It is a fact: more Americans are in debt today than ever before. According to Forbes, consumers saw their credit card debt jump to $856.5 billion as of May 2013, and credit cards are only one source of debt that people carry with them.

While financial troubles can certainly be the result of a difficult economy, let’s face it, we all play a role in our own finances. Short of a sudden job loss or a financial emergency, most financial struggles are a result of our behavior. Let’s take a look at what might be keeping you in debt.

You Are Relying on Credit Cards

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” – Luke 14:28

As tempting as it can be to put purchases on a credit card, resist doing so. Use them only in case of a true emergency. An example of this might be if your vehicle breaks down unexpectedly and you need to have it towed. Ideally, you could rely on your emergency fund to cover those costs, but if you aren’t there yet this is when you will want to reserve using those cards.

If you often reach for your credit card on impulse, leave your cards at home when you shop. If you see something you want and you do not have the cash budgeted for it, do not buy it. Go home and think it over for a few days. If you still want it then, make a plan for the purchase and save up the money for it.

You Are Over-Complicating Your Life

“A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life” -Proverbs 13:7

We live in a world where more is better, and that spills over into the way that we live our life. So many of us try to add so much onto our list of things to do that we cannot enjoy the simple gifts that God has provided to us.

Rather than trying to have your child add take on another extracurricular activity (which often cost money), set aside a day or two each week to go to the park as a family. Take some time and use some creativity to find some ways that you can simplify your life, you will often find that over-complication comes at a cost.

You Are Not Living Within Your Means

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” – Hebrews 13:5

These days, we are all bombarded with images that scream Buy! Buy! Buy! As a result, it is incredibly common to fall into the materialism trap, though. Living in a bigger house or driving a new car will not make you happy in the long term. It is likely to only make you want more stuff.

If you are tempted to ‘keep up with the Jones’ by buying the latest and greatest things other people have, a shift in priorities may be in order. Coveting another’s possessions only leads to grief and debt.

This is certainly not to say that we cannot have nice things, we need only be sure that our priorities are in order. When considering a purchase I will often ask myself if it is going to bring added fulfillment to my life, or allow me to spend enjoyable time with my family. Not all purchases will fall into those categories, but do your best to make sure it isn’t going to pull in the opposite direction.

If nothing changes, nothing changes. Follow the basics of Christian finance and apply God’s word, and you too can enjoy a debt free life.