In Debt, Don't Know What to Do--Debt Consolidations Loans?

My husband and I both have good credit, on the border line of being excellent and we don't want to do anything that will hurt our credit score.
Together we have 6 credit cards with approximately $7000 in debt a mortgage payment and two car payments. I have transferred the balance of one of the cards several times ($4000) and do not want to do it again, the interest and accrued finance charges will hit in January and there is no way I will be able to pay it off by then, so I need to find a way to consolidate or something before then. One of my biggest problem is that I'm a SHOPPER and I can't resist a bargin, I put all my extra money towards payments and then have no money to spend so I use a credit card. What kind of solutions can you offer (other than quit shopping, that one I'm well aware of and I have removed all credit cards from my purse), do local banks offer consolidation loans with low interest? Please Help!!

I don't think a Home Equity loan will work for us because I think they require a home appraisal seeing as we have alot of unfinished projects--thank you Home Depot card. We have everything we need, just lack the time to finish it all.

Take every one of your credit cards and put them in a ziplock bag of water and freeze them. That way you own't be able to use them. You have to stop shopping. A bargain isn't a bargain when you're burrying yourself in debt.

For two weeks, you and your husband should write down everything you spend money on. You will be amazed at how much money you are wasting.

In addition to snowballing your credit card debt, come up with some ways to make extra cash. Have a garage sale. I bet you go tons of "bargains" around the house with the tags still on 'em.

You don't need anyone to do it for you. All they do is negotiate your debts for you and collect a fee. You can do it yourself!

Call all of them and work out a payment plan and try to get your interest lowered or stopped.

Then, make the minimum payments on every one of them. On the lowest dollar value, put all your extra effort toward paying it off. Once it is paid off, then roll that extra money to the next largest balance. Continue this snowball until all your debts are paid off.

You probably need to cut your expenses back to the bare minimum. Get rid of cable, cell phones, internet, etc. Lower your electric bill, gas bill, water bill, etc. Don't eat at a restaurant until your debts are under control. Take a sandwich for lunch. Cancel the gym membership.

Try to increase your income by getting a second job. If you have a car with payments, get rid of it, and buy a good dependable used car for CASH.

Go to the library and get "The Total Money Makeover". Read it and follow it carefully.

Go check out Dave's website as well.
www.daveramsey.com

Debt Consolidation:
DON'T do debt consolidation. It just moves your debt around. It rolls high interest items AND LOW interest items into the same loan at a mid-range interest rate. It might lower your monthly payments, but that means it will take even LONGER to get out of debt. It also frees up all your lines of credit so you can simply run them up again! Finally, you o

You might consider getting a home equity loan or line of credit. The interest you pay on that loan is tax deductible-subject to certain limits. You want to be careful, however, because you'll end up paying much more interest over the long run. Shop around, just like you would with a mortgage.

I think i would cut up and cancel all my cards first. Then find a card with low rates to transfer the balance. when the new card comes cut it up and get rid of it. Pay off the debt cancel that card and never, ever get another credit card.

check out daveramsey.com and listen to his radio show. He has lots of good commons sense advice.

NOT ALL DEBT SOLUTIONS PROGRAMS CHARGE YOU. I GO THROUGH INCHARGE DEBT SOLUTIONS WHICH IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL CREDIT COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT OF DEBT WITHOUT HAVING TO APPLY FOR LOANS OR FILE BANKRUPTCY. I HAVE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR GOING ON 2 YEARS NOW AND STARTED THE PROGRAM WITH $29,000 OF DEBT PLUS 2 CARS AND MORTGAGE. WE PUT OUR PERSONAL LOANS AND CREDIT CARDS IN THE PROGRAM LEAVING OUR CARS AND MORTGAGE ALONE. WE WILL BE LOAN AND CREDIT CARD FREE IN 19 MORE MONTHS. WHILE IN THE PROGRAM THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ON ANY NEW DEBT(BEING CREDIT CARDS AND PERSONAL LOANS). THEY WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR CREDITORS MAKING YOUR LIFE HASSLE- FREE. I CANT STRESS ENOUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY HAVE MADE OUR LIFE EASIER AND LESS STRESSFUL. THEY TAKE A MONTHLY PAYMENT OUT OF OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT AND DISPERSE IT AMONGST OUR CREDITORS EACH MONTH. WE HAVEN'T HAD A BIT OF PROBLEM WITH PAYMENTS NOT GETTING TO THE CREDITOR OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. TRY IT. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. THERE NUMBER IS 1-800-565-8953 OR YOU CAN GO TO WWW.INCHARGE.ORG

Hate to be a party pooper, but unless you seek help with your shopping frenzies, you will NEVER EVER get out of debt. Period.
So stop wasting your time on here. Turn off your pc. Cut up all but one credit card, which will be for emergencies (Not shopping) and leave it with a person you trust, and far out of your reach.
Find a new hobby, other than shopping. When you are finally out of debt, then save a certain percentage every month, and use that the following month for "Shopping"

Good Luck