1. Figure out how much you owe. Collect all your credit card statements and make a list that includes the interest rates, total amounts you owe and minimum monthly payments. List the cards by the interest rates they charge with the highest rate first and so on.

2.. Keep the one card with the lowest interest rate and cut up the others and close the accounts. If you don't have a card with an interest rate of less than 14%, get one.

3. Resolve that you will use your cards only for essentials over the next six months. For other purchases, use cash or a debit card.

4. Credit cards often require very low minimum payments of about 2.5%. Pay only the minimum and you will be paying forever. For example, if you only make minimum payments, and you owe $1,000 on a card with a 17% interest rate, it might take 12 years and cost over $900 in interest by the time you pay it off.

5. Calculate how much you can pay over the minimum. Really stretch your budget. For instance, let's suppose the minimum payments on your credit cards total $350 a month. What could you pay if you really stretched? How about $550? No pain, no gain.

6. Apply all of your additional funds towards the card with the highest interest rate. If two cards have the same rate, put the additional money on the card with the largest balance. Pay the minimum on your lowest interest rate credit cards until you've paid off the balance on the more expensive cards.

7. Consolidate your debt. Many credit card issuers offer introductory rates as low as 5.9% or 6.9% for six months. If you're really serious about getting out of debt in a hurry, transfer your largest, high-rate balances to a card with an extremely low rate and pay them down aggressively.

8. If you are unable to transfer all balances to one low interest rate card due to your debt to income ratio or because you are juggling and "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" then consider contacting a credit counselor at 1-800-SAVE-ME-2 (1-800-320-9929). Debt management programs usually can organize debts into one low monthly payment, reduced or eliminate interest charges, and help restore credit ratings.

9. Consider using your savings to get out of debt. Sure it sounds harsh. But if you put together a balance sheet, your debt would cancel out your savings anyway. If they're in the bank, you're earning just over 3.2% to carry debt at 18% or more.

10. Once you've paid off the balances, you've got to be serious about staying debt-free. If you lack self-discipline, consider using a debit card. Otherwise, pay as you go -- pay the entire balance owed on each card when it comes in.