Another cheery email landed in my inbox this morning entitled - Bankrupt Britain. More of a personal finance-type release, rather than one aimed at businesses. Nothing like a light-hearted email to get the spirits soaring. It contained five reasons why the UK is spiralling into a crisis - and to top it all off insinuated that retirement dreams have been smashed by the underperforming stock market. Apparently the UK is being cushioned at the moment - but things are going to get worse. It doesn't need a detective to work that out. I had the misfortune to visit my old hometown last weekend - and the number of closed-down shops in the high street speaks volumes. I was speaking to a contact of mine recently who was telling me about the number of people that are in such bad debt, they are declaring themselves bankrupt at an alarming rate. This is what years of living beyond their means has done to people. I am so glad that I cut up my credit cards when I bought my first house 11 years ago. Credit cards are a slippery slope indeed.