Credit card debt can quickly pile up, especially during the holidays. People tend to apply for more store credit cards and spend more money on their current credit cards this time of year when compared to other times of the year. It can be easy to get caught up in the sales and buying gifts for your loved ones. Unfortunately, it can also be easy to rack up a lot of debt too. If you have been guilty of doing this during the holiday season, you will need to work hard to get your credit card debt back under control. Follow these steps to get on the right track.

• Track your spending. Take a look at all of the things you have purchased in recent months, both with cash and with your credit card. Mark down all things you have to pay (like your mortgage or car payment) and then label all extra purchases. Knowing where your money is going is the first step to being more in control of your finances.
• Make a budget. Since you know what you are spending every month as well as what you bring home, you can easily make a budget that you can stick to. Developing a budget can help you to figure out where you can save money or put it towards your credit card payments.
• Focus on a payback strategy. When you have the budget figured out, you can then take the time to create your credit card debt payback strategy. You want to pay this back as soon as possible in order to pay the least amount in interest. Focus on paying back as much as possible after each paycheck and you will soon be able to pay your credit cards off and have more money to enjoy as a result.

If you are still spending money on your credit card, you need to commit to halting all spending.You tend to pay more for things when you purchase them with a credit card. Put your credit cards away so you are not tempted to use them for any transaction. Whatever you do though, do not cancel them. You will be improving your credit score while you are paying it off so keep it open.

Do not forget to track your progress. No matter how much you have to pay off, tracking your progress and seeing how much you have left to pay off serves as motivation. Keep track of it so you know how much more you have to pay and how long you will be focusing on the payments. It can take some time to get out of debt, much longer than it took to get into debt, so do not get discouraged along the way. Good luck!

Lee Paulk Morgan

Lee Paulk Morgan

With more than 41 years of experience in the areas of Bankruptcy, Disability, and Workers’ Compensation, Lee Paulk Morgan is one of the most respected Bankruptcy and Disability attorneys in Athens, Georgia. His tireless dedication to serving clients has gained him the reputation of a premier attorney in his areas of practice, as well as the trust and respect of other legal experts, who often refer clients to him.