Photo byauthor with the use of Leonardo

Credit card debt is an all too familiar term among Americans. Today’s society normalizes the use of credit cards. Credit cards are nothing more than Trojan horses, with credit card companies spending incredible amounts of money to acquire consumers and keep them spending.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

• There is approximately $1.08 trillion of credit card debt in America.
• The average person carries $6,00 in credit card debt.
• The average household has $10,000 in credit card debt.
• Interest rates are an astounding 22.16%

What are the Hidden Dangers of Credit Cards?

Credit card companies use a few unseen tactics to get you in debt and keep you there. Here are the most common.

Careful Grooming

As a society, we have been groomed to believe credit cards are a necessary part of life. You need a credit score to make any large purchases, such as a vehicle or a home. A credit card is the best way to build your credit. The truth is, you don't need a credit score for either of these things, even if you plan to finance them.

Putting You in the Right Mindset

It all starts with grooming the American people to believe that credit is necessary for survival. They have ingrained in society that you must have credit to make large purchases such as homes and vehicles. The truth is that you do not need a credit score for any of these things, even if you plan to finance.

The Rewards are Worth It

Receiving cashback or travel miles while paying off your credit card balance each month means you are getting one over on the credit card company.

Unfortunately, this isn't true either. This mentality causes you to overspend, and you end up paying for rewards many times over when it would have been cheaper for you to have just bought the airline ticket or item out of your pocket.

Zero Interest Balance Transfer Credit Cards Will Get You Out of Debt

The best way to escape high-interest rates when you can’t pay off your existing card is to transfer the balance to a balance transfer credit card without a fee and a 0% interest rate for a predetermined set of time. This will give you enough time to make more money and pay off your debt.

If you had the ability to pay off the credit card debt, you wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. Transferring the balance won't help you. Chances are the introductory period will run out, and you will be slammed with a high-interest rate and potentially back interest.

Wired to Keep Overspending

It's okay to go ahead and make the purchase you can't afford. You can pay it off in a month or even more. It's no biggie.

This is how credit card companies keep you spending. They create a disconnect between spending money and receiving products and services. You don't immediately see your bank account go down, so you do not emotionally connect that you spent some of your money. It's easy to spend someone else's money.

Tips for Getting Out of Credit Card Debt and Staying Out

The best thing you can do to ensure you never get in credit card again is to stop using credit cards altogether and begin living within your means.

Don't Take Out Debt to Pay off Debt

Taking out more debt to pay off current debt rarely works. The reason is that being in debt is a behavioral issue, not a money issue.

Lower Your Lifestyle

There is a great Bible verse from Proverbs 22:7 that says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Anyone in debt can attest that this is more than true.

Here are some things you can do to lower your expenses:

• Downsize your car
• Downsize your home
• Purge your belongings
• Stop going out to eat
• Cut out extras

Create a Budget

Sit down, create a budget, and stick to it by any means necessary. Be realistic about your budget, and be sure that you can stick to it. For example, $50 a month for food is unrealistic and something you can't sustain. It is important that you know how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and where it is going.

Tackle one Debt at a Time

If you have more than one credit card, focus on just one at a time and pay the minimum on the others. You will feel good about the progress you are making.

Final Thoughts

Credit and lending is a system that is designed to keep you broke. Break the cycle by spending your own money.

Romans 13:8: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”