Do you feel like you're drowning in debt? Trust your instincts.

The national average credit card debt per household more than tripled from 1990 to 2004, according to online research firm CardWeb. About 40% of households carry a balance on credit cards from month to month. Our reliance on plastic and other forms of credit makes life difficult for families struggling to make ends meet.

Even if you're still in shallow water, a personal debt assessment may be just the financial life preserver you need to keep your debt from spiraling out of control.

How do you know if you need a debt assessment? Ask yourself whether you're experiencing these warning signs:

•Do you frequently pay bills late?
•Do you pay only the minimum due on your credit cards?
•Do you use credit for necessities like groceries?
•Have you ever used one credit card to pay off another?
•Do you find yourself paying off holiday debt for several   months or years?
•Have you been contacted by creditors?
•Do you use high-cost loans such as payday loans as "quick   money" for desperate circumstances?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may benefit from a personal debt assessment from My Credit Union. We can help you plan a strategy for getting out--and staying out--of debt, develop a sensible spending plan, and communicate effectively with creditors. And, if you don't know which debts to pay off first, we can help you figure that out, too.

Call us today at (650) 366-5522 or (800) 542-4163 (outside Northern California). A personal debt assessment may be just the financial life preserver you need to keep your debt from spiraling out of control.


Copyright 2005 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. All other rights reserved.