Warning flags go up for 'Red Tuesday'.

• Position: Consumer Debt - Overspending - Brief article

Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping already may have led to what the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, Fairfax, Va., has dubbed a "Red Tuesday" for some consumers. According to the National Retail Federation, Black Friday and Cyber Monday traffic and spending were up over the entire weekend that began as early as Thanksgiving Day for some and ended on the following Monday. Consumers who spent without a plan using their credit cards may have added to their debt load as they head into the end of the year.

"Regardless of what the economy is doing, our member offices generally see an increase in calls from consumers after the first of the year," says David Jones, president of AICCCA. "An increased debt load due to holiday overspending is almost always a big contributor."

For those facing a Red Tuesday, AICCCA advises consumers to stop, look, and...