Millions of Americans Get Wages Garnished Over Credit Card Debt

The more I learn about what happens to people who are in debt and fall into hard times, the less I want to buy anything with credit.

Which is how you should feel about it. Not approaching credit with a healthy amount of respect is a large part of the reason why it's such a general problem.

Sure, in the article the first example they posted was of a person down on his luck - but that doesn't explain the epidemic of high credit card debt we've had even during boom periods. In general, I think that people just aren't good at living within their means.

Having been on my own .com rollercoaster ride, I know what it's like to have to adjust your lifestyle drastically at times to avoid going into debt. It's difficult, but downsizing your house and selling your luxury car is a lot better than the alternative of living on the edge and losing everything when life throws your the inevitable curve ball.

Aren't there bankruptcy protections?

It's hard to see these "millions of americans" as victims in this matter. It's almost always possible to just _not buy_ something if you can't afford it.

Well credit cards are a pretty recent development. The first general purpose card wasn't created until 1966. Sure, you can trace different forms of credit all the way back to the Crusades and the Knights Templar, but credit cards are a recent invention.

If you think it about this way, the greatest generation never used credit. They saved until they had the money to buy stuff. My grandparents never had credit cards, and it wasn't until my parents were in their 40's and quite wealthy before they started using credit cards.

If anything, you should use them only to maintain your credit rating. Keep a small balance (under $100) and use them to make small purchases. That way, you can reap the benefits to your credit score, without putting yourself in a huge hole.