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With the possible exceptions of getting a divorce, or a death in the family, there are few things in life that are more difficult and more painful than paying off your credit cards.

High credit card debt is a serious problem in United States that has surpassed epidemic levels. It has over-taken most Americans lives and completely subjected them to long-term financial prison. The average credit card debt per household was $9,312 in 2004, according to CardWeb.com. The total balance on the nation's credit card debt is $665 billion - that's $10 billion more than the entire economy (Gross Domest Product) of Australia. If the credit card debt of all Americans was it's own country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world. Politicians and the American public complain about the profits the oil companies are making - but it pales in comparison to the $30.6 billion in profits made by credit card companies in 2005.

Although it's easy to dish out the blame to credit card companies (who charge usory levels of interest up to 30 percent), or the government (which deregulated the banking cartels that paved the way for them to engage in predatory lending and mafia style interest rates), - a fair amount of blame belongs to the American consumer. According to Professor Robert Manning, author of the book, Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit, American society has transformed from a society that valued hard work, sacrifice and discipline to one that emphasizes personal consumption, instant gratification and artificial displays of wealth.

So you are not alone in this problem. There are millions of Americans just like you. And whether you blame yourself (you should) or the credit card companies - you cannot escape your personal responsibility and the welfare of your family by ignoring the problem any further.

BadCreditService.com has done the research and talked to the experts to chart an easy to follow course to paying off your credit card debt.

STEP #1. Be honest with yourself: - Can you really do this on your own or do you need the help of a Consumer Credit Counselor? Many people are just not strong enough nor have the self-discipline to get themselves out of credit card debt. Americans have become an "I want what I want and I want it now" type society. Hard work, self-sacrifice and discipline just aren't words in many Americans vocabulary anymore. And did you know that a Shopping Addiction is just as real as an eating addiction, alcohol addiction or drug addiction? Those with a shopping addiction rationalize all kinds of excuses as to why they have to buy something. Many women even use their children (my little boy or girl NEEDS this for such and such) as convenient excuses in order rationalize purchases.

Whether it's to give themselves a temporary "fix" or to fill an empty void - many Americans numb themselves to other external pains or emotional issues through shopping. Even those who are not addicted to shopping have to admit - spending money on ourselves makes us feel good. But it's an easy trap to fall into. And your enthusiasm today for getting out of debt has to carry you through the bad days when you desperately want a "fix" - or to treat yourself to some new clothes, shoes or a DeWalt cordless drill.

So be honest and ask yourself:

1. Do I shop to make myself feel better?
2. Do I need help to get out of debt?

If you answered yes to both questions, CONGRATULATIONS - you've taken a remarkable first step to emotional and financial freedom. Consumer Credit Counselors can work miracles on your personal finances and credit card debt and most licensed professional counselors (psychologists) charge on a sliding scale fee - meaning, if you don't earn a lot, their fee is lowered so that it is more affordable. (See Step #10, Change Your Lifestyle Habits for more information on Shopping Addiction).

STEP #2. Figure out how much money you owe: - Although this might sound simple enough for those with only 2 or 3 credit cards, we have to list this step for those who have...(wait for it)...(you are not going to believe this)....for those who have 10 to 25 credit cards. Ten to 25? Ouch! For those with 10 to 25 credit cards, they probably don't know the exact amount of how much they owe because A). It's too hard to remember, B). They don't want to remember C). They are in denial or E). All of the above. If you have a lot of credit cards, you need to get all of your statements together, add them up and write them down in your personal budget finance notebook. Which brings us to #3.

STEP #3. Get organized: - Buy yourself a notebook and a calendar where you can keep track of your credit card debt, your interest rates, minimum payments, due dates, phone numbers and balances. You can organize this notebook anyway you want, but write it all down. Writing it down means you have to face it and will remember the important dates and numbers. In case you forget an important point in the future, you'll have your notebook with all the information you need right there - instead of having to dig through stacks of bills to get the due date or balance you need to know.

Now that you have gotten organized and written it all down, you can begin your plan of attack.