I am trying to pay off credit card debt and was wondering what other people's experience has been with this. Any good companies you could suggest?

We were able to pay ours off through our local credit union. We just took out a loan to consolidate everything. Of course you need to have collateral to do it that way. If you have equity in your home, that would be another option. If you don't have the collateral, there some credit counselling services that can help.

If you are in serious trouble, find a non-profit member of Consumer Credit Counseling. Don't use a company that will "fix" things for you. They get rich at your expense.

Some other hints, start paying in cash, turn in the cards or shred them. You might want to save one, put it in a ziplock bag with water and place it in the freezer. It will reduce impulse buying.

Oh, don't use a company that will "fix" things - find a non-profit member of Consumer Credit Counseling. They'll work on the long term repair. (It was worth repeating.)

If you are wanting to do it yourself, here is a good website: www.daveramsey.com/

Dave uses the "debt snowball" method of paying off debt. It works.

Or you can freeze it in juice and have a nice popcicle while you wait!

Just Kidding.

I like the debt snowball approach. Save 10% of your budget and add it to the smallest debt, when that is paid off, you take the 10% and the old payment and add it to the next smallest payment. I used this, it works. But you need to be disciplined and not use more credit cards and all that stuff, which was the hardest part. I also like it because no one else makes money off of you, like a "company". Good luck.

For credit cards and similar debt, you actually pay less in the long run by paying off the highest interest rate cards first.

Kaybee's right. Somewhere I have an excel spreadsheet that prioritizes credit card debt based on balance, interest rate, and one other factor that just escaped me. I'll look it up later at home.

For future reference so you do not get stuck in this situation again:

Cut up all the credit cards except one for emergencies. Do not charge anything unless you already have that amount in your checking account. When you charge an amount on your card, immediately deduct that amount from your balance in your checking account, so you will always know exactly how much free cash you have available. Get a debit card if you don't want to write checks or carry alot of cash around to pay for things.

And make this your mantra: "debt is bad...debt is bad...debt is bad...."