Whether you're bumping against the limit on one or more of your credit cards or just have the uneasy feeling you're carrying too much unsecured debt, it's probably time to get yourself out from under the burden of credit card debt. This article provides realistic ideas for paying off those cards one at a time.

Make Paying Your Debt a Priority
We all know that if our commitment to dieting is only half-hearted - the pounds don't come off. The same is true for credit card debt. You must prioritize getting rid of that debt over most other things in your life. It has to be more important to you than buying the latest fashions, taking a luxury cruise, or even small pleasures like eating out too often. Are you ready to make the commitment?

Develop a Budget
It's scary to figure out exactly how much money is coming in and how much money is going out, but that's exactly what you need to do in order to manage your debt effectively.

As you go over your budget, look for ways to set aside some extra money for your credit card payments. You may need to think about finding another source of income such as a second job.

If you seem to be hopelessly in the red, consider meeting with a financial counselor for assistance.

Always Pay More than the Minimum Due
Credit card companies make substantial profits when you pay the minimum due on high balances. Your minimum payment just barely covers the interest and only takes a small amount of principal off the card. You don't get ahead at all and end up paying on the same debt for years. Always try to pay at least 10% over the minimum amount due, more if you can swing it financially.

Transfer Balances to Lower Interest Cards
If you have several credit cards, consider transferring the balances on all your cards to the account(s) with the lowest interest. Use caution, however. Low interest rate cards can quickly become high interest rate cards when the introductory period expires. Late or missed payments can also cause your interest rate to skyrocket. See ASDA Finance for 0% credit cards with a good introductory period for 0% balance transfers.

Pay Off Small Balances First
Productivity experts advise starting the day with one small task that can be accomplished quickly and painlessly. This gives you a foundation of success on which to construct the rest of your day. Similarly, pick a card on which you're carrying a small balance and pay it off as quickly as possible. You'll get a boost from knowing that one debt, however small, is out of your hair. When the smallest balance is paid off, focus your attention on the next smallest balance, and so forth.

Consolidate with a Loan
If you have large amounts of outstanding credit card debt, then getting a loan may be a good answer. A loan will typically be at a lower APR rate than a credit card, so you use the loan to pay off the balance of the credit card, and then pay off the loan at a lower interest rate. In the long term, you'll more than likely save a substantial amount of money. Take a look at Alliance and Leicester for some of the best rates on loans available in the UK. NatWest also come as recommended for loans.

Cancel Each Card as You Pay It Off
Many people manage to get out of debt only to slide right back into their old spending habits and build up the credit card balances again. Defeat this tendency by cancelling each card as you pay it off.

If you decide to keep one card for emergencies, keep it in a hard-to-get-to place so that you won't be tempted to overuse it.

Facing a problem with credit card debt can be intimidating, but with commitment, planning, and effort you will succeed in making yourself free of unsecured debt.