charge they can once the indictment is unsealed. Americans continue to indictment is unsealed. Americans continue to point to the -economy as their Americans continue to point to the -economy as their number one policy concern. point to the -economy as their number one policy concern. It's easy to see why. number one policy concern. It's easy to see why. Credit card -debt in America It's easy to see why. Credit card -debt in America has never been higher.

Credit card -debt in America has never been higher. According to the latest data has never been higher. According to the latest data from Transunion, the total has According to the latest data from Transunion, the total has reached a record 930-point-6 from Transunion, the total has reached a record 930-point-6 BILLION dollars. reached a record 930-point-6 BILLION dollars. As more of us are using BILLION dollars. As more of us are using -plastic to buy the As more of us are using -plastic to buy the increasingly expensive -plastic to buy the increasingly expensive necessities like food and gas, increasingly expensive necessities like food and gas, we asked our in-house - necessities like food and gas, we asked our in-house - inflation buster Matt Gephardt we asked our in-house - inflation buster Matt Gephardt for strategies on dealing with inflation buster Matt Gephardt for strategies on dealing with debt. for strategies on dealing with debt. Yeah Deanie, credit debt. Yeah Deanie, credit card balances are well above Yeah Deanie, credit card balances are well above what they were before the card balances are well above what they were before the pandemic hit.

The double what they were before the pandemic hit. The double whammy is the interest rates pandemic hit. The double whammy is the interest rates on those balances are going whammy is the interest rates on those balances are going up, too. Let's find some on those balances are going up, too. Let's find some ways to get a hold of that up, too. Let's find some ways to get a hold of that debt. ways to get a hold of that debt. SHANE :15-:22 In those debt. SHANE :15-:22 In those heady days of the pandemic - SHANE :15-:22 In those heady days of the pandemic - all that not going to concerts heady days of the pandemic - all that not going to concerts - Not eating out at all that not going to concerts - Not eating out at restaurants - And not - Not eating out at restaurants - And not taking trips - Saved us a restaurants - And not taking trips - Saved us a whole lot of money.

But when taking trips - Saved us a whole lot of money. But when the world re-opened, all bets whole lot of money. But when the world re-opened, all bets were suddenly off says the world re-opened, all bets were suddenly off says financial planner Shane were suddenly off says financial planner Shane Stewart. SHANE STEWART / financial planner Shane Stewart. SHANE STEWART / CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, Stewart. SHANE STEWART / CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, DMBA: "WE FELT LIKE WE DESERVE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, DMBA: "WE FELT LIKE WE DESERVE TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AND DMBA: "WE FELT LIKE WE DESERVE TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME THAT TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME THAT INCLUDED SOME INCREASED DEBT." UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME THAT INCLUDED SOME INCREASED DEBT." So, how do you tackle that INCLUDED SOME INCREASED DEBT." So, how do you tackle that debt? Stewart says start - So, how do you tackle that debt? Stewart says start - by tracking what you're debt? Stewart says start - by tracking what you're actually spending.

STEWART: by tracking what you're actually spending. STEWART: "WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU'LL actually spending. STEWART: "WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU'LL JUST BE IN A DEBT CYCLE, "WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU'LL JUST BE IN A DEBT CYCLE, YOU'LL JUST CONTINUE TO GO JUST BE IN A DEBT CYCLE, YOU'LL JUST CONTINUE TO GO AROUND IN CIRCLES WITH YOUR YOU'LL JUST CONTINUE TO GO AROUND IN CIRCLES WITH YOUR DEBT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW AROUND IN CIRCLES WITH YOUR DEBT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THAT IS." DEBT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THAT IS." Money apps like Mint, WHAT THE CAUSE OF THAT IS." Money apps like Mint, Goodbudget or Nerdwallet can Money apps like Mint, Goodbudget or Nerdwallet can help you see exactly where Goodbudget or Nerdwallet can help you see exactly where your cash is going, and where help you see exactly where your cash is going, and where you can cut back. Stewart your cash is going, and where you can cut back. Stewart says have an emergency fund to you can cut back. Stewart says have an emergency fund to help keep an emergency from says have an emergency fund to help keep an emergency from derailing your debt plan.

help keep an emergency from derailing your debt plan. And then you can start your derailing your debt plan. And then you can start your actual attack by paying the And then you can start your actual attack by paying the most you can on the smallest actual attack by paying the most you can on the smallest debt first, while you make the most you can on the smallest debt first, while you make the minimum payments on the rest. debt first, while you make the minimum payments on the rest. Once that account is paid minimum payments on the rest. Once that account is paid off, move on to the next Once that account is paid off, move on to the next smallest debt until that one off, move on to the next smallest debt until that one is paid off - and on and on. smallest debt until that one is paid off - and on and on. Stewart says the endorphin is paid off - and on and on. Stewart says the endorphin rush that comes with each debt Stewart says the endorphin rush that comes with each debt paid - is powerful.

STEWART: rush that comes with each debt paid - is powerful. STEWART: "IT MOTIVATES YOU TO TAKE THAT paid - is powerful. STEWART: "IT MOTIVATES YOU TO TAKE THAT MONEY THAT YOU WERE PAYING TO "IT MOTIVATES YOU TO TAKE THAT MONEY THAT YOU WERE PAYING TO THE FIRST DEBT, AND PUT IT MONEY THAT YOU WERE PAYING TO THE FIRST DEBT, AND PUT IT TOWARDS THE SECOND DEBT" THE FIRST DEBT, AND PUT IT TOWARDS THE SECOND DEBT" Or, you might start on the TOWARDS THE SECOND DEBT" Or, you might start on the debt with the highest interest Or, you might start on the debt with the highest interest rate, then work your way down.

debt with the highest interest rate, then work your way down. That can save you hundreds rate, then work your way down. That can save you hundreds on interest, but Stewart says That can save you hundreds on interest, but Stewart says the method typically delivers on interest, but Stewart says the method typically delivers less of an endorphin rush. the method typically delivers less of an endorphin rush. But if it motivates you, go less of an endorphin rush. But if it motivates you, go with it. STEWART: "WHATEVER But if it motivates you, go with it. STEWART: "WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU, IS THE BEST with it. STEWART: "WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU, IS THE BEST THING TO DO." The best way WORKS FOR YOU, IS THE BEST THING TO DO." The best way to stay on track? Stewart THING TO DO." The best way to stay on track? Stewart says - automate, automate, to stay on track? Stewart says - automate, automate, automate.

Set up your says - automate, automate, automate. Set up your bank's bill pay or an app to automate. Set up your bank's bill pay or an app to make automatic payments on bank's bill pay or an app to make automatic payments on your debts. SHANE STEWART: make automatic payments on your debts. SHANE STEWART: "THEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING THAT your debts. SHANE STEWART: "THEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING THAT DECISION LITERALLY THOUSANDS "THEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING THAT DECISION LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES OVER YOUR LIFETIME. DECISION LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES OVER YOUR LIFETIME. YOU'RE MAKING THAT DECISION OF TIMES OVER YOUR LIFETIME. YOU'RE MAKING THAT DECISION ONE TIME AND THEN YOU MAINTAIN YOU'RE MAKING THAT DECISION ONE TIME AND THEN YOU MAINTAIN THAT.

YOU TWEAK IT AS YOU GO." ONE TIME AND THEN YOU MAINTAIN THAT. YOU TWEAK IT AS YOU GO." Stewart says you've got THAT. YOU TWEAK IT AS YOU GO." Stewart says you've got to be proactive. If you're not going to make next week's payment - call your creditor going to make next week's payment - call your creditor now rather than two weeks payment - call your creditor now rather than two weeks later. The absolute worst now rather than two weeks later. The absolute worst thing you can do is nothing. later. The absolute worst thing you can do is nothing. That stack of credit card thing you can do is nothing. That stack of credit card bills will only get worse. That stack of credit card bills will only get worse. We've got other extreme .