 TITLE: How to Pay Down Credit Cards on a Tight Budget CONTENT: Keep Track of Progress and Stay Motivated\n-----------------------------------------\nAs with any goal, keeping track of your progress is key to understanding where you stand in the process and how much further you have to go. You might use a spreadsheet or keep a note on your phone to track the following for each credit card account:\n*   Your remaining account balance\n*   Payment due dates\n*   Payments you've made\n*   Your interest rate\n*   Annual fees\nSeeing this information in one place for all your accounts will help you understand which debt to tackle first. It will also help you see your progress over time, which can help you stay enthusiastic on what might be a long journey.\nIf you have multiple cards, make sure to pay close attention to the due dates so you avoid missing any payments. Payment history is an important factor in your credit scores, and even one late or missed payment can cause them to drop.\nTo get a clear view of all your debt, regularly monitor your credit report and credit scores to see your up-to-date account information as creditors report it. You'll also be able to see if your credit scores change over time and track your debt paydown progress. END