The average U.S. household has five credit cards. We all know that we're only supposed to have one, that it should never carry a balance and that it's only for emergencies. But the ugly truth is that between low introductory rates, balance transfer offers and tempting cash-back deals, many consumers simply find it too hard to rip up every single application that comes in the mail. This is especially true when the other cards are all maxed out and there's a new gadget or a pair of Manolo Blahniks crying out to be bought.

Memphis, Tennessee holds the unfortunate distinction of having the most people who have declared personal bankruptcy. As for the state as a whole, it has the highest per capita rate of bankruptcy filings overall, with approximately 8 filings for every 1000 residents. By contrast, the state of Alaska has the lowest per capita rate, with roughly one filing for every 1000 residents. The city with the lowest number of bankruptcies is Yonkers, New York.

The average American household owes over $10,000 in credit card debt. Of that amount, an average of $8,000 makes up their revolving debt, much of which is only seeing a minimum payment every month. With that in mind, it's easy to see how over 40% of American families are actually spending more money than they earn.

According to a study in the Journal of Extension, married couples have more automobile debt than any other kind, just barely edging out credit card debt. Automobile and credit card debt were said to have the greatest negative effect on marriages, while medical debts and school loans were viewed as "necessary" and therefore were better tolerated by married couples. In other words, your spouse will give you some leeway to go back to school, but you will get considerably less of it if you come home in a new SUV. So borrow wisely.

According to an Experian Consumer Research study, the average credit card-holding family uses 21% of its income paying monthly debt. By comparison, all households, whether they hold a credit card or not, use 13% of their income to pay monthly debts. This figure includes car payments, mortgage payments, medical bills and outstanding student loans.

According to the CreditCards.com survey, a whopping 59% of respondents said that when money's tight, they're most likely to let their credit card bill fall to the wayside, despite the fees and interest rate hikes that are sure to follow. As for the bills that they give priority, 52% of respondents said that the first thing they would pay is their mortgage, followed by 38% who said that they would pay their utility bills first.

It may seem hard to believe, but it's true: On a blind date, the person you have just met is more likely to tell you how much they weigh than how much they owe. Debt is truly a taboo subject, and this is why it is so many married couples sweep it under the rug until it can't be ignored any more.

About 17% of families --- roughly one in six --- only makes the minimum monthly payment on their credit cards. Most of those fitting this description are unlikely to ever pay these cards in full, unless their balance is very small and they have a very good APR. And as most people making minimum monthly payments have neither a small balance nor a very good APR, the odds of them getting out from under their debts are slim indeed. To find out where you stand in this equation, an online credit card calculator can determine how long it will take you to become debt-free, based on your balance, APR and monthly payments.

According to a National Center for Health Statistics study, marriages are most fragile --- and therefore most at risk of divorce --- during the first five years, and 20% of marriages don't last beyond that point. Since money is one of the subjects that couples fight about the most, a spouse who brings debt into a new marriage is putting that union at significant risk. However, a lot of young people seem to have gotten the message, and more college graduates have been delaying marriage and parenthood by several years while getting a better handle on their debts.

The APR on the average credit card is 14.4%. Believe it or not, this actually represents a decrease from the recent national average, if only a slight one. A series of new laws went into effect on February 22, 2010 that placed new regulations on credit card companies, who responded by raising their rates while they were still able to do so. The 14.4% rate represents a small decrease from those higher ones.