Just two generations ago, America was a nation of mostly thrifty people living within their means, even setting money aside for unforeseen expenses.

Today, Americans carry $2.56 trillion in consumer debt, up 22 percent since 2000 alone, according to the Federal Reserve Board. The average household’s credit card debt is $8,565, up almost 15 percent from 2000. picked by BWallaby 1 year ago

It was recently reported that John McCain and his wife Cindy may have as much as $250,000 in credit card debt. They also reported that they have an American Express card for a "dependent child" that is carrying a balance of between $15,000 and $50,000. On the flip side, Barack Obama reported no credit card debt in his annual financial disclosures. picked by tubalusa 1 year ago

Are you in debt?

How 'bout this debt? picked by zadscmc 3 years ago

They are both out of a job with a 2 year old and a mortgage. They are selling their debt in $10.00 chunks. Buyers will get a thank you note and a photo of the family.

The original auction listing was removed by EBay, but was relisted here - probably with a wording change to make it acceptable.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. picked by Moe 10 months ago

You'd be wrong to think that it's only third world countries who have problems with debt. Consumer debt is running at an all time high in many developed nations. picked by andyboyd 3 years ago

Try $4.6 trillion. 19-times the size of the gimmicked 'official' deficit for 2006 of $248 billion. picked by Boomshank 3 years ago

A Portuguese businessman said he cut off one of his fingers in court with a butcher's knife in an "act of despair" after a judge refused his offer to settle a 170,000 euro (152,500 pound) debt and said part of his farm must be sold. picked by AutumnLotus 11 months ago

7-minute interview from NPR with the author of the book "Bad Money". Kevin Phillips warns us that America is going to way of ancient Rome... at least financially. One of the reasons for the economic collapse of the Roman empire was that they began to focus their economy on DEBT products, rather than manufacturing actual, physical items. Sound familiar? *This ties in with Bornbad's ... read full post picked by RowanGrey 2 years ago

In these uncertain financial times, one thing remains certain — the ever-expanding national debt. But it's growing at such an accelerated rate, the clock that has kept track of the deficit since 1989 has had to add a digit. picked by Nateebiinature 1 year ago

By the government’s own budget figures, the current national debt per family rests at an eye popping £65,000 but it’s set to rise to a bed wetting £94,000 by 2014. This sharply contradicts the claim by Alistair Darling who forecast in the budget that the deficit would reach £175bn this year, or 12.4% of GDP this year, falling to 11.9% in 2010. picked by iamamaniac 5 months ago

In these difficult times for creditors, a Lithuanian debt collector is offering an unconventional service to retrieve arrears: witchcraft. picked by cstrickland 11 months ago

Hillary Clinton may be Secretary of State but she does have to deal with the debt remaining from her 2008 presidential campaign. Which is why strategist James Carville sent an e-mail to Clinton supporters, telling them that if they contribute, they could be entered in contest to win one of three prizes: "Spend a day with President Clinton" in NYC, "attend the American Idol season fi... read full post picked by suebe 8 months ago

What should you do when your spouse or significant other can’t seem to control his or her credit card spending? Bankrate.com’s Debt Adviser offers a few ideas. My boyfriend has more than $30,000 in credit card debt that he wants me to help pay off. He amassed an additional $30,000 debt three years ago but rolled this into his mortgage. I don’t think I should help pay for any of ... read full post picked by femina 3 years ago

A Lottery winner who blew a £5.1 million jackpot he won three years ago is being hunted by bailiffs chasing more than £370,000 of debt. picked by topofall 2 years ago

Stuck in a $14,300 debt hole, reader Trixare4kids was able to dig herself out using tips she learned about on Consumerist.com.

Sorry if a dupe picked by Nateebiinature 1 year ago

“The Money Myth Exploded” was one of the first articles of Louis Even, and remains one of the most popular to explain how money is created as a debt by private banks. Also, mentions the basis of the philosophy of Social Credit. picked by TheAnt314 8 months ago

The UK Government’s recent bailout of struggling financial giants Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB looks set to add between £1 trillion and £1.5 trillion to national debt, figures out today have revealed. picked by iamamaniac 9 months ago

Fears the U.S. will sink into a recession slammed head first into Wall Street on Wednesday, sending the Dow plunging to its worst percentage drop since October 1987.

An ugly report on retail sales served as a wake-up call for the markets, reminding Wall Street that even as the ailing credit markets appear to have improved, the economy is still in a precarious state. picked by ImNotBlue 1 year ago

Banks are failing. Businesses are going bankrupt what is there to do? Become a ruthless business leader yourself in The Economist's Credit Crunch board game. Rules, pdfs for game board, cards, and money at link. picked by 2manyusernames 11 months ago

Scott Weltman of Weltman, Weinberg & Reis, a Cleveland law firm that performs deceased collections, says that if family members ask, “we definitely tell them” they have no legal obligation to pay. “But is it disclosed upfront — ‘Mr. Smith, you definitely don’t owe the money’? It’s not that blunt.” picked by dollyllama 9 months ago