How does the whole credit card consolidation process work?

I have credit card debt of 30,000. any solutions of getting out w/o bankruptcy or consolidation have more bill

• I have other bills and have 2 children to support. I work full time and my credit is not very good at all. I went bankrupt 2 times when I was married and was doing great but my son was in a terrible ATV accident and I was out of work for several months and lived on credit cards. Food, utilities, gas, and other things needed. My Ex and i share joint custody of our children but my kids do not go to his home very often. If I mention money my ex says he doesn''t make them stay with me. Turns into a big fight, My boys are both older (18 and 17) my oldest works but my youngest (the accident) he is struggling with school work(had a brain injury) and I dont want him to fail it's his Junior year of high school. HELP???!!!

• Answer:

  I'm so sorry to hear of your finacial struggles. But first things first, I'm glad you're not talking bankruptcy or consolidation.... First you need to get yourself on a very very very strict budget. Figure out how much you need to live.... Shelter, Food, lights, water, (your basic survival) come first. YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED from this point forward. Eliminate the need to depend on credit cards from this day forward. Get rid of them.... Now: Let's forget about your ex...he's got his own issues, so forget him. If you or your boys are lucky enough to see any money from him.....consider it just that...luck. Look at your credit card debts.... How many cards do you have and what are the interest rates they are charging you....Start paying the minimums on the ones with the smallest balances, and interest rates.... Once you pay off the cards, CLOSE THE ACCOUNTS with the banks.... Put any extra money on the cards with the biggest balance until they are paid off... You may also want to look at what you can sell to start applying to the balances..... Can you get an extra job? Do you have a car payment? If so, you may want to look at selling it, and buying "something to get around in". There's really no easy way to pay off debt.....it is a serious struggle. You will need to live beneath your means for a while until you can get these things paid off. Adopt the philosophy that if you can't pay cash for it, you don't need it. NEVER ever charge anything on a credit card again.... Other tips for success: Stop eating out....no coffee on the run....buy in bulk....all of these things make a HUGE difference.... You can also talk to the credit card companies to lower your interest rate....you might want to look at transferring balances with high interest rates to those with lower ones.... BUT if you do that, CUT UP THE CARDS AND CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNTS. Good Luck....