Serious personal debt is not just frightening in the here and now for many Americans — it’s a problem that can come back to bite them down the road.

A recent report from CreditCards.com found that a shocking 68 percent of U.S. adults with debt are not confident they will ever be able to pay that debt off.

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“This includes 30 percent who said they’ll never be debt-free, and another 38 percent who don’t know when (or if) they’ll achieve the milestone,” the organization said in a media statement. “A more optimistic 32 percent gave an estimated time frame to get there, indicating an average of roughly nine years.”

LifeZette reached out to financial expert Rachel Cruze to shed some light for readers on this financial morass. Cruze has spent years helping everyday American consumers learn the right way to handle money and stay out of debt; she’s also the author of three best-selling books, including “Love Your Life, Not Theirs” and “Smart Money Smart Kids,” which she co-wrote with her father, Dave Ramsey.

Question: Why has this become such a problem for Americans as we start 2018 — getting head over heels in debt like this?
Answer: The main problem is not having a plan. Whenever you don’t have a specific goal you’re working toward with your monthly income, and overall financial life, it’s hard to see how it is possible to get out of debt. That’s why it’s so important to make (and stick to) a budget.

Q: So what are some immediate steps people who are in this kind of debt should take? And then, longer term, what should they do about it?
A: First, you need a monthly budget. If you have no idea where your money is going every month, it’s impossible to make sure you’re putting that hard-earned money toward things that matter — like getting out of debt! With a monthly budget, you should be making sure your basic needs are taken care of — food, housing, utilities, transportation — and then paying off as much debt as possible.

You may need to make some lifestyle cuts, so take a look at what you’re spending your money on outside of your basic needs. The budget will help you see how much extra you can put toward that debt.

Related: The Secrets of Family Financial Fitness

Debt robs you of your income. Pay off your debts using the “debt snowball.” List your debts smallest to largest, regardless of the interest rate. Attack the smallest debt with every dollar you have, while making minimum payments on everything else. Once you’ve knocked it out, roll everything you were paying on the first debt to the second debt.

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Keep going until you’re completely debt-free — except your house.

Take an extra job or work overtime to get extra money. If you’re working a full-time job, the thought of working even more hours might wear you out. But, remember, this is just temporary. The faster you get the debt paid off, the faster you can return to a sense of normalcy in your life.

Steer clear of debt altogether. When you have debt, you don’t get to decide what to do with your money. Focus on living on less than you make.

Related: The Four Best Ways to Get Rid of Those Student Loans Quickly

Q: All of that makes sense. But what should the rest of the population — those who are not in such crushing debt — be aware of so that they do not fall into the trap we’ve just discussed?
A: Make a plan with your money and save. It’s important to make saving a priority, because having nothing in savings adds to the stress during crisis moments. That’s why having a $1,000 starter emergency fund is key. After you pay off all your debt, increase that to three to six months of living expenses.

Don’t focus on instant gratification. Have fun — but stay where you can spend only cash.

It’s also important to save for big life events like weddings and retirement. The sooner you begin putting money away for these things, the more prepared you’ll be when it’s time to pay for them.

Don’t focus on instant gratification. Have fun — but stay where you can spend only cash.

Using cash will help you stay on track with your budget and prevent you from overspending.