I’ve written here before about the “I.O.U.S.A.” phenomenon of both many Americans and the U.S. government’s enormous amount of debt. This was even before we took on untold billions (trillions?) during the recent economic crisis and before Americans had to start using credit cards to make ends meet as they lost their jobs, food and gasoline started costing more and the winter costs of heating homes rose.

The New York Times has a great interactive feature about consumer debt. They use photos, videos, articles and interactive graphics to show how many Americans are deep in debt and how they got there. The feature also touches on credit card use overseas and allows you to see how your debt compares to the debt of fellow Americans.

For too long, people have been buying homes, cars and other luxuries that they could not afford, refinancing, racking up credit card bills with interest and not saving money. This feature shows what happens after years of failing to keep spending in check and not saving money.

It’s an interesting read, watch and listen that takes you into the heart of the crisis. What do you think about the enormous amount of consumer debt that many Americans carry? How do you manage your finances now versus before the crisis?