Paying Off Credit Card Debt

Are you ready to finally get your debt under control?? Really??

Some of these tips we've already gone over so if you haven't already done them, what are you waiting for?

1. Make a list of your cards and their interest rates. Pay off highest interest rates first.
Continue to make payments on your other cards.

2. Call each company and ask for a lower rate. You may be surprised how easy it is. And if you don't ask, the answer is always NO.

3. Either set up automatic payments from a savings or checking account or do what I do and every payday make an online payment of at least 1/2 of minimum payment. Of course, you'll have to diligent and make sure the 2nd 1/2 of the payment is in before the actual due date. On you are on schedule though it is a fool-proof system. You avoid late payments, extra fees and possible interest rate increases.

4. Consider transferring all debt to a low or zero interest card.

5. Personally, I recommend closing accounts after they are paid off if you aren't going to be using them. But if you will be purchasing a home or a car in the near future, it's probably best to not close a bunch of cards all at once.

Every March, when I get my free credit reports, it seems like I find store credit cards I had forgotten about, so I write to the issuing company and close them. It has never negatively affected my credit.

6. After paying off one card, use the money that did go to that payment to pay off the next highest card faster. Or split that freed up money over the rest of your payments, this is of course if you haven't consolidated your cards.