Special report: Debt

Drowning in credit card debt By Bankrate.com Is your budget awash in rising credit card balances? You're not alone. Keeping up with the Joneses also means keeping up with Visa, MasterCard and Discovery bills. If you spend more than you earn and make up the difference by charging, you'll soon be swallowed by debt. Before you drown, grab these financial lifesavers. ................................................

Quiz: Are you in deep credit card trouble?

Pack away your debts with the payment push
Quit stalling. You need a plan to cut your balances and climb out of debt. We've got it.
Plus: Doing the "Payment push"

Consolidating credit card balances
They can blast away your credit card debt -- or land you in a deeper financial hole.
Plus: 8 ways to consolidate debt

Credit card payment due date: You may have a choice
Do your monthly bills overlap? Consider arranging the payment schedule to fit your monthly budget flow.

Step slowly into a credit card balance-transfer
Transferring a balance to a card with a lower interest rate makes sense -- if you avoid balance-transfer traps.
PLUS: A balance-transfer checklist.

FAQ about credit cards
The monthly statement is confusing enough, but how do you know if the tack-on fees are legitimate? Bankrate experts answer your frequently asked questions.

-- Updated: Aug. 23, 2002