"This is one of the reasons people get in such credit trouble. It is a catch 22 they cannot get out of."

Wrong. Other than medical bills, the number one cause of too much debt is OVERSPENDING: spending more than you make. It's just that simple.

And you weren't going to be debt-free, as you claim: You'd still have a mortgage. That's plenty of debt.

I'd say you have some impulse control issues with all your credit card debt and other loans.