Credit card debt is nothing new in America, but have you ever really looked at the numbers? To some, they may be shocking.

Making that minimum payment on a credit card is bad news.

American consumers are well aware of those dreadful interest rates, but when you sit back and do the math on how much money you're really losing with plastic, you might think twice about getting that flat screen television you simply can't afford.

You might say credit card is king this time of year. With deals everywhere you go the infamous credit card is an easy way of getting what you want. At least that's what many of us think.

Americans are expected to spend an average of 8 hundred big ones this holiday season. If it all goes on a credit card with an 18 percent interest rate, and you make a minimum payment of 20 dollars, you’re in trouble.

Here's why. Paying the minimum on the 800 dollars you're expected to spend this year, your credit balance could double, taking it up to 11 years to pay it off.

That’s a pretty big number right? You might want to think about getting that piece of plastic paid off right away, or don’t use it at all.

Consumer advocates suggest looking for alternatives to bank cards, like community credit unions. They promote both savings and re- investments in the communities that they serve.

The best advice though, cash is king.