Written by: Stefanie O'Connell
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Earlier this week Credit.com reported the top ten states with the most credit card debt. While Q3 data shows the average credit card balance among U.S. cardholders at $3,769, the average balance in these top ten is well over $4,000.
What’s going on in these swipe happy regions to prompt such high rates of spending?
10. Colorado
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,152
Everybody must be flying high in the mile-high city. With recreational marijuana use now legal, there’s no fear of legal action when making a deal at the local head shop, but looking at these numbers, there certainly seems to be a high risk of credit damage.
9. Rhode Island
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,178
The mansions of Newport take “keeping up with the Joneses” to a whole new level. Sorry Rhode Islanders, no amount of credit is going to afford you a place like The Breakers.
8. Virginia
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,225
Virginia is for lovers… who spend way too much money doting on each other. These residents need to take a hint from Colonial Williamsburg and simplify their living.
7. Georgia
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,251
Because what else is there to do in Georgia?
6. Delaware
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,272
For being such a tiny state, Delawareans certainly know how to spend. Maybe they’re trying to compensate for something.
5. District of Columbia
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,332
Congress might not be passing any laws these days but at least they’re stimulating the economy with their spending. Who am I kidding? You know it’s the lobbyists racking up those charges with fancy drinks and dinners.
4. Maryland
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,355
Located on the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland is the sailing capital of the world. I guess all that yacht maintenance really takes its toll.
3. Connecticut
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,500
It takes a lot of debt to keep up the illusion that McMansions, top of the line SUVs, and private school tuition for four kids is completely affordable. What would the neighbors think otherwise?
2. New Jersey
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,593
That platinum blonde hair and orange spray tan doesn’t maintain itself. New Jerseyans spend a lot of money keeping their bling shiny and ready to go for impromptu clubbing down at the shore.
1. Alaska
Average credit card debt per cardholder: $4,653
Between neighboring Russia’s appetite for whimsically annexing sovereign countries and the Palin family, Alaskans are probably maxing out their credit cards in an effort to get out. I just hope they’re racking up some solid travel rewards while they do it.
Want to open a credit card of your own? Check out our top picks.
Source: Credit.com
Photo credits: baumerfineart.com, rhodeislandchange.org, easternshorevablog.com, casamexilio.com, wikimedia.org, yale.edu, threebestbeaches.com, howlingforjustice.wordpress.com
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