Video: Don't buy now, pay later

Living above your means is an easy thing to do ... too easy. Credit is everywhere, and you can borrow it for almost everything. But a commitment to living within your means is a first step in working toward the future. Think about it. When you finance your current lifestyle with credit, you're reducing future spending, plus interest!

If you have a big credit hangover, you'll have to take your medicine and get out from under your past spending, too. Debt restructuring can free up some money in the monthly spending plan, but it doesn't pay off debt. It just changes the terms.

Don't make that decision lightly, especially if you're considering a cash-out refinancing of your mortgage to pay off your credit cards. And, don't run up the card balances all over again.