Credit card debt is a widespread problem in the US: an estimated 29 million Americans have carried a credit card balance for more than two years, while 1 in 4 do not regularly pay off their balances each month. In total, Americans owe nearly $784 billion to credit card companies, while individual households owe an average of $17,000.

Creating habits allows our brains to devote less energy or pay less attention to routine behavior so we can devote that energy to more complicated tasks or learning new information. In other words, forming the right habits makes life a lot easier and allows us to grow.

If you’re in debt, the simple reality is that you have to cut back or you’ll live forever under the thumb of your creditors. Working your way toward financial freedom is a painful process; however, the journey is rewarding.

There’s no need to fret if your credit score is in rough shape. There are many ways to boost your score – just remember that it takes time. And even though some bad marks stay on your report for seven years or more, the weight these factors are given diminish overtime. Fixing your credit is just a matter of making smart financial decisions.