longer feed your family (obviously). Is it when you can't make payments any longer and are considering bankruptcy? Is it when you struggle to make minimum payments and begin to accumulate credit card debt.

To me the answer is that you are spending too much money when you carry a credit card balance and don't max out your tax-advantaged retirement options like 401k/IRA, etc. I am amazed to see how many people don't take advantage of their company's 401k match.

I'm curious to see what others think. What would it take for you to decide that your spending was out of control and that you had to take drastic measures in order to fix your financial situation?