 TITLE: What to Do When You Max Out Your Credit Cards CONTENT: Create a Spending Plan\n----------------------\nMuch like you do when you create a budget, you need to take inventory of all the things you spend money on to figure out why your credit card debt has reached its limit. If you've recently had a financial or personal emergency, the costs associated with it could be substantial and may be part of why you've spent so much on your cards. In other cases, you may be making purchases, like eating out at expensive restaurants often or buying plane tickets, that you simply can't afford on your monthly income. Once you look closely at your credit card spending, see where you can make spending cuts. Reducing or eliminating unnecessary spending is essential to paying down your credit card debt.\nIf you haven't already, create a monthly budget that gives you a clear picture of how much money you bring in every month; how much you pay toward fixed expenses such as rent, utilities, car payment and the like; and how much you have left for discretionary spending. This will help you determine how much you can put toward your credit card debt and will encourage you to make responsible financial decisions to keep your spending within your means. END