Can I really get out from under the crippling burden of too much credit card debt? The short answer is, 'yes', you really can get out of credit card debt if you are determined to so. Though it may be a bit difficult, it isn’t impossible.

All you need are two free tools, determination and planning.

Both are equally important but determination may have the psychological edge and it won't come without proper analysis.

You first need to ask these questions.

1. “What will it mean to be free of credit card debt?”

2. “What differences can I expect in my life?”

3. “What’s in it for me?” or,

4. “Is it really beneficial for me to rid myself of credit card debt”?

Use your answers to support your determination.

The fact is that all the nagging emails, letters, and phone calls by your credit card suppliers and their collection agencies will be gone. Period. This should be enough to strengthen your resolve and to provide you with a very valid reason why you should try to rid yourself of all credit card debt.

Think about how stress-free life will be with no more phone calls from your creditors. Realize how much of a benefit this will be to your lifestyle and to your good health. Think of how much more money you will have in your pockets and your bank account when you don't have to keep paying the credit card companies. Then add all of these various reasons together and imagine the effects and the benefits you will reap. That should really put a smile on your face

Think of what a dent all of these will make collectively. They will help in strengthening your determination and prevent you from any temptation of backsliding.

Planning

The second thing in our toolbox is planning. The planning phase to get you out of credit card debt will start by making a list of all of the credit cards you currently use (or have). Write down the amount you owe on each one along with the total interest you are paying for the "privilege" of having this debt.

Your grand total of all these various credit card debts, will give you your total credit card debt. You also need to see if you have defaulted on any payments and have incurred late fees. Late fees are your biggest no-no. You will need to avoid them and put them on the top of your list in the plan you have prepared to get out of credit card debt.

The next step you will have to take is to check your current financial position to make an assessment of where you are and what you expect your future financial position to be. Next, you must do some research to find out what 'balance transfer offers' are currently available by the credit card companies. Analyze the different offers to see if you can get a lower rate by transferring your credit card debt from one company to another. Doing this could prove beneficial to you if the new company is quoting a 'real 'interest rate as opposed to a come-on, low ball rate just to get your business. Many of these offers offer the low advertised rate only for three to six months or so and then raise it much higher.

Use the information you have gathered to calculate how much time you will need to get out of debt and how you will distribute the debt payments across your various credit cards. Try to pay off the debt that is hurting you the most with the highest interest and also make sure that you don’t incur late fees on any of your payments.

You will find that planning and determination are two of your best available tools. But, if you are really in a bind and the credit card companies have your back to the wall, you may want to include the services of a bona fide credit counseling service in your planning stage.

If you shop around you can find some free counselors, usually through church or community groups. Remember, non-profit does not necessarily mean a free service and the last thing you need is another debt.

Jack Igan is a contributing editor at Bestcreditscoring.com.

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