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One of the first things you can try to reduce credit card debt is to call the company and ask for a lower rate. Failing this, some planning will need to be done. List all cards and the balance on each one. Ask yourself if there are any that could be paid off right away. If so, do it as soon as possible. Put that card away once it is paid off. Do not use it, or any other cards for any reason. List all the minimum payments and due dates. Add an extra five to ten dollars to the minimum payment for each, if possible. If this is not an option, add it to one this month, and another the next and so on. Paying extra will pay down the balance, and reduce credit card debt that much faster.

When you pay the minimum, it can take years to get the card paid off, so add as much to the payment as you can afford without putting too big a bite on your budget. Cancel cards that are paid off, some cards will charge you for not using them, which is absurd. Don't apply for or accept any new card offers, no matter how tempting the offer may be. Zero interest can turn into unbearable payments quickly. The goal is to reduce credit card debt, not transfer that debt to another card.

You may notice the minimum payment dropping as you pay off the balance, do not send out this lower amount, keep making the regular payment you have been. You won't feel it in your budget, and it will help you reduce credit card debt even faster than before.

When you do get one card paid off, divide the payment you were making on it among the remaining cards. This adds an extra pay down of the balance, getting you out from under the rest of them as well. It can be a great feeling when you take a stand and reduce credit card debt, but don't fall for the temptation to splurge and reward yourself. Save the money for the rest of the debt, and you can learn to live a little simpler.