I’ve been hearing a lot of radio ads lately for organizations that want to help people with credit card debt. They say they have information that the credit card companies don’t want you to know. They want to help you settle your debt for a fraction of what you actually owe. Sounds great, right?

What concerns me, however, is how this debt is treated and referred to. They would have you believe that credit card debt is some disease or malady that afflicts people at random and that they are the cure. They’re removing any element of personal responsibility, and that bothers me.

Consumers are being told they’re entitled to maintain their spending habits and that they’re somehow not responsible for the debt that they’ve racked up. We need to understand that we’re responsible for the consequences of our choices. If the consequences are removed without a fundamental behaviour change, the debt problems won’t go away.

Don’t ignore your personal responsibility when it comes to your debts. If you’re looking for a solution, look no further than the behaviour and habits that got you there in the first place.

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