Your Credit Debt Needs Good Old Fashioned Management

I came across a magazine from the 1990's recently. After paging through the funky clothing, ratted hair, and recipes swimming in fat, I found myself reading an article about how to get out from under credit card debt. Curious to see if the debt relief world has changed in the last decade or so, I read on. Back in the 1990's when credit was king, there would have to be different strategies for reducing personal credit, or at least, different attitudes, right?

Surprisingly, basic credit card reduction principles haven't changed very much since 1992. You might think that during times of loose credit that debt reduction would be different than in times of tight credit. However, it appears my assumptions were mistaken.

Standard money management methods apply as always; spend only the cash you have on hand and put money away every month. Basic economic principles do not change over time no matter what shape our credit industry is in today as opposed to a decade or more ago. What's changed is we have become dependent on credit cards.

Debt relief tips didn't get much notice in the 90's, but I'm sure there are many people in today's world that need solid advice for getting out from under their credit burden. We have become too dependent on personal credit cards over the years and now appreciate good, solid advice on how to reduce our debt.

If you are serious about getting that credit card debt under control, there are a few standard steps to follow. The steps outlined here are very similar to the steps outlined in the article from 1992, and will help you get back on the road to financial recovery:

1) Cut Up Your Credit Cards - Painful as this may be, it's a crucial first step. Start by cutting up in-store credit cards and work your way up to your major credit cards, then stop. You want to keep one major credit card, meaning a Visa, Master Card, American Express, and the like, for the purpose of booking flights, hotel rooms, and for emergencies. Review your remaining major credit cards, determine which has the lowest interest rate, with no annual fee, and keep that one card. Now, cut up the remaining cards.

2) Figure Out Your Financial Bottom Line - Time to look at the money you have coming into your household. You need to develop a basic budget before you go on. Take what's spent on household necessities each month, like housing, food, clothing, heat, and so forth. Subtract that from your monthly take-home pay. You have now figured out what you have left to send your creditors. You need to have this information before you go any further, so, sit down now with paper and pencil and figure out your disposable income.

3) Take a Deep Breath and Call Your Creditors - This is the step that is the most unnerving, but it's necessary if you want to achieve your goal of credit card freedom. Gather the last month's statements from all your credit cards. Call the customer service number and tell the credit card company employee that you want to pay off your debt, but cannot afford to make the monthly payments as they are currently set. Ask for lower interest rate and reversal of late fees. Credit card companies are negotiating, but you need to be firm.

4) Time For Sacrifice - We all love it when we get our income tax refund, or a bonus at work, or what we call "found money." I hate to be a wet blanket here but, every extra penny you have must be used to pay down your debt if you expect your plan to work. Anytime you "find" money, think about how many times that money is "lost" again when you pay interest on an unpaid credit card balance. You'll get a faster return on that found money when you use it to pay down a debt.

5) Stick With Your Plan - It may take a year or more to see real gains with your plan. No matter what the commercials say, you can NOT significantly pay down your credit card debt in six months if you have a substantial debt. Consider how much time it took to accumulate the debt and realize you won't be able to erase it in the same amount of time. However, with determination, after about six months you should start to see some relief. When you see those balances start dropping finally, don't get restless and start splurging again. If you need a reminder of what just one splurge could cost you, go back and add up all the interest you paid on your credit card. That information should keep you on the straight and narrow.

6) Consider a Debt Consultant Only After Serious Research - In the last decade, debt consultants have blazed a trail for themselves. Offering credit card relief "quickly and painlessly" is often heard in their commercials, but we know that's not possible. Do careful investigating before you decide to hire a debt consultant. Interview them in person and ask detailed questions like how much of your payment is actually going to the credit card company and how much they keeping. If they tell you not to worry, they'll take care of everything, you need to stop the interview and keep looking. Any debt consultant that you consider should be checked out with the Better Business Bureau. You may also wish to ask for advice on choosing a debt consultant from reliable family and friends.

When credit became too easy to get, many of us found ourselves with too much credit card debt. Now, we are faced with the unpleasant and difficult task of getting ourselves out of debt. The methods we use to free ourselves from credit card debt are tried-and-true for many years. With determination and a well laid out plan, credit card debt will be a thing of the past and financial stability can finally be yours.

Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane mom and owner of ShowMomtheMoney.com - a resource dedicated to helping moms achieve success working from home. She invites you to learn more ways to save money in her Frugal Moms section. Be sure to sign up for her free tutorial for work at home moms.