There are many attractions and advantages to using credit cards. They benefit the individual using the card, the merchants doing the selling and the financial institutions that control the credit system. So, since they benefit everyone they have become all pervasive and easy to get. To this extent, most people have at least one credit card in their wallet or bag. However, there is often a cost when things are too easy and in this case it means debt. People that don't manage their finances well can easily fall into large amounts of debt. This article will cover how to eliminate credit card debt without bankruptcy.

Credit card debt occurs on two fronts. People over extend themselves by buying stuff on credit when they don't have the money to pay for it. They voluntarily go into debt. Then they fail to pay off the monthly interest charges on this debt. This increases the overall cost of the items they bought and makes the debt even larger.

For many people this is a big hole that they can rightly claim to be all their own work. And as the saying goes, when you are in a big hole the first thing you need to do is stop digging. When it comes to credit card debt the way to stop digging is to set a budget.

Creating a budget is not the most exciting thing to do in life but that's not the point. A budget gives you information that can help you make the right financial decisions on your spending habits and what to buy and not to buy.

So, a budget is simple. Subtract the amount of money that you spend each month from the amount of money that you earn each month. You want this to be a positive number. If it isn't then you have to start making some changes to your spending habits.

Work out how much you spend on essential items. These are rent or mortgage payments, car payments or commuting/public transport costs, utility bills, grocery bills. Basically, you need shelter, you need to eat and you need to work to earn money. All these things are essential. Take the total cost of these items away from your monthly income. What you have left over is money you can spend.

If you are in debt you should earmark some of this left over money to go to your debt. This is lifting yourself out of the hole, even if it seems agonizingly slow. You can even treat yourself with some of this money, just don't go into more debt to buy your treat. Setting a budget is about spending less than you make.

When you have this information at your grasp then it is easy to know what you can and can't afford. However, the budget is no good if you don't follow it. You need to stay within budget every month until you have reduced your debt.

If discipline is a failing of yours, especially when it comes to credit cards, then think about getting a debit card instead.