At a time when Americans owe close to $800 billion in credit card debt, the myth is that credit cards are primarily financing America's luxury lifestyles-helping white suburban families pay the costs attached to extravagant homes, luxury cars, and golf club memberships-or helping those who aspire to these lifestyles. "Up to Our Eyeballs" reveals the disturbing reality that credit cards are in fact the new "safety net," being used by desperate middle- and low-income families to manage essential expenses. In the increasingly volatile American economy, where a decline in work-related benefits like health insurance and pensions has accompanied a rising cost of living and increased job instability, consumer debt has become a fact of life for many American families. "Up to Our Eyeballs" is a troubling examination of the causes and consequences of this explosive rise in consumer debt. Including a critical look at how the financial industry became the aggressive, hyper-profitable industry it is today, this book also incorporates solutions that will be of real relief to struggling households.