For most Americans, credit card debt is a dangerous and growing problem. The average American family has more than $8000.00 in credit card debt and spends more than they earn on a annual basis. Credit cards can be useful tools when they used properly, but more and more Americans are getting in over their heads and threatening their financial futures. It is important to realize that just because you can pay your minimum payments each month doesn`t mean you don`t have a credit problem. Low minimum payments benefit the credit card company, not the consumer. The following are some of the warning signs that you have credit or debt problems:

* You are unable to put any money in savings

* You make only the minimum payments on your credit cards

* You use increasing amounts of your total income to pay off your credit card debts

* You use credit cards for things you should buy with cash, such as groceries

*You have more than two or three major credit cards and have balances on all of them

* You`re at or near your credit limit on most if not all of your credit cards

* You`re unsure of the total amount you owe on your credit cards

* You`ve taken out cash advances on credit card to pay other bills

* You`ve been denied credit due to your debt to income ratio

* You get calls from collectors about your credit cards