Only this time it's worse. Not only are the payments on the charge cards out of hand, but now their mortgage balance is higher, too. For most people, the problem is not the charge cards, it's the spending patterns of those who own the cards. I suggest you forget using your home equity, cut up your charge cards and develop a strategy to pay them off over time. If you do this, you'll be in a much better position in the future.
Stocks pay little or no dividends and are purchased for long-term capital appreciation.
Bonds on the other hand, pay interest and, if held to maturity, they realize no capital appreciation. This type of strategy yields little taxable income today, with the prospect of realizing gains on your stocks at favorable capital gains tax rates in the future. Let us hear from you.