

My Advice: Steer clear of cash advances. This really is just about the same as just paying on your card, you still pay interest and pile up a skyscraper of debt.

Steve Bis is a debt analyst with the US Consumer Advocate, which practices debt settlement.