What is fiscal deficit?

Ever wondered what happens when a government spends more than it earns? Think of it like running up your credit card bill. If the money's spent wisely - say, on education or infrastructure - it's an investment in the future. But if it's all going towards dining out and impulse buys, you've got a problem. This gap between what the government spends and what it earns is called the fiscal deficit, and it's one of the most important indicators of a country's financial health.