Debt isn’t limited to credit card spending. We give credit cards extra attention in this article because they offer such an easy way to get into debt. But there are plenty of other opportunities, too. Here are a few:

* Loans from parents and other family members to pay for unexpected (or at least unplanned-for) expenses—a major car repair, a plumbing emergency, winter coats and boots for your kids

* Money borrowed from friends to cover lunch or small expenses

* Gas station cards

* Store account cards

* Paying late, or over time, for services such as dental work and car repairs

* Stretching your budget by paying regular monthly bills late (in effect, borrowing from the companies to which you owe money)

* Payday loans (loans to cover expenses just before payday—generally at very high interest rates)

* Advances on wages or commissions from your employer

* Borrowing from a life insurance policy

* Credit reserve or overdraft privileges on a bank checking account

These are all ways to pay for things you need before you have the money to cover the expense. And they’re all ways to accumulate debt.