Credit card debt is one of those things that can sneak up on even the financially-informed.

NerdWallet’s new piece on their team of experts sheds some light on how anyone is susceptible to the dangers of credit card debt.  Common threads include using credit cards for single large purchases that you’re later unable to pay off, or letting everyday expenses get in the way of paying down looming, high-interest credit card debt.

The allure of 0% APR, rewards, or cash back is a great deal for most people.  But most of the experts expressed regret that when cash was available, they didn’t simply pay down the cards and tighten their belts sooner – even digging into financial-expert-recommended emergency funds to pay them down.

It’s an important reminder to all of us – credit isn’t free.