Credit card debt is a fact of life. That needs to change as soon as possible, especially if you want to survive the economic crisis. To do just that, read on.
Don't Spend What You Don't Have
Credit cards are very convenient, no argument. With credit cards, you don't have to carry a wad of cash every time you go out, you only use a small, thin card to pay for your purchases and you get to shop even if you don't actually have the money to pay for it. That last one is the problem.
Credit cards make it easy for you to buy something on the assumption that you can pay for it someday. Most people rationalize that they can easily pay off their credit card purchase by paying a fraction of the item's price every month. Unfortunately, that is not always the case which is, of course why many people are finding themselves in credit card debt nowadays.
If you really want the convenience of a credit card, use a debit card. With a debit card, you are buying with your own money. Thus, you can be sure that when you buy, it is paid for then and there. You won't have monthly payments or interest rates. It's a win-win, unless you want to buy something which you don't have the money for. If, you really need to spend what you don't have, read the next one.
Pay Your Debts Right
If you read your monthly credit card bill, you'll see some figures their labeled as “minimum amount due”. Avoid paying that as much as you can.
If you only pay the minimum amount on your bill, you're not actually paying to lessen your debt balance. You need to remember that the longer your balance stays on your bill, the higher the interest you are getting. So what you really want to do is ignore that deceiving “minimum amount due”, calculate the highest amount you can pay towards your actual debt balance and pay that amount. That way, you avoid the high interest rates and get to congratulate yourself on playing smart.
However, if you're in over your head already, the last one is for you.
Move To A Cheaper Card
Credit companies love to sell you credit cards. It can be annoying but it can give you a break with your credit card debt problem. If your credit card is an old one, the interest rate on that card is probably higher than that of a new card.
What you should do is to get a new card with a low or even zero interest rate and move your card balance to that. Just be aware that the low or zero interest rate is usually offered for a limited time, usually a few months. Make sure you maximize your payments during that period to get the best out of the deal.