When retirement is 19 credit cards and $40,000 in debt away

Susan Cannon is struggling to pay off her credit card debt due to the high interest rates.

Desiree Rios for BI

Sitting outside every morning with a fresh cup of coffee or reading a book in the front yard at night: it's the simple pleasures that matter to Susan Cannon.

Lately, sky-high interest rates on the 73-year-old's credit cards have cast a dark shadow.

"I can't get the balance down because I am still having to use credit cards at the end of the month to get groceries and gas," Cannon...