In 2007 a survey in the UK showed that the average credit card holder owes close to £2000. Credit cards have become a way of life for many people to the extent that people carry little or no cash with them. Credit cards can end up costing more than an advance til payday and for those of us who remember life before it was so socially acceptable to live off credit today's society can seem a bit scary.

It may surprise you to know that one in five British pensioners who have released equity from their home have credit card debts of approximately £9000 each. So even for some of those who grew up in different times the temptation of being able to buy things whenever they wish has outweighed their more sensible upbringing.

If you feel that you have become a slave to your credit card debt then follow these tips in order to change your circumstances. The first step to clearing credit card debt is to find ways to budget.

Simple things like not buying brand names in the supermarket but choosing the supermarket's own labels can add up to significant savings during the shopping month. Own brands can be just as good as branded items and more savvy shoppers are shopping this way. Before shopping do a list and never go to the supermarket feeling hungry. Other quick ways to budget are gym memberships that do not get used frequently enough, finding cheaper insurance packages and cutting out one night down the pub.

Once you have some budgeting plans in place then decide how much you can pay off your credit card debt and stick to this. If you have a few credit cards in the family all of which have debt then choose either the one with the highest APR first, or the one with either the lowest or highest debt. You choose whatever will motivate you most.

If you do not feel confident about managing the payment plans yourself it could be a good idea to go to a debt management company. They will assess your finances, make a plan, deal with the companies to whom you owe money and sometimes they can negotiate a lower interest rate.

If you have savings that you had not considered using, think again. At least considering using some of your savings as when you sit down and work out the interest you will pay the longer your credit card debts continue it will make sense. Everyone likes to feel that they have a financial safety net, so do this sensibly and find a balance between still feeling you have security but also dealing with your credit card debt.

Finally you could consider a personal consolidation loan which essentially is one loan to clear off all the credit card and any other debts you may have.

Whichever route feels best for you, at the same time as starting out on this new plan also make a family decision about future credit card use. Ideally stop using them except for when they can save money such as online purchases, but if not at least elect occasions such as holidays, flights etc where they can be very handy.