Did I hear you correctly? Feel like you're trapped in the ferocious claws of debt and can't find a way out? Don't sweat it, folks. Listen carefully, one in every eight people in the good ol’ U.S. of A feels the same way, according to a revealing CreditCards.com survey. Sure, it sounds bleak, but hey! Pause and take a moment to realize something: a new year means a clean slate. Time to chuck out old financial woes and ring in some soothing money-magic. Below, I'm dishing out seven power-packed steps to help you chip away at that debt mountain. So, are you ready to snap the chains of financial burden and dive into the blithe freedom of a debt-less life? Face your Debt Head-On Facing debts can be like staring into the jaws of a gigantic beast. I get it, but remember, knowing your enemy si half the battle won. Our lovely pal Gail Cunningham from the National Foundation of Credit Counseling tells me she's seen folks tremble with bags of unopened bills. Avoidance is never a good strategy, right? To conquer, you first need to know the size of your adversary. What's the total debt you're wrestling? Whip out a "cash-flow calendar" to track down every penny you earn and spend, just as good ol' Cunningham would have it. Do you feel a sudden impulse to push this away? Bad call, folks! That’s a red flare signalling the task is overdue! "It can be terrifying to face the financial music, but trust me, acknowledging your spending pattern can be the siren call for serious change," says ou… Read more