Well,I just found this forum and I want to share with you what I did to become credit card debt free. I do have a note on my car.

1. I faced my debt.

I finally got the nerve. I pulled every account. Called every one. Found out the ballance and intrest.

2. I face my bills.

I put down on paper EVERY scrap of money I paid each monh. Rent, insurance, XM radio, TIVo...every re-occuring bill including credit card payback minimums..

3. I looked at what I could trim from the bills.

Could I cut HBO? Could I cut down the phonce/cell service? WHERE could I trim fat and save money.

4. I made a budget.

Period. I knew that I made $1000 a paycheck (easy number to round). That means I made $2000 a month. My Bills, just my bills came to $1300 a month. This, for me, did not include gas, grocerys etc. This only was my re-occuring bills (power, cable, phone, rent, insurance etc)

5. This is Key! I opened a bill paying checking account.

This is what got me out of debt. Once I knew my bills came to $1300 a month, I put $1400 a month (700 a paycheck) into the billl paying account. I did get an atm/visa card, but the card NEVER left the house. NEVER. I would put that money into the account and was never late on a bill again. I padded the account because we all know the power bill CAN go up, or maybe the phone bill might go up. I padded for the unexpected.

The best thing was that SOMETIMES I forgot to pay the power on time. A month later I owe for 2 months. The old Gail would spend all the money in my checkng account. I didnt know how much I needed for bills. THIS way the money was ALWAYS there. Never spent. It only went to bills, ever. I ewas never late on a credit card payment again. Power. Car payment. It IMMEDIATLY helped fix my credit because I was paying stuff on time. The money was always there.

6. Now to the extra money.

I was left with $300 a paycheck. That sobers you up cause its not enough to live on. I MADE it enough. Thats what I had to spend on gas and food and anything else I needed. When I made more money I IMMEDIATLY paid more on my credit cards.
*note: I ALWAYS paid more than the minimum by at least $20. JUST paying the minimum is bad for your credit.

This also made me look at my bills and see where I could trim the fat. There were no more manicures and pedicures. I stripped my home phone to unlimied local and used my cell for long distance. I cancelled all the pay cable channels. I stopped eating out and buying lunch at work.

I did what I had to do to get out. It was hard. The hardest thing I did. But I think facing the fear of how much I REALLY spent was the worst. But it was a great accomplishment.

So I hope this helps people. I am now married and came into a marraige with NO debt at all. We can save, go on vacations and just be in a good place.