10 states leading in consumer debt

Americans may be working to reduce their debt, but in some states they're still carrying a heavy burden. These 10 show the highest revolving debt load per person.

By Kali Geldis, Credit.com

 of 12
 of 12

MORE ON MSN MONEY

VIDEO ON MSN MONEY

User Picture
Write a comment...
267Comments
Bigdaddy52501
Sep 1, 2012 10:06AM
avatar
Personally, I believe consumer debt is slavery. Living beyond your means. A mortgage is the only exception to that rule in my book. When we did not have the money, we did not buy it. Today we are debt free including our home. This has worked for us. Your choices are your choices. How are they working for you?
hengsway
Aug 30, 2012 10:12AM
avatar
Today all people want is NOW they never thought that they would be losing their homes let alone their jobs they have been working at for years.  Wake up and smell the coffee, times have changed because of this mentality and you need to stop spending because you don't have it, and guess what, your government doesn't have it either, so no help there.  Every person needs to hold themselves accountable about their misuse of their money and stop pointing fingers at others.  I personally will not charge l item that I cannot pay for.  Live by this and you will be debt free and not go into debt again.  Buy used if you have to, but put every single dollar down on paper and you will see where you are going into debt.  You don't have to eat out, fix it at home, you don't have to have new clothes, go to Goodwill and give someone a needed job.  Try it for l year and I promise you, you will love what you have accomplished at the end of 1 year, and you will be encouraged to proceed for another year this is a gaurantee.
Swampgravy
Aug 30, 2012 11:40AM
avatar
When the feds started confiscating our money and redistributing it we started on  a one way street down hill. The Feds want to take over all aspects of our lives. It wasn't government that built America it was "we the people" paying taxes that built the roads and bridges. The government doesn't make money, they take it!
avid
Sep 9, 2012 3:42AM
avatar
Unfortunately, too many people live in a "i want it now" world.  I was taught to save money and that you didn't buy anything unless you could pay for it.  I guess that taught me to wait for things and fortunately, by waiting, the price of most of these things went down. I wasn't the first of my friends to have a flat screen, smart phone, ipod, etc.  I have a 2010 car, but it is paid in full and has been for a year.  I don't use a credit card unless it will be paid in full so I don't pay any interest. A mortgage is a different story, but I still see people getting in way over their heads with payments that are difficult to manage.
USA88
Aug 30, 2012 4:55PM
avatar
Cut off all welfare benefits to Illegal Immigrants and their "Anchor Babies". Do not give one cent of any benefits such as Lawyers, Interpreters or anything to Illegal Immigrants. Detain and Deport every single Illegal Immigrant in the USA with absolutely no excuses.
ProudGMa
Sep 9, 2012 2:21PM
avatar

My parents never owned a credit card.  If they didn't have the money, they didn't buy it.  They raised a family of 5 on small farm.  They were poor, they remembered and went through the depression.  They had huge gardens and canned for our food.  If we didn't grow it we never ate it.  We all worked as soon as we could.  Dad, said often "If you don't work you don't eat".  I live by that today, all of us kids grew up with a strong work ethic.  None of us took welfare, we took second jobs, or more to meet the need.  Today I have neighbors on welfare all around me in my life, I see them buying  boats, going on vacations, buying bigger homes, that I couldn't afford, and yet they are using my tax dollar to do it.  But I'm proud to be an American, but not any longer proud of America and where it is going....down the tubes.  I have never taken a handout from the government and neither did my Dad and Mom.  I say that with pride....a word many young today don't have, they have a "Take what I can get, when I can get it", attitude.  I thank God that I always found work somehow to make ends meet.  Sometimes doing haircuts, cooking, babysitting, etc.  If we all lived within our means, no one would be in debt, including the government.  I hate paying taxes with tons of bond issues that is going into something that should have been saved for.  Its the taxes from the hard working Americans paying for the welfare of America.  Its going to be worse yet with Obamacare. There, I got it off my chest, not that its going anywhere.  Does anyone agree with me?

moonover007
Sep 9, 2012 12:37PM
avatar
WE NEED TO STOP GIVING AID TO COUNRY THAT DON'T NEED IT,LETS PUT THE FUNDS BACK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
lsnoopy
Aug 30, 2012 10:43AM
avatar
We've said it all along. The day of reconning is coming. Obama and his minions will assure America is a debtor Greece like Welfare country. Its sad. Our GDP doesn't even cover our debt and each month the governments take in taxes fall billions short of what they have to pay out. I long for the 1950's when this was the richest country on earth and they made you work for a paycheck and no handouts unless you were widowed with children. Fast foward to today and just about everybody gets money for not working yes any excuse will do from migrane headache's to hearing voices will guarentee you a welfare check under Obama's America.
John N.IL
Aug 30, 2012 4:39PM
avatar
I never understood how anyone in economics can say we are doing better. Its laughable at best to say this Country will recover from this. Just the fact that after three years of so called recovery we are seeing GDP growth of less then 2%. Just FYI a healthy job growing economy must see 3% or better. Just to consider it a marginally healthy economy. If people would stop for a second and look at all the debt States, cities, Federal government, personal debt, educational debt, mortgage debt. We would see none of it  shows any examples of how strong we are. All it shows is how dumb we are and how poor we really are.
groovygirl72
Aug 29, 2012 7:28PM
avatar
I was just offered a discover card today, I did not hesitate to say  no. Too high  interest I would rather keep my money out the credit business.
Renovimus
Sep 9, 2012 5:08AM
avatar

I'm better off now than I was (4) years ago because when the economy was good, I was a graduate student while paying off some of my loans.  During the good times, I was always a student while learning and forging other workable skills.  I don't wait to get hired anymore, I'm a contractor, I plan my days and my salary.  I don't use credit cards and I don't own a home that I can not afford.  My car is a 2009 and I will keep it until it falls apart. 

 

I have faced the new reality.  I don't buy the new stuff - everything will run its course and I can wait.  If we in America will admit it, those that don't have jobs or can't find work are the same people that did not have jobs before when the economy was booming. 

 

Its easy to ask "where are the jobs" but now you have to ask yourself if you have any employable skills.  If you don't, you have no-one to blame but yourself and don't be afraid to jump ship when you hear that your position is going south.  I jumped from banking and finance and have never regretted that, I downsized before I was made to and I live below my means - its noodles this month!

 

I'm saving to relocate so I am buying nothing until I leave the south and land on the west coast - close to Canada!  Something just tells me that no matter who the next president is, America is going to explode at some point and I plan to be near the Canadian border when it does. 

 

No shame in my game at all! 

 

 

wayne wilkins (wayne wilkins)
Sep 9, 2012 5:56AM
avatar
Well now, here I go!
First off, the American people are just as to blame for this mess as the Govt. is! Why, cause you were stupid enough to fall for the banks crap when they were passing out credit cards like it was candy and you took them and maxed them out and applied for more and maxed them out and applied for another till you had to get a special wallet to carry them all! Then, you couldn't pay any of them off! Why, cause you were broke azz and couldn't afford even the first card!
Then you thought you were hot crap with all that credit and then went out and bought an oversized house with an oversized cost, then went out and bought 2 or 3 new cars to fill the garage and driveway! And CAN'T pay for any of it!
Then the banks had you by the gonads and raised those interest rates way up there!
As a lady stated on the News in Atlanta, that only deals in cash, stated that " Everyone is trying to keep up with the Jones's BUT the Jones's are BROKE AZZ! " She was so right!
Then yawl want to whimp and cry and try to get others to feel sorry for your being completely STUPID!
For you STUPID Christians out there that want to look down your nose at others about who's sinning, well YOU are! As YOUR Bible states, " YOUR TO OWE NO MAN " Only deal in cash or Barter!!!!!!
That when you owe another man, he owns you and can control you! Your at their mercy!
So if you owe on a home, car, furniture, groceries, clothes, YOUR A SINNER! You have all those credit cards, that you flaunt, your flaunting stupidty!
All over trying to keep up with the Jones's! Trying to impress all around you that your something that your not!
So don't blame the Govt. totally for this mess! Blame yourselves! While your eyes and lack of brain was focused on the Jones's, the Govt. allowed the banking industry to do what they want to you!
There's a lot more to this, but not enough space to write it! Like your moving in the berbs an hour from your job and drive all those miles and cost so much in gas, that you can't afford to work...Just to stay up with the Jones's!
Lady at the Beach
Sep 9, 2012 9:56AM
avatar
If our government would stop dipping into the Social Security for other needs this would help the older Americans of this country.  Additionally, if they stopped the Southern Boarder of allowing those illegals as well as other people from the Middle East into this country all of the helping hands agencies would be able to help fellow Americans ride the wave of not having a job.  Imagine the amount of money this country spends by giving out free housing, medical, clothing, food to these people that were not born here.  We Americans are suffering much; therefore our jobs become affected and therefore does our homes and our standardization way of life. In order to live these days you need to keep control of everything you do and it means to live menial.
news or not
Aug 30, 2012 12:41PM
avatar
Yes, Washington, my state....We were well balanced until the last gov election for ultra left big spender Obama supporter....good on fairness(we are all equal in how much of our money this leftist activist has spent.)...And of course, she still gets good press....and she cares...Isnt that wonderful. It must be unimportant to her that the state has had to quit funding the basics....just so that she can appear to be more fair...and progressive...She also has chased many of those unfair greedy businesses out of the state to operate elsewhere....just wonderful...She funded many of those alternative fuels(gave away our money) programs and they are all closed now....She also guaranteed free health care for children of illegals...
Selaretus slainte
Aug 30, 2012 3:56PM
avatar

"As the economic recovery finally sets in for many Americans" ??? WTF!!!!!

 

   I'm not sure what fantasy planet YOU live on, there KALI, but on THIS planet of reality 'many Americans' are broke, permanently out of work and in deep deep trouble in a COLLAPSING CONTRACTING and DEBT ridden economy. And guess what?? IT'S GETTING MUCH MUCH WORSE not better.

SunshineStateGal
Aug 29, 2012 8:33PM
avatar
They send credit cards like they were gift certificates complete with enticements!  Enough Already!  Just say NO to Credit Cards!  If you can't afford to buy it today, what makes you think you can afford to buy it tomorrow?
Timmy The Geek
Aug 30, 2012 10:11AM
avatar
I charge almost everything to a credit card (to max out the rewards) then pay it off in full each month. It would be hard to believe that people doing the same could rack up $25k in living expenses every month, so they must be carrying balances and paying interest.
marky mark513
Sep 9, 2012 12:40PM
avatar
Live debt free, pay with cash, don't use credit. Follow Dave Ramsey and you will get out and stay out of debt.
Steve480
Sep 9, 2012 11:04AM
avatar
What's really funny is to read the reactions here. All the article makes a point of, are the ten states with the highest amount of credit card debt. That in itself doesn't indicate a damned thing, especially as far as the economy is concerned. Credit card debt is solely the responsibility of the person using the card and no amount of excuses for poor credit-card management makes up for that stupidity. Stop making excuses and try blaming the source of the problem: The individual abusing the card.

Then grow some brains and stop reacting so emotionally to articles like this. Sheesh! "What a bunch of Maroon's"!!!, to quote a famous line...

TXBusinessOwner
Aug 30, 2012 8:32AM
avatar

This artical is about PERSONAL debt, not the debt of the state.

Leave it to MSN!  

Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

DATA PROVIDERS

Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.

Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.

Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.

Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.