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what your budgetary situation is like. Starting with a best case scenario, which will be one where with a bit of effort and diligence on your part the debt can be cleared without third party interventions such as bankruptcy. We'll address worst case scenarios a little later but they will typically involve filing for bankruptcy or seeking debt consolidation and counseling services.

In a best case scenario, you may find that trimming off the luxury expenses gives you breathing room to start whittling away at your debt. The following suggestions, taken alone or in combinations, could help you on your way to eliminating your credit card debt.
Consider setting up auto-drafts to pay your bills directly from your checking or savings account so that you do not compound the problem by incurring late fees and/or over-limit fees if your payments have not been received before the cycle closes.
Always pay more than the minimum due, even if it is only rounding up the amount to the nearest dollar. The point is to knock down the principal balance, which in turn may result in lower interest payments and fees.
When setting up your plan of attack, pay attention to the interest rates charged on your various cards. It may seem like a good plan to pay off your lower balance cards first but if you have a card with a high interest rate and a high balance paying that one down may save you more money in the long run.
As you pay off your credit cards, use the money you had budgeted to pay off the card for another.
Pay as you go and stick to your budget. It seems simplistic but in our culture this concept has become almost antiquated. Of all the tips and advice, this is perhaps the most important and if you can follow this rule you will be amazed at how quickly your finances will become stable.
Consider seeking a credit counselor to help you understand credit card debt management.

Unfortunately, you may find that even after stripping out the luxury expenses you still can not make ends meet. In a worst case scenario, this may mean seeking credit card debt help from a credit card debt management service. The options at this stage can involve debt consolidation services or bankruptcy. Some credit card debt consolidation can be managed by using the equity in your home; however, one should be very careful using this option. A home equity loan to consolidate your debt should not be a recurrent activity nor should you use the credit line to finance your lifestyle.

Other forms of consolidating your debt could be in the form of high-interest personal loans that take your vehicle or other personal or real property as collateral. Do your homework before taking out this sort of loan so that you know you are dealing with a reputable company.

There are also a number of consumer credit organizations that may be of assistance in determining which option is best to meet your needs.

If you decide to declare bankruptcy you should be sure that you understand the ramifications of seeking bankruptcy. Many employers are now running credit reports on perspective employees and a bankruptcy can be seen as a strike against you. Likewise, a bankruptcy on your credit report can have an effect on your insurance rates. Bankruptcy is not a "quick and easy" fix for your credit card debt. It should be considered only as a last resort.

Getting in debt was rather easy, getting out will be difficult but not impossible.

Learn more about this author, Mairead Walpole.
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