Credit card debt has the potential to quickly spiral out of control. Just when you think you have everything in order, you realize that there’s a lot of work to do.

If your credit card debt is out of control, it’s easy to panic. It’s easy to let it take over your life. But rather than head down this path, you should take a deep breath and realize that there are many paths to a better future.

First things first, you should realize that you’re not alone. There are many other people facing the same problem as you. Here’s a passage from Debt.org:

Credit-card loans were $820 billion in Q4 of 2020, reflecting a drop in consumer spending during the pandemic after this debt category peaked at $930 billion a year earlier. Credit card debt actually fell in 2020, the first drop in any major consumer debt category in seven years.

Even though credit card debt took a step back in 2020, $820 billion is no small number.

Once you’re on board with the idea of making things right, here are some of the steps you can take:

Review the Details of Your Credit Card Debt

You know that your credit card debt is out of control, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re familiar with all of the details. It’s possible that you may have quite a few questions about your debt, such as:

How many credit card balances do you have?
What is the interest rate attached to each balance?
What is the minimum monthly payment for each credit card?

Review your credit card debt with the idea of answering these questions, among any others that are on your mind. Doing so will help you understand what you’re up against.

Create a Strategy

Once you know your circumstances, it’s time to create a strategy. Will you pay down the small credit card balances first? How about the largest? Will you take advantage of a balance transfer credit card?

A strategy is important to your short and long-term success. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you can “wing it” and make progress.

Track Your Progress

Speaking of progress, you should track it carefully. This will help you determine what is and is not working. Furthermore, it feels good to see yourself making progress. This will motivate you to continue down the same path in the future.