Nancy I take no issue with your position, except to point out that I believe the transition in attitude began in the late 19th century, and therefor your grandparents' behavior likely falls into the latter half of said transition.

I believe their attitudes towards debt probably was a lot more stringent than the average consumer's attitude is today, yet likely less stringent than that of THEIR grandparents.

I'm not trying to say that a declining attitude is the ONLY factor in our modern debt, but I believe it is one of enough significance to be put right up there on the list next to increased availability.

xtn