Early last summer, I moved out of my expensive apartment. From that time till now, I'm paying 1/2 the rent I used to. I also no longer have 4 separate fluctuating utility payments. My current rent is a set amount and everything is included. Right there, all the extra money I was paying to utilities, went to paying off my smallest credit card debt. As I paid that off, I continued to pay the minimums on all other debts.

Once that smallest credit card was paid in full, I took the entire amount I was paying and rolled it over to my next debt. I did that till all the credit cards were paid in full.

Now the extra rent money only lasted a few months, till I was forced to start repaying my 2 student loans. That ate up the entire difference, so I had to get creative in finding extra monies. Put it like this, any payments, rebates, windfalls (no matter how obscure)...I took it and used it. I kinda make a game of it all, helps keep me from quivering in a pile of tears when I comprehend how much debt I have.

So that pretty much sums up my system and how I got started.

Again, not knowing Julie or anyone for that matter financial situation, if I had to offer general tips I'd say:

- Organize all your debts, w/software, spreadsheet or plain old paper & pencil
- Pay the most you can on the smallest debt and continue to pay the minimum on all the rest
- If you can, take 10% of what you bring in and add that towards your smallest debt repayment, plus it's a good habit to get used to living on 90%
- Snowball, snowball, snowball!
- If you were paying something for months on end and stopped, take that payment you were already living w/o and put it towards your debt
- If you are surprised w/extra money, take a few dollars of it and buy something fun, but use the rest to pay off your debt
- @ some point in your debt repayment, take a mini break and treat yourself. Use the repayment money for that month to do it. That'll save you from going into anymore debt

Lastly, get help. Talk to someone. Take a basic financial course. Neither of the two will solve your problems, but if you are feeling as hopeless and as helpless as I was last Fall, it helps emotionally. The counselor can help you set up a budget/repayment plan with your credit cards, and the financial course will connect you to other people in the same boat and give you a vision for your future.

I hope that helps a bit and while I don't follow him, check out Dave Ramsey for more financial advice.