by cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent iMany Americans are finding that their budgets are stretched to the limit these days. With the high price of gas and rising short-term interest rates, everyone is feeling the pinch, especially Americans with high credit card debt - and most Americans have a lot of credit card debt. According to Gallup’s annual survey on personal finances, Americans on average, have three credit cards and owe more than $3,000 that they don’t pay off monthly. Many consumers were just getting by making minimum monthly payments and the new law increasing minimum payments combined with increased interest rates, has put them in a financial crunch. Some consumers have had to struggle with payments that have doubled, taking part-time jobs and juggling debt to keep from ruining their credit. There are solutions, but bankruptcy isn’t the best one.

With the new bankruptcy laws, filing bankruptcy is a difficult endeavor and doesn’t necessarily eliminate credit card debt. Credit card companies are most likely going to get their money eventually. Now is a good time to take another look at credit card usage and even debt consolidation loans, followed by cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent in

ording to Gallup’s annual survey on personal finances, Americans on average, have three credit cards and owe more than $3,000 that they don’t pay off monthly. Many consumers were just getting by making minimum monthly payments and the new law increasing minimum payments combined with increased interest rates, has put them in a financial crunch. Some consumers have had to struggle with payments that have doubled, taking part-time jobs and juggling debt to keep from ruining their credit. There are solutions, but bankruptcy isn’t the best one.

With the new bankruptcy laws, filing bankruptcy is a difficult endeavor and doesn’t necessarily eliminate credit card debt. Credit card companies are most likely going to get their money eventually. Now is a good time to take another look at credit card usage and even debt consolidation loans, followed by cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent i

ncreased interest rates, has put them in a financial crunch. Some consumers have had to struggle with payments that have doubled, taking part-time jobs and juggling debt to keep from ruining their credit. There are solutions, but bankruptcy isn’t the best one.

With the new bankruptcy laws, filing bankruptcy is a difficult endeavor and doesn’t necessarily eliminate credit card debt. Credit card companies are most likely going to get their money eventually. Now is a good time to take another look at credit card usage and even debt consolidation loans, followed by cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent i

uptcy laws, filing bankruptcy is a difficult endeavor and doesn’t necessarily eliminate credit card debt. Credit card companies are most likely going to get their money eventually. Now is a good time to take another look at credit card usage and even debt consolidation loans, followed by cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent iby cutting up your cards. "Credit cards offer convenience, credit cards offer emergency life preservers," notes Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate with WashPIRG's national office. "If you start to use your credit card for daily expenses, and you start paying for pizza at 18 percent interest - do the math." Credit cards are not a smart way to carry debt.

There are many loan options for eliminating credit card debt and if you own a house, mortgage refinancing or getting a second mortgage may be the right decision. If you refinance and cash out to pay off your adjustable short-term loans you will have a fixed-rate loan that you can depend on and budget around in the future. You can also depend on much lower payments. Unsecured loans, like credit cards, are riskier to banks and therefore cost you more in interest. A home equity loan will get you a lower payment and help get you back on track to eliminating your debt.