Introduction

When I was in my 20s, I managed to rack up more than $20,000 in credit card debt. I have no excuse for my situation. I spent a ridiculous amount of my time shopping and I never tracked my spending. It didn’t take long for me to start carrying balances on my credit cards from month to month. I should have been alarmed the first time this happened, but I didn’t even bat an eye. Carrying a balance become my new normal.

Before long, I was maxed out on seven different credit cards. Seven! My shopping addiction had an emotional element, for sure. I focused on expensive clothes and designer shoes. All of these things were supposed to give me more confidence at work. It actually did—for about one day. Like a drug, the high eventually wore ...

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