How to Get Out of Debt and Stay Out of Debt

Upon reading the headline, you may think this is a quick fix article to solve all your financial problems.  Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, unless you are lucky enough to win the lottery.  The fact is, many people are trying to support themselves and their families while being in unmanageable debt with low incomes.  Once a person starts on the downward slide of having expenses exceed income even temporarily, such as during maternity leave, it can turn into a slippery slope and fast ride leading to bills overlapping months, bill collectors calling, things starting to get shut off, and worst of all, you could lose your home, aparement or car.   This is a difficult place to be.  How did it happen?  Where are you on this scale?  Hopefully your car has not been repossesed and you haven't lost your home.   You can prevent this from happening.  

These days credit is very accessible.  It is too accessible.  It used to be that people could only spend the money they had.  Now, people spend money they don't have on a regular basis.  "Spend now, pay later." has become a way of life and part of the American culture.   This is the very attitude however that gets most people into a financial mess.  What is needed is a return to the old conservative values about money:  Work hard, save, be frugal, and spend smart.