Answer the following:

1. Do you have savings?
If you don't, you run the risk of not being able to meet unexpected expenses. This is one of the most common ways to fall into a debt trap from which it is difficult to get out.

2. Do you only pay the minimum on your credit cards?
If you pay the minimum, but can afford to pay more, start doing so immediately. If you can't, try to lower your spending so that you can afford to. Paying more than the minimum is the only way to lower that debt.

3. Have you been denied credit or an increase in a line of credit?
This is a sign that you are close to having a debt problem. Creditors have guidelines to determine if someone's finances are in order. Being denied credit is a signal that your finances do not satisfy those guidelines.

4. After making your monthly payments, do you accumulate the same debt as the previous month?
This would suggest that you rely on credit month to month to supplement your income. This is not a good practice.

5. Do you know how much you owe?
If you don't, this could suggest that you owe too much. You could be avoiding a serious problem, one that is better confronted as early on as possible.

6. Do you use cash advances to pay off other obligations?
Stop this practice immediately. This is the easiest way to enter into a situation from which escape is difficult. Try to decrease your expenses so that your income can completely cover them or at least cover most of them.

7. Do you hide your credit card statements from your loved ones?
If you are doing this odds are you already know you have a problem and are avoiding it. Its important to confront it immediately.

8. Do you issue checks against insufficient funds or "float" checks?
Floating checks is a common practice. The person writes the check expecting funds will be available by the time it is cashed but knowing funds are not available when the check is written. This is another sign you are in over your head.

9. Do you get calls from collector agencies?
This is an unequivocal sign you must take action to get out of debt.

If your answers suggest you have a debt problem, take action.