Temptation can strike if you hold on to credit cards and carry them with you. See something you like, buy it now, pay for it later. That is the curse of the credit card.

At the end of a shopping day, the total of your purchases can be overwhelming. It is almost like an uncontrollable urge, and the totals prove it.

It is really easy to get in trouble with credit cards. One does not usually mean to. But it happens when we least expect it. We may leave our credit cards home all month, then at the end of the month when money is tight, we put them in our wallets and make that first purchase. It is like a snowball effect after that, and the banks know it.

When you are caught up in this debt mess, it is tough to pull yourself out. The interest rates today will strangle your wallet. If you can only afford the minimum payment due, you will actually never pay it off. And if the credit card company cuts you off from spending, or raises your interest rate, you can feel like you are in quicksand.

You need to get out of the debt from this credit card. So, what are your options? You can get a loan with a lower rate and pay off this card. But the one thing you must do after that is destroy the card. This card can never again be used. It is of no use to you, anyway, if it is torturing you.

One used to be able to pay off a higher interest rate card with another one that had a lower rate. But these days, the rates are generally the same, and there is a fee attached to doing this. It hardly makes it worth it anymore.

There are debt consolidation companies that will help you out. They will figure out the best way for you to get out of debt in a way that you can afford. They will work with you, figure out what bills you need to pay and when, and calculate the best possible solution for you. But make sure they are reputable. It would seem that the best ones do not charge a fee at all. If they do charge, make sure there is a guarantee. And it might make sense to check them out with the Better Business Bureau before you sign anything. If you feel comfortable asking friends or family members if they have ever used a reputable debt consolidation company, a referral is the best thing.

It is hard to get out of debt problems these days, and much too easy to get into them. Sometimes the best thing is to leave your credit cards at home. If you have more than two, get rid of the other ones. Cancel them with the store or bank, to be sure they cannot be used by an identity thief. And realize that the best way to spend on things you need is with cash.

No one gets into debt because they want to. Debt is never an aim; it comes from spending money you don’t have. However good or bad your reason for doing that, getting a disciplined handle on your spending patterns is a must; this entire site is dedicated to saving money on everything and anything, and how to cut back where needed.

That’s why in this guide, my prime focus is on cutting the cost of your debts themselves, rather than looking at the bigger picture of all spending.

If you’re wondering how bad your debts are, as the old adage says, size isn’t everything. Even if your debt is manageable, one big danger signal is not knowing where it came from. If you didn’t ‘buy a car or a conservatory’, but have simply used credit cards or loans to fill the gap from continually spending more than you earn – that’s a major problem. If you continue to do this, more of your income will go to service the debts, leaving you borrowing more and more and creating a debt spiral.

Never borrow more to get out of debt

Traditional debt advice says ‘never borrow your way out of a debt problem’. Yet this ignores the varying cost of different debts. A more savvy approach is “never borrow more to get out of a debt problem.”

If it’s possible to borrow more cheaply elsewhere to replace existing borrowing, then this can provide a huge boost, as lower interest rates mean more of your cash goes towards repaying the actual debt rather than just servicing the interest. Those with big debts may save thousands a year in interest by being more savvy with their borrowing.

Communicate with your lender

It’s very important to get on top of debts as soon as possible. Don’t default or miss payments. Let your lender know if you’re going to be unable to pay; it’s always better to talk to them, though of course preventative measures such as reducing interest, expenditure, and being a smart consumer are the best form of action.