Feeling like you’re in over your head with respect to your credit card debt?  You’re not alone.  Millions of people are struggling with the consequences of over-indulgence and over-reliance on plastic.  Some of them will take control of the situation and will successfully emerge from the mess.  Others will flounder and will continue to suffer.

In which camp will you find yourself?  The answer will probably depend on your ability to take a smart approach to credit card debt relief.  Let’s examine some of the key elements to taking control of this stressful situation.

First, resist the urge to “go nuclear”.  Take those Chapter VII daydreams and file them away.  Filing bankruptcy, generally speaking, is not the best option.  It may be nice to think about what life would be like without those unsecured credit card bills, but that picture can get ugly when you start paying attention to the details.  You’ll find it hard to obtain any credit for years and then you’ll be forced to painstakingly rebuild your creditworthiness.  Bankruptcies may eventually disappear from your credit report, but it will always be a part of your life and can even block some employment opportunities.  There are more than enough good reasons to dodge bankruptcy.

Second, immediately stop adding to your debt obligation.  If you’re going to find real credit card debt relief, it won’t be while holding the plastic in your hand.  As long as you’re adding to your debt load, you’re not solving it.  Shelve your cards as you make a commitment to reduce the balances.

Third, get organized.  You need to pay your bills on time every single month.  One of the biggest problems with those struggling under significant debt burdens is the fact that they’re consistently paying late fees and other penalties.  Interest accumulates on those penalties and can amount to a huge portion of your overall bill in a relatively short period of time.  There are people who now owe several thousand dollars on lines of credit that were only good for a couple of hundred because accumulated fees and late charges.

Fourth, pay in excess of the minimum due whenever possible.  If you’re just making minimum payments, you’re not making progress.  You need to find extra money somewhere in your budget to pay over the minimum on at least one of your cards.  After that one is paid, make a point of using all of the money you were spending on that account to pay down the next.  This “debt snowball” strategy is remarkably effective, but it requires finding that “little bit extra” necessary to clear the first account.

Fifth, consider finding a better credit card.  Does that sound like insane advice?  Who’d want to get a new card when they’re trying to reduce their bills?  Well, it can actually be a great decision.  If you can find a balance transfer-friendly credit card that offers a lower interest rate than the cards upon which you currently have a balance, you can save yourself a great deal of money and improve your chances of experiencing real credit card debt relief.

The smart approach to credit card debt relief is a multi-part process that requires some dedication and planning.  The good news is that it actually works.  If you’re willing to take action, you can be one of the people who have successfully handled their debt problems.   Considering the alternative of suffering under a debt burden indefinitely, the choice of which way to go should be relatively easy to make.