While there are many factors that can contribute to increased personal debt, I want to share with you the top 5 that I have come across.
1. Credit Cards. No surprise here. The fact of the matter is that in today’s world it is often difficult to afford those extras (big or small) on one’s salary. Prices have gone up over the decades with average salaries lagging behind, which is why credit card companies are flourishing. They make buying attractive and lure people in with introductory teaser rates, and before you know it the credit card debts have piled up and you are worse off than before. The rule of thumb here is to not live beyond your means and ONLY use credit cards for emergencies.
What happens if you complete your tax return close to the filing deadline of April 15th, only to discover that you owe the IRS a lot more money than you have available to pay? You may have claimed too many exemptions on your W-4 or didn’t pay enough in estimated taxes or cashed in a retirement plan early. Whatever the reason for owing taxes, if you don’t have enough money on hand, you have the option of setting up a payment plan.
Credit Cards are now a strong part of our financial culture, and everyone has their opinions about them. Credit Cards have been abused by the majority of Americans, because it’s such easy credit. Almost anyone can get one, and it’s so easy to swipe the card at the register and forget about how much money you just spent. But in the right hands, they are useful and earn rewards for folks that use them correctly. Abuse them and you’ll get into real trouble. Below is a check list of silly and smart things you could do with your credit cards. Obviously, we want you to be smart about it and use it wisely. 
You don’t have to wait to redeem your credit card rewards or frequent flyer miles to earn a free flight. With a little bit of patience, flexibility, and luck you can be on your way to a free flight quicker than you can say “overbooked.”
When it comes to money, setting New Year’s resolutions for yourself is easy, but committing to and following through with those resolutions is a completely different story. This is why it is important to set realistic and achievable financial goals for yourself. There is hardly a quicker way to shove those New Year’s resolutions aside than to realize that they are unattainable or that you have set the bar so high that only Warren Buffett himself could achieve them. That being said, here are a few ideas for money-saving New Year’s resolutions that are set to reasonable levels and thus promote continued progress throughout the year. 
1. Get invited
