The secret that they are trying to hide from you is that getting out of debt is as simple as paying off your debt.

Sounds too simple to work. However, read any book, go to any seminar or enroll (and pay for) any program and you will find that there is no other way out of your debt. You must pay it off.

The average balance on a credit card in this country is $7,000 at 18.9% interest. The average household holds 10 credit cards. Most people with credit cards have trouble paying their minimum monthly payments.

How do you know if you have a problem with debt? Ask yourself these questions. You should be able to answer them off of the top of your head.

- How much do you owe and to whom?
- What are the interest rates you are paying?
- Have you ever missed a payment?
- Do you have savings? If so, how much and for what?
- What are your financial goals?

If you find that you don't know the balance on your credit cards, you could be on the verge of a debt problem. If you simply whip it out at the store without thinking, you could have a debt problem. If you are only paying your minimum payments and using your card because you don't have the money in your checking, you definately have a debt problem.

The fact is that you have to face your debt and deal with it before you can ever be financially sound. Do you want to retire? Do you want to send your children to college? Do you want to pay less bills? Do you want to sleep more and stress less?

Here are some basic tips to get you started on paying off that debt.

Make a budget and make it work for you. You have to track your spending. If you aren't good at this then work by the cash method. After the bills are paid, you put the checkbook and debit/credit cards away. For the rest of the month you have a set amount of cash. When it runs out -- you spend no more for the rest of the month. Most people respect cash a lot more than a checkbook or little plastic card.

Form an action plan for paying off your debts. List the debts, the amount owed and the interest rates. Decide which debts will be paid in what order. Get them paid off.

Eliminate your spending. You are going to have to cut things out of your life if you really want to eliminate your debt. But in the long run, a little sacrifice is for the good of your family and your finances. Do you really need to spend as much money as you do? Do you need that boat or motorcycle -- and its payment? Make decisions. If you can't cut your spending, you are going to have to take on a second job.

The thing is that you have to spend less and devote more to paying off your debt. It is the only way to get rid of it.