There is some uplifting news in the world of credit card debt — if you can believe that. Gallup performed a random credit card poll on 1,026 adults. There were some crucial findings from this poll, the first of which is that 29 percent of Americans do not own any credit cards, which is the highest rate since 2001. In addition, the average number of credit cards that a card-carrying American owned is 3.7, which is less than what was reported in 2001.
People are also paying off their monthly balance more often. According to the poll, 48 percent of respondents paid their full balance at the end of each month, which is also the highest rate since 2001.
However, maybe the biggest statistic from the poll is the total amount of credit card debt that the average American carries. According to the poll, it is $3,573. That may sound like a significant number, but compared to 2008 — when the rate was $3,848 — this figure represents a step in the right direction for credit card debt management in this country.
It appears that people are acting more wisely with their money nowadays, but there are plenty of good, hard-working people who still suffer from large amounts of credit card debt. This debt may have reached a breaking point, where the in-debt party doesn’t know what to do about their immense financial problem.
A bankruptcy filing can really help such a person. Declaring for bankruptcy gives you the chance to discharge many of the debts that are attributed to your name, and it can help you regain your financial footing in the future.
Source: FiveThirtyEight, “Americans Have Fewer Credit Cards And Less Debt,” Mona Chalabi, April 25, 2014