New York is #1 on the Wrong List

Are Central New Yorkers spending too much to keep up with the Joneses? According to a new report, the answer is yes.

Wallet Hub ranked the financially savviest states, and while New York ranked #10 in the country overall, we were ranked #1 in two less desirable categories:

• % of credit usage
• Total debt as a % of median income

Basically, that means our credit cards are the most maxed out and we probably have more debt than we can afford. Nothing like making those minimum credit card payments for life.

Massachusetts was the most financially savvy state, and Mississippi was the least.

Steps to Take to Get Out of Debt

The best way to get out of debt, is to not get INTO debt in the first place - but if you're already there, there are some steps you can take to get out.

According to credit.com, the first thing you need to know is exactly how much you owe. Write it all down. Next, see if you can consolidate credit card debt onto a card with a lower interest rate. Then, make a plan and stick to it.

As the late comedian George Carlin once said:

We buy (stuff) we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like.

This is not the list we want our state to be number one on.

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