Trying hard to reduce credit card debt, but still falling further behind each month? Here are five reasons that may be happening.

1. You operate without an emergency fund. The unexpected happens, and if you haven’t planned for it, it’s probably going to cause you to go into debt. Set up an emergency fund to cover those unexpected medical bills, car repairs and other spur-of-the-moment expenses that crop up, and keep your credit card out of it.
2. You allow yourself to splurge. We all deserve the occasional treat, but spending money you don’t have is never a treat, even if that money is used to buy something really cool. Restrict your splurge spending to what you can afford now, and you’ll be treating yourself to a better financial situation today and into the future.
3. You pay full price for things. Buying things at retail when you could have bought them on sale or with coupons is like throwing money away, and that just doesn’t make sense, especially when you’re in debt. Strive to get the best deal on everything you need, from your car to your groceries to your electric bill and everything in between. If this seems like a hassle, just remember: It’s a lot less painful to whip out a coupon than it is to whip out a credit card.
4. You ignore the need for a budget. Think budgets are overrated? Then expect to find your credit cards over-charged. If you don’t now how much money you have and how it is spent, you can’t begin to make decisions about whether you’re spending your money wisely or whether you can afford to buy something. You’re just spending blindly and hoping everything turns out well-not a good strategy.
5. You create a budget but don’t follow it. Budgets are great, but here’s a funny thing about them: they only work when you follow them. Commit your budget goals to memory, remind yourself of those goals as you spend and track your progress towards those goals throughout the month. It’s the only way to take your budget from paper to reality.