r everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up thosI read today that over 14% of the people living in the U.S. have ten or more credit cards. That is amazing! Who needs 10 credit cards? And more to the point, what are the consequences of so much easy credit floating around the average American household?

I'll tell you what the result is - a huge credit card debt problem.

Too many of us have abused the use of our credit cards to our own detriment. Adding to the problem is that the credit card companies have figured out that the more credit cards they give us, the more money they make. The amount of people who struggle to pay them back keeps growing but unfortunately (and ironically), so do the credit card companies bottom line profits.

To many, credit card debt has become a fact of life. No longer is it so shameful to be in debt, practically everybody is. It's proof of our desire to spend money and consume things, lots and lots of things. Given that all those things cost money, we find ourselves in debt, lots and lots of debt.

So how much debt do you have? Or put another way - What's Your Debt Rank?

The Private:

You love your credit cards and you use them for everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up those

is - a huge credit card debt problem.

Too many of us have abused the use of our credit cards to our own detriment. Adding to the problem is that the credit card companies have figured out that the more credit cards they give us, the more money they make. The amount of people who struggle to pay them back keeps growing but unfortunately (and ironically), so do the credit card companies bottom line profits.

To many, credit card debt has become a fact of life. No longer is it so shameful to be in debt, practically everybody is. It's proof of our desire to spend money and consume things, lots and lots of things. Given that all those things cost money, we find ourselves in debt, lots and lots of debt.

So how much debt do you have? Or put another way - What's Your Debt Rank?

The Private:

You love your credit cards and you use them for everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up thos

le to pay them back keeps growing but unfortunately (and ironically), so do the credit card companies bottom line profits.

To many, credit card debt has become a fact of life. No longer is it so shameful to be in debt, practically everybody is. It's proof of our desire to spend money and consume things, lots and lots of things. Given that all those things cost money, we find ourselves in debt, lots and lots of debt.

So how much debt do you have? Or put another way - What's Your Debt Rank?

The Private:

You love your credit cards and you use them for everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up thos

ume things, lots and lots of things. Given that all those things cost money, we find ourselves in debt, lots and lots of debt.

So how much debt do you have? Or put another way - What's Your Debt Rank?

The Private:

You love your credit cards and you use them for everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up thos

r everything from gas to groceries. They allow you the freedom to buy whatever you need without having to find the elusive ATM machines that lurk in the nooks and crannies of our cities and towns. You carry several cards around but you definitely have a favorite one that allows you to rack up those frequent flyer miles for your occasional weekend getaways.

While you carry a balance and are officially "in debt", you are able to pay off a substantial chunk of your monthly bill above and beyond the minimum payment which keeps your finances in check. You know that so long as things continue along as normal, you will not let your debt get out of hand.

The Sergeant:

You need your credit cards because they allow you to pay for all your day to day essentials and buy some extra things you may not need but you want. You are different than the Private because some of the things you buy stretch your budget beyond what you can really afford. Your monthly credit card bills are steadily rising because your income cannot grow as fast as your appetite for the things you buy. You keep telling yourself, "next month I will cut back" or "I expect a job promotion soon so it's ok."

The reality is that your balance is growing as is your inability to make the minimum payments due. The debt spiral has begun and barring a change in your circumstances or behavior (with or without the help of a debt relief counselor), you are on your way to becoming a Ge