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"Hello, my name is Jenna, and I'm in credit card debt." That was the first big hurdle for me - admitting that this was a real problem. I'm sure you've been there. You don't think you have spent that much on your cards. A sweater here, a few groceries there, and soon you find yourself in the hole, and unable to pay it off every month. Soon, you rationalize that as long as you can make the payments, everything is fine.

The credit card companies want you to believe that. I believed it. Ten years later, my husband and I were $30,000+ in credit card debt. We didn't spend on frivolous things. We bought groceries, Christmas gifts, gas to get to work. And here we are.

The cards are literally stacked against us, folks. The good news is that it is not hopeless, not even for me. It's not easy, but it can be done.

1. Admit you've got a problem and stop doing it. Just stop spending. Remind yourself what these credit card payments are really taking away from you: financial stability, peace of mind, and your financial future. Think of all you could do with the money that you are currently sending to Visa and Mastercard.

The best way to keep yourself from spending mindlessly on credit cards it to put yourself on a budget. I can hear you groaning from here. It's not always fun (ok, I've never really had fun making out a budget), but it is worth it. I never realized how much money we wasted until we planned out our budget.

Even better, pay for things in cash whenever possible. It will really make you take stock of how important (or unimportant) that new dresss or game really is. This is the best way to help yourself stick to a budget.

2. Don't ever, ever, ever pay just the minimum. You will get nowhere fast paying the minimum. Even if you can only pay a few dollars more, do it. The minimum payment on most cards is 2-3% of your balance, while interest rates range from 0 to 25% and higher.

Still can't afford to pay more? Then there are two solutions: earn more or spend less. We had to do both until we got afloat. I had a full-time and part time job. I cashed out my vacation time. Couldn't afford to use it anyway. We ate vegetarian for a few months. Cancelled the cell phone and the cable (gasp!) I had two garage sales.

It sounds like a big pain in the rear, I know, but I wouldn't change a thing. That small, crucial sacrifice has had huge payoffs for me. There is no better financial lesson than to learn to live below your means.

3. Start with your smallest bill, and pay as much as you

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