Believe it or not, Ive been in debt. BIG DEBT. I mean, there were times when I would look for things to sell just to pay the bills.

It was the worst feeling in the world!

I always had stacks of unpaid bills, creditors calling me and a real uneasy feeling in my stomach. And I wasnt the only one. It seemed like everyone I knew had the same problem.

The truth is, debt has reached epic proportions in our society. Whether you're rich, poor, or somewhere in the middle, chances are you've got debt that's working against your dreams of financial independence.

But it doesnt have to be that way. In fact, I want you to take some action today to start getting out of debt. Youll be AMAZED at how much better you feel when you dont have bills hanging over your head. (And you dont have to win the Powerball jackpot to get out of even the most unbearable debt!)

Ive been there, and now Im debt free. Here a few tips I used a long the way:

1. If you're in over your head with multiple credit card accounts, you need to destroy your cards right away. Just keep one card for emergencies. Remember, credit cards have compounded interest so you actually get charged interest ON INTEREST! So, dont use them unless you can pay them.

2. Pay more than the minimum payment every month in fact, pay as much as you can. Money in your account isnt making you money as fast as your unpaid credit card debt is losing you money!

3. Pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first and pay the rest in descending order. If you tackle the biggest money drain right away you could make a huge impact on your cash flow in a matter of one month.

4. After you pay off one credit card, don't let up. Apply the money you've been paying that particular company to paying off another credit card or another outstanding bill. Set a credit pay-off budget and stick to it as you pay down cards. Once you get to the last one, it will seem easy!

5. Dont rotate your debts pay every one every month. Its easy to pay a few on time one month, and switch around for the next month. That just keeps you further behind.

6. If you own a home, consider taking out a home equity loan. You could save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars by paying off your high-interest credit debt by moving those balances into a fixed-rate home equity loan.

7. Pay additional money towards your mortgage principal. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars!

8. Open a savings account or an IRA with some of the funds you were dedicating to a now-paid credit card. Special tax-protected investments like an IRA can save you thousands in taxes over the years.

9. Consider debt consolidation. It could help you to consolidate and pay your debt off more quickly. Beware of companies that make unbelievable promises about "fixing" your credit, though - at best, they can be very expensive. At worst, they can be fraudulent. You might be best off consulting with a reliable non-profit credit counseling agency first, such as Debt Counselors of America (DCA) - www.dca.org/.

10. If you need help along the way, contact the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (1-800-388-2227). They will help you organize and consolidate your debt.

I know you're focused on financial success and maximizing your wealth. Don't overlook how much your debt can undermine your efforts to get ahead. If you take even a few of these tips to heart, you'll soon be well on your way to a debt free, financially successful future. I know you can do it!

Warmly,

Russ Dalbey
The Dalbey Wealth Institute