One of Suzy Orman's ideas that I found most helpful was write down your balances for each of your cards and your interest rates. Put with your bills - I kept a ledger and wrote in pencil, so I could easily change the dropping balance due -- I was always excited to see it knocked down! There is something about seeing the visual - like watching the scale go down when you're trying to lose weight.
I definitely agree with trying to be on the lowest rate cards as possible. Do you have some available funds on the 0% card that would allow you to transfer some of the debt from the higher interest card, without paying a big processing fee? It's heaven to have a 0% interest card!
I also would have a plan on how to pay down the cards, - take the one with the lowest balance and put as much toward it as possible, then when its paid off take what you would have pd on that card & add it to the amt you have available for the card with the next lowest balance due.
You have to be diligent. I do believe in keeping one card - there are somethings in this world you have to have a credit card for. Get rid of the rest, and file the one away for emergencies, airline tix, etc.
Do you have equity in your house?? This would be the best place to borrow, if you really had to -- but if you do this, don't go out and spend freely again.
Watch what you spend - for several years I kept track of every penny I spent, it was interesting to see where it was going, or how I could justify. Maybe tracking your expenses of 1-3 mths will show you a pattern of where you can cut back. I've never had cable/satellite so I don't think that is a necessity, can you read the newspaper online, cut out any extra expenses.
This all takes DISCIPLINE - something that is very difficult for many of us. I still struggle at times, luckily my favorite department store has a 0% interest credit card -- and sometimes I buy something, and keep it for several days in the closet and then get it back out and decide I don't really need it -- back to the store it goes!
