Credit card offers can be very tempting, and we certainly get enough of them in the mail everyday. Even people with poor credit scores are inundated with these “pre-approved” offers.

Part of the allure of credit cards is the belief that you need one, “just in case.” As a result of such thinking, these offers are not discarded as they should be. Instead, you keep one or two to look at for those “just in case” situations.

Credit card companies are masters in the art of temptation. They can draw you in with promises of incredibly low APRs, zero percent balance transfers, and more. Plus, who wouldn’t want a card that you could personalize to fit your style? Recently, many credit card companies offer to design a card just for you, making it even more irresistible.

You may apply with the intention of using it strictly for emergencies. Isn’t that a safe and responsible thing to do, you say to yourself.

After a few weeks of telling yourself that you have mended your spending ways, you finally get your new card. A host of financial burdens seem to melt away. You no longer have to worry about your car breaking down or where to get gas money – you can always borrow the money and pay it back later.

Your way out of emergencies, your life boat, has arrived. And it looks great with the puppies playing on it.

You rush to open it, and it is everything you wanted. You call the number, activate it and think about all the possibilities.

When you have a new credit card, you can feel financial worries lessening. Suddenly, you can buy things that were out of reach only the day before. But you won’t overspend and you will always pay on time, you continue to tell yourself even as you head to the mall.

The first payment slip comes in from the bank. It is asking for a number dangerously close to the number on your pay check.

So you change your plan. You’ll pay the minimum balance this month, and really start using the card only for emergencies. But you continue spending. The next month, you can’t pay more than the minimum once again.

It is easy to spend, but not so easy to pay. Soon, your card has neared or reached its limit. The solution? Another credit card, of course. You start using that one, maybe with the same good intentions of using it for emergencies only. Soon, you are making minimum payments on two cards, and your debt is getting out of control.

You buy more and pay the minimum on three cards. Before you know it, those precious twelve months are up, and you are buried in 23.6% APR rates and late fees. Your couple of hundred or thousand dollars owed has now tripled, and it is still skyrocketing!

As you continue this cycle, your credit report feels the consequences.

With tax refunds and bonuses, you’ll have the credit card paid off in no time. All it will take is a little effort. But the bonuses and tax refunds pay your rent, your mortgage, your utilities. The credit cards don’t have priority.

Your credit card bills take a backseat as you struggle to pay your mortgage or rent, utility bills, car payments, and more. You get notice after notice, and soon collection agencies are on your tail. You feel threatened and scared but have no idea what to do.

The only way to help yourself is to radically change your spending habits. Cancel the cards, even if you still have room to spend. If you absolutely need one, do not carry it in your wallet. Better yet, get a debit card, which gives you the freedom and convenience of the credit card without the high risk.

If this is too much severing of ties, keep one card and pay it off first. This will be an emergency card for bills that need to be paid. In fact, defining what constitutes an emergency prior to using it will help prevent miscellaneous spending.

Your next step – and you’re not going to like it – is to talk to your creditors. Their goal is to recoup their money: if you cannot pay the entire amount, they would rather get something than nothing. Most will be willing to work out a repayment plan that you can afford.

Figure out what you can realistically pay each month. The key is honesty. Don’t name a figure that is too much; you will end up in a worse position, and the creditors will not be as willing to work with you again.

It is easy to view credit cards as a way to get what you want without having to pay for it. The reality, though, can hit you when your credit score is in shambles and you are getting collection calls. This is real money, and it is your responsibility to repay it.

It may seem like you accumulated your debt overnight: paying it off is a much lengthier process. Nothing but time and money can pay off debt, and you will need to make an effort in both areas in order to achieve your goal.

You may be overwhelmed by the amount of time it will take to become debt free. The truth is that you cannot afford not to become debt free. Continuing with your current habits will only make matters worse. It may be easy to rack up the debt; paying it off takes more control, effort, and persistence.

Credit repair requires an immense amount of honesty with yourself and your creditors. It can be an uncomfortable position to be in, but if you learn from your debt mistakes, then you can start making real progress towards improving your financial life.

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