Statistics released recently show that over the past five years Americans have taken on heavier and heavier loads of debt. It’s at the point where the average household is carrying a very heavy burden. One of the scariest aspects is the amount of home equity lines of credit and the car loans people have taken on. So, what’s really behind all this debt people are taking on? Usually it’s that people are trying to maintain a lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American wage has fallen. When you see surveys asking people about whether they feel we’re going in the wrong direction as a country, part of it is due to the drop in salaries and wages. Of course, other people are making great money. Doctors, for instance, are making more than normal. Airline pilots and nurses are making also making more. But many fields have seen huge wage drops. Servers have seen wages drop, as have truck drivers, dental hygienists and school teachers. It reemphasizes the point that the more skills you have and the broader your education, the better off you will be. If you are suffering from a decline in income, look for ways to trim your expenses.