Nobody likes dealing with credit card debt. It stinks, plain and simple. But with all the financial experts telling us how to get out of debt, and all the ads for professional debt relief companies, why do so many people still struggle with credit card bills? And why do so few people get out of debt?

An old colleague used to tell me “credit cards don’t come with instructions” and that’s why so many people get into financial trouble.

Could the answer really be this simple?

Sure. For most people, if they would just stop and think about the real purpose of credit cards then they would be much less likely to get buried by debt. But they don’t come with instructions, for a reason – because the banks make so much money that they don’t want you to stop using them!

Of course, it’s nothing personal. And it is your responsibility to manage your own finances. Just because they give you a credit card doesn’t mean you have to keep using it over and over until you reach the limit.

So here’s a quick lesson on the top 3 reasons why most people never get out of debt. Consider these your “credit card instructions”. If you can stop yourself from doing these 3 thing, then you’ll be making the banks very unhappy!

1) They keep using credit cards. This one sounds so obvious. Yet for some people it is the hardest one of all. Why? Charging your purchases has become incredibly easy & convenient. So the lesson is that if you can’t pay for something with cash, keep your plastic in your wallet. Sure, if you get paid in 3 days and want to take advantage of a good deal, you can charge it and pay the bill in full when it comes. Nothing wrong with that. But for those people who just want to keep buying without realizing that credit card balances grow like a snowball, well then you’ll be stuck in debt for a LONG time!

2) They keep missing payments. First of all if you buy something with plastic, then you have to pay your bill, that’s obvious. But even more important is to know what happens when you miss a payment. First, you get a late payment charge. Not a huge amount and it goes away when you pay it, but it adds up. Second, it goes on your credit report, and will stay with you for 7 years (unless you know something about credit repair). Third, and most damaging of all, is that the banks can raise your interest rate. Sometimes as high as 20 or 30%. Wow!

3) They keep making minimum payments. With the new credit card rules your statement now shows how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you keep paying the minimum amount – but if you keep charging, then that ending date will start looking like something from a sci-fi movie from the future!

And that’s why it is so hard to get out of debt. And of course, with all the fees, interest, and more fees, and more interest – well, the banks are not anxious to have all this stop. So make sure to think carefully next time you reach for your wallet and pull out a charge card!

Visit www.Debt-Tips.com to learn more tips for digging out of credit card debt and overcoming challenging money problems. These tips can help you find the right debt reduction program, fix your credit problems, and get yourself out of debt for good.