[john in missouri]

I would think there is a rule, or at least a functional dynamic, that they don't strike with lightning in the same place twice.

And I'll tell you what. As someone who is, unfortunately, currently a slave to credit card debt (for the first time in my life at age 40), if someone were to wave a magic wand to get us out of this hell-hole, I would do my best to move heaven and earth never to get into this situation again.

If you've never been there yet, even if you've paid off your credit card balances every month (as we did for years and years), let me give you this piece of free advice -- if you have any credit cards, cut them up NOW.

[twigs]

I HAVE been there and was there for a long time, and not out of negligence, either. I have known too many people who depend on the kindness of others to do for them what they need to be doing for themselves. I am truly sorry that you are in the morass now. I know what it is like SO well. It IS hard to get out and I wish for you the very best in doing so!!!

[hoosierham]

AMEN ! And the best to you john.

[texgal]

If you've never been there yet, even if you've paid off your credit card balances every month (as we did for years and years), let me give you this piece of free advice -- if you have any credit cards, cut them up NOW!

Amen to what you have said. I will always be grateful to my daughter's high school economics teacher when he told them about the evils of credit cards and showed them how much easier it would be for them to save for things they wanted rather than try to pay off the credit card debt.

He told them in jest that the holograms you see on the cards were tiny pieces of debtors souls - he may have been closer to the truth than he realized.