Jonquilyn Hill

Americans are in serious debt.

Together, we owe nearly $1.3 trillion in credit card debt alone.

And our average balance?

Around $6,500 each.

Owing that much can get really scary and overwhelming.

I know firsthand that you can make your way out of it, but it can be really hard.

And that credit card ended up in collection.

I'm Jacqueline Hill.

It's Explain It to Me from Vox.

And this week, how did we get in so much debt?

And is there a way to work the cards instead of the cards working us?

For a lot of people, getting your first credit card is a rite of passage into real adulthood.

When Angel Sevilla was 18, he walked into the credit union where he had an account and asked about getting a card.

And they essentially just handed me one.

It took no time at all.

The woman is really friendly and she brings me these forms and I sign away my life and not knowing what I'm signing.

And it really only took about, I think, 15 minutes.

And I walked out with a credit card and I felt empowered.

I was like, wow, that was easy.

Being an adult is great.