Each year, many Americans struggle to manage their medical expenses. Routine healthcare procedures can be expensive enough, but there are even more significant costs associated with emergency medical care, chronic illness management, and childbirth. Too many Americans are finding themselves drowning in the medical debt they’ve accrued from essential treatment and medication, with or without health insurance. Three major mistakes can cause patients to rack up more significant medical debt than is necessary, but fortunately, these strategies can help.

Getting accepted to an academic program can be one of the most exciting events in a student’s academic career. However, this excitement is often followed by panic. Many students and their families become overwhelmed by applying for financial aid, taking out loans, and cutting costs to afford a college education. Student debt is something that can plague individuals and their families long after graduation, but doing extensive research before borrowing can help. Here are a few things that borrowers should know about student debt before they sign on the dotted line.

Traditional approaches to eliminating debt tend to create a black-and-white view of money matters—reduce spending so you can increase debt payments.

It may seem counterintuitive, but investing while you’re managing and paying off loans can help you eliminate debt. How? By increasing the earnings you have available to make payments.

Living with the oppressive burden of credit card debt can be incredibly stressful, and breaking bad financial habits takes practice and dedication. For many borrowers, a debt-free future is achievable through hard work, financial education, and restraint. If you have recently conquered your credit card debt, you deserve heartfelt congratulations! You have overcome a major roadblock to good financial health. However, without careful consideration for your next steps, you might quickly find yourself back in debt. Keep these tips in mind as you navigate the world debt-free.

Avoiding debt can be tough. These days, debt in America affects almost everyone. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2018 study, only 23% of people are debt free.

I have tons of student loan debt—over $90,000, in fact—and no matter how much I cut back, it seems like there's never enough money left over to start saving. There are plenty of organizations out there who say they can help with this, but it's important to do your research before committing to anything— it may not actually be the best option.

If you have found yourself with seemingly-insurmountable debt, the road ahead can be unclear and perilous. Whether your balances are due to medical expenses, student loans, or credit cards, it can be incredibly challenging to get out of debt. Interest rates, loan terms, and hidden fees can make your repayment efforts seem futile. If you are looking to make wise financial decisions and get out of debt, avoid making these common mistakes.

For those who are just starting to get serious about their money, delving into personal finance education is a critical endeavor. Not everyone is exposed to finance-focused lessons in school. Many of us are expected to jump right into adulthood with very little formal education on things like loans, investing, and credit. If you are just starting your personal finance education journey, consider learning more about these three topics.

Congratulations! You’ve made the commitment to get yourself out of debt.

Eliminating debt is an important and difficult goal to achieve, but it can be done — if you do it the right way. Here are five common mistakes to avoid:

By LIMRA and LOMA