The average wage earner is concerned about providing adequate food, clothing, and shelter for their household. In today's money-based economy, most of us do this by striving to make a decent living, working a job that pays a set amount of income. In time, we quickly learn that money does not grow on trees but it definitely can sprout wings! After a while of trying to keep up with the rising cost of living, many of us find ourselves in a nasty predicament - not enough money to make ends meet.

According to USA Today (Oct. 4, 2004 issue), the average household's personal debt (including car loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc.) was about $84,454. In 2021, that figure grew to about $96,371 according to The Ascent (a Motley Fool service). In an attempt to do something about this, a considerable number a people try obtaining a home equity loan to transfer credit card balances to. Debt consolidation under one low-interest rate home equity loan seems like it should be a good idea. However, according to Dave Ramsey (American personal finance personality), "most of the time, after someone consolidates their debt, the debt grows right back." What makes that happen? Dave Ramsey goes on to say "Because they don’t have a game plan for sticking to a budget and spending less than they make. In other words, they haven’t established good money habits for staying out of debt and building wealth." See his article at https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-consolidation-truth.