Debt is something that almost everyone experiences at one point or another. According to Goldman Sachs, the average amount of credit card debt is $5,700 for families. It is such a prevalent issue that you may feel like having debt problems is normal, or you simply ignore it.
Now, the path into debt struggles is often complex. If you understand some of the most common reasons people go into high levels of debt, you may be able to better protect yourself and know when taking action to address debt issues can be particularly important. Here are some causes of debt problems.
1. Health care expenses
Medical costs are on the rise and are crippling for too many Americans. You may fall into medical debt even if you have health insurance. Injuries, illnesses and other health conditions can suddenly cause bills to pile up. It is impossible to predict when a sudden medical problem will strike.
2. Losing income
If a primary source of income goes away, your bottom line will suffer. Examples of losing income include the following:
Whenever any of these things happen to you, you may face an overwhelming number of expenses and bills with no way to cover them.
3. Sudden emergencies
You may end up in debt when something bad and expensive occurs. Here are some costly emergencies you may encounter:
Without a substantial emergency fund, these kinds of occurrences may leave you facing significant financial difficulties.
No matter how you end up with high debt levels, you may think it is impossible to get out. However, in some circumstances, filing for bankruptcy may give you the relief you need to start over.
