The American way is giving debt and we always accept it. I did that some years back. I tried to the best of my abilities to pay back the credit card bills, study loans, car loan and other essentials like food, gas bills, electricity bills that an adult requires in present years.
I tell you a story of my childhood friend who also accepted debt like many of other people. Almost seven to eight years ago, he was enjoying his music career which was on the peak that time. As it is in the cycle of life, time changed and somehow he lost his job. He tried to find another job but even at that time the job opportunities in music were very less. 
Then he decided to switch off to a teaching job in school. He was selected as an assistant to some professor and began to earn 9.75 dollars per hour. That account for a dramatic decrease in his income. On the other hand, he had no health insurance, no savings, and even could not pay his rent. He was using the money of his retirement account and was using credit card. After three years, luckily he got a good job in Northern Virginia with decent salary. But to bear the expenses of moving across the country all money was used from the retirement account.
He soon realized that he was using his credit card to fulfill his basic necessities like food, traveling expense and utility bills. He had $30,000 each in credit card debt and school loan debt.
