Many readers are avoiding — or trying to eliminate — debt

Occasionally, the timing for a column is just right.

Such was the case last week, when I wrote about Americans' growing debt load and questioned consumer confidence going forward. Since that column appeared, several reports have showed a decline in confidence and an uptick in fears that we face a double-dip recession.

Having good timing is pretty bittersweet in this case!

However, another survey that appeared in my inbox last week and readers' feedback on their own debt situations have me feeling encouraged.

The new survey came from BillShrink, a search engine that claims to compare products and services against a person's unique needs. It shows that Americans are "aggressively" paying down their credit card debt.

BillShrink said in a press release that it surveyed 220,000 people who visited its website looking for advice on credit cards and found that 67 percent are paying down their credit card balances in full each month. The company said that is a 24 percent increase over last year.

That's good news, and I hope it continues.

Some local readers are following that trend. For example, Brady wrote in an e-mail that he had been "living with the idea that leveraging and creating debt was the way to go. The past two years were my personal Great Depression education."

"Save, be frugal and buy everything with cash," he wrote. "No more cards. Amex went flying out the window. Everything but the house is paid for, and that is next in 15 years. Thank you for hard times to make me realize I never want to do that again. Ever!"

Congratulations, Brady! I'm sure those lessons were tough to learn, but I know you won't forget them.

Another reader, Stacie, is determined to head in the same direction, despite some bumps in the road.

"Our family has increased credit card debt this year out of necessity and some improved consumer confidence," she wrote in an e-mail. "After holding the line on spending for nine months, it became necessary to replace much-needed household and personal items.

"This increase in spending has caused us to sign up for more consumer debt than we are comfortable with. A May wedding and summer vacation (we skipped this last year) have depleted extra dollars. We continue to pay down a home equity loan for a basement remodeled two years ago. Uncomfortable with debt? Yes! Paying it down? As fast as the budget will allow."

Keep chipping away at it, Stacie. As long as you're determined to do the right thing, you'll get there.