 TITLE: How Many People Have Credit Card Debt? CONTENT: Tips for Getting Rid of Credit Card Debt\n----------------------------------------\nRegardless of whether you carry more or less credit card debt than the national average, there are plenty of ways to gain control over what you owe. Paying down credit card debt is not only a smart financial decision, but it could have a big positive impact on your credit score.\nTo get started, consider these strategies for reducing credit card balances:\n1.  Figure out how much you owe. Knowing what you owe across all your credit card accounts is the first step to tackling your debt. Tally all your outstanding balances and add them together. Having this figure will allow you to plan accordingly. To get an overall look at your credit situation, you might consider reviewing your credit reports, which you can get for free from all three consumer credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com.\n2.  Make a repayment plan. Once you know what you owe, figure out how much you can afford to put toward your debt each month. If possible, find ways to put aside extra money each month so you can put it toward your debt as you work to repay what you owe. Before you start paying it back, find out which cards have the highest interest rates and put your efforts into paying that account off. Remember, the higher the interest, the more you'll pay to borrow—so eliminating high-interest balances first could help you save in the long run.\n3.  Consider alternatives. Depending on what you owe and how much you can afford to pay each month, you may want to consider a repayment alternative. Consolidating your debt with a personal loan is an example of an alternative that could save you some money on interest over time. You could also consider transferring your balance to a card with an introductory 0% interest rate that will eliminate your interest payment and give you some extra wiggle room as you pay back the debt.\nTo get an idea of how much you owe, consider getting a free copy of your credit reports and scores from Experian to see which creditors you have a balance with. This will help you get an initial idea of what's outstanding, and will help you stay organized while you work to repay your debts. END