The most common reason people fail to achieve financial goals is their debt payments consume all of their discretionary money.

Often the only way we can buy a home is to take on mortgage debt—and we consider such debt acceptable.

Often we take on debt to purchase a car; otherwise we might not get to work. Such debt is borderline “OK.”

And student debt? Let’s hope we have a higher-paying career because of it.

But all other debt—most often credit card debt—is to be avoided at all costs and to be paid off as quickly as we can.