Here's how to tell when you're too deep in credit card debt: if 15% or
more of your monthly income goes to pay your credit card bills, you've
triggered one of the many warning signs that your credit card debt is
out of control. There are other triggers, too: paying the monthly
payments on one credit card by taking out a cash advance on another
credit card. If this scenario describes your financial habits,
you're not alone: some 39% of credit card holders pay only the minimum
payment, practically guaranteeing a lifetime of debt if they don't
change their credit card habits. So what's the solution? The
solution is to get your spending under control. Easier said than done,
right? But most people waste an enormous amount of money on recurring
expenses that could easily be made more affordable. One of the more
obvious areas is groceries: people use grocery story coupons to buy
brand-name breakfast cereals and other items, thinking they're saving
money. In fact, anyone using coupons is actually wasting money, since
coupons are only printed for items that carry an outrageous markup to
begin with. Buying brand-name processed foods is a sure way to eat
yourself into further debt. Your health will suffer, too, since
processed foods offer very poor nutrition. Another big money waster
in the food category is soft drinks. They're not only terrible for your
health (their main ingredient, high fructose corn syrup, has been linked
to diabetes and obesity), but they also gobble up your budget. Drinking
straight water (filtered, please) can save you as much as $50 / month.
If you're too deep in credit card debt, take a look at your food
purchasing habits, and be sure to review your restaurant and fast food
expenditures, too, since that's a huge expense for many people. By
altering food choices alone, most people can dramatically reduce their
level of credit card debt and improve their level of health at the same
time.
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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and technology pioneer with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored more than 1,500 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted technology pioneer and founded a software company in 1993 that developed the HTML email newsletter software currently powering the NaturalNews subscriptions. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
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