I racked up $40,000 in credit card debt and kept it a secret from everyone. At 40, I had to move in with my parents to pay it down.

Johanna Dickson. Courtesy of Johanna Dickson Johanna Dickson moved back home to New Jersey to tackle $40,000 in credit card debt accumulated in NYC. Johanna's debt began with store credit cards and escalated due to financial mismanagement. She used a debt relief program to reduce her debt and plans to move to Washington state soon. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Johanna Dickson, a 42-year-old who moved back to her parents' house in New Jersey to help her pay off years…