Consumers' debt dilemma: Here's what to know

Data shows that many Americans are missing the mark on executing financial basics like budgeting, building emergency savings, paying bills on time, even though they give themselves top grades on their knowledge of personal finance. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey that was conducted by the Harris poll, more than half of Americans do not have a budget. Two in five carry credit card debt monthtomonth with an average balance of about $6,500.And while lower inome households are ...