When You Need Debt Relief Help - 7 Signs You Are in Trouble Financially
By Suzette Jamieson

Deep in your heart you probably know you're in trouble financially and need debt relief help. But sometimes you just need to sit down and analyze things in order for the full effect to hit home.

Here are 7 things that are clear signs you need to make some serious changes and get some help.

1. You use your credit card for most of your purchases but you don't pay your balance off every month. If you don't have the money to pay it off when you get your bill, then you shouldn't be buying it.

2. You do things simply because "everybody else does it" or because "it's the thing to do". Since when has following the crowd ever gotten you anywhere ... really?! How many times have you done something you didn't want to do or bought something you didn't want just because someone else encouraged you or because you felt you needed to in order to fit in?

3. You "never have cash" so you just use your credit card. Be honest here ... do you not have cash because there is no money in your checking account or do you just feel it is safer and easier to use a credit card rather than carry cash?

4. You've taken more than one cash advance so that you can make it till your next paycheck. Once can be written off as poor planning, more than once and you have a problem you need to take care of ASAP.

5. Your income has dropped but your spending hasn't changed. This will catch up to you very quickly and it's a whole lot harder to pay off old debt later than to change your spending habits now.

6. You go shopping even when you know you don't have any money, just because you're bored or don't want to face something. You're using shopping and spending money as your "comfort food". Women tend to shop malls while men might look for a "must-have" tool or gadget. Either way, if there is no money, you shouldn't be buying it if you don't absolutely need it.

7. You bribe your kids with promises to buy them something just to get their cooperation. This is bad for your relationship, and it teaches your kids some habits and expectations that will be hard to overcome later in life.