Stop Borrowing Money

The first step to escaping debt is to stop borrowing. Simply put, the more you borrow, the more you will owe. You can't borrow your way out of debt, but must instead pay off your existing debts while not borrowing additional funds.

If you are a typical consumer, you engage in a lot of borrowing by making purchases with credit cards. You should try to break this credit habit. Most credit card companies and store cards will reduce your credit limit if you ask them to do so. (The credit card company may try to talk you out of lowering your credit limit - because they make the most money when they let you borrow more than you can afford.) You can also cut up some or all of your credit and store cards.

Budget Your Income and Expenses

Map out your income, expenses, and payments on your existing debts for a typical month, and create a balanced household budget. Remember to budget some money for emergencies - if you are fortunate enough that no emergency occurs, you can either save the money for future emergencies or (if you are afraid that you will spend it) use it to pay down some of your debts.

If you are paying credit card debts, budget to pay more than the minimum required monthly payment. Minimum payments are usually set in an amount such that, if you don't make an additional payment toward the credit card balance, you will never pay off the debt. Usually, your credit cards will carry the highest interest of any of your debt, and thus it will make sense to pay them off first.

If you cannot figure out how you can possibly pay your bills and still have enough money to survive at the end of the month, you may wish to consider using a credit counselor or a debt management service. You may also wish to consider the possibility of a debt consolidation loan.

Stick To The Budget

For many people, this is the hardest part - it is easy to create a theoretical budget which allows them to get their debts under control, but impossible to resist the impulse purchases which break the bank each month.

You can help avoid temptation by cutting up your credit cards and instead making your purchases with cash. As previously mentioned, you can also have your credit limits lowered.

If you need help creating a workable budget or sticking to the budget, as previously suggested, you may wish to work with a debt management service.