Drowning in credit card debt? You’re not alone. Millions of people have a pile of unpaid credit card bills glaring at them from the kitchen counter. Unfortunately, it’s so easy to use those pieces of plastic called credit cards. After all, when someone doesn’t have the cash and needs to purchase an item, it’s nice to be able to whip out the card and buy the item in a matter of seconds. But what happens when the bills start flooding in? How can consumers control their credit card debt so that their credit scores aren’t irrevocably destroyed? Here are some ways to attack that credit card debt without suffering too much in the process.

First of all, decide how much you can realistically pay each month. This involves figuring how much money you make and how much is regularly spent. First sit down and make a list of all sources of income. Next, write down all fixed expenses. Those are the expenses that never change—rent or mortgage, car payments, and other necessary bills. Finally, write down all household expenses that fluctuate. These are the expenses that vary from month to month; items such as clothing, recreational activities, and other expenses. After writing these down on paper, decided which of the expenses are necessary and which are not. Prioritize them so there is an accurate picture of how much is spent on a monthly basis. It may be surprising to realize how much of this money is spent in a frivolous manner.

Once you have a good idea of your household expenses, devise ways to save some money. For example, instead of going out to lunch, bring lunch from home. Cut down on going to the movie theater. Go to the library and check out some DVDs instead. Clip grocery store coupons from the Sunday newspaper and use them when going shopping. Do the rest of your shopping at discount or thrift stores. If all else fails, get a second job or have a yard sale. These are just some of the ways to cut down on unnecessary spending and bring more income into the household.

Now it’s time to tackle that debt. Choose the credit card with the highest interest rate and start paying it down. Make more than the minimum payment in order to eliminate the balance as soon as possible. Once you’ve conquered the balance, go to the next credit card with a high interest rate and begin paying it down as well. Continue to do this until you begin to make a dent in your credit card debt. If you’re still experiencing difficulties with credit card debt, contact each credit card company and notify them that you’re having trouble paying your bills. Sometimes, the companies may adjust your payments so that you can pay less money. Another good idea is to contact credit card companies and request a lower interest rate. Many companies will honor the request. Why? They’d rather grant a lower interest rate than turn someone over to collections. When it comes right down to it, all they want is their money.

No one needs to admit defeat when overwhelmed by credit card debt. Formulate a budget, cut unnecessary expenses, find new sources of income, communicate with creditors, and strive to pay more than the minimum. If you do so, you’ll be well on your way to eliminating credit card debt, and those annoying bills won’t make you cringe each time you pull them from your mailbox.