American households and individuals carry substantial credit card and other debt. In 2008, the average credit card debt per household was $8,329. Total US credit card debt in 2008 was $972.73 billion. Nearly 15% of US families had debt exceeding 40% of their income in 2007. College graduates have an average of $20,000 in student loan debt. Credit card debt has risen substantially for young Americans aged 18-24 and 25-34 since 1989. Nearly 1 in 5 young Americans aged 18-24 are in debt hardship. The summary provides key statistics on American credit card and other debt levels.

9. On-line Purchases

10. Reservations

13. 19% 7.9% 3.9%

14. Hidden Fees Annual Membership Fees $$$$

16. UGLY FACTS

17. Average credit card debt per household…… )

18. $8,329 in 2008. (Source: Nilson Report, April 2009)

19. American’s Credit Card Debt in 2008…..

20. Are you sitting down?

21. $972.73 billion!!! (Source: Nilson Report, April 2009)

22. In 2007 14.7 % of U.S. families had debt exceeding 40 percent of their income.“ ( Source: U.S. Congress' Joint Economic Committee, "Vicious Cycle: How Unfair Credit Card Company Practices Are Squeezing Consumers and Undermining the RSecovery," May 2009)

23. College Grad Facts………….

24. The average college graduate has nearly $20,000 in debt

25. Card debt for 25-34 year olds…

26. Up 47% since 1989

27. And for 18-24 year olds?

28. Up 11% Since 1989

29. Nearly one in five 18-to 24-year-olds is in "debt hardship“ (Source: Demos.org, "The Economic State of Young America," May 2008)

30. Credit Card Tools

32. How do you stack up?

33. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/tools/modebtratio.htm . Click to find out

34. How long to pay off my card?

35. Payment Calculators

36. http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/credit-cards/credit-card-payoff-calculator.aspx

37. Debt Reduction Planners http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/debtplanner/debtplanner.jsp

38. Do You Know….

39. The Cost of Credit?

40. The types of Credit Cards?

41. How to shop for a Credit Card?

42. How much debt can you handle?

43. How to reduce your credit card debt?

44. Your Credit Card Rights?

46. http://www.credit.org/media/docs/WU2009.pdf

48. http://www.ftc.gov/freereports

50. Government Help

51. http://www.mymoney.gov /

52. http://www.debtfirms.com/government-grants.html Do you qualify for a Government Grant?

53. Public Help Agencies

54. https://www.familycredit.org/ http://www.credit.org/

55. THE END