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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Suggestions:
1.  Write down everything you spend in a paper journal or mint.com.
2.  Download a budget template from the Internet.  Fill in your income and your expenses (use your receipts and journal to record your expenses accurately)
3.  Figure out how much more you are spending per month than bringing in.
4.  Then, attack your expenses. Cut expenses as much as you possibly can.  Be ruthless to yourself as much as possible, remembering that we don't need as much as we think to live -- Internet, cable, cell phone, pack your lunch, find a roommate (can’t remember if you are single). Call your utilities and vendors and move around the due dates to align with when you get paid.
5.  Save up a few hundred dollars of cash to deal with emergencies.
6.  Now attack your debt. Don't use credit for new purchases.   Pay the minimum on all your cards.  But, pick one to attack first (the lowest balance or the highest interest rate).  On this card, pay more than the minimum balance as much as you can.  Stick with it.  When you pay off this debt, pick the next debt and pay on that one, using the extra money that you were putting on the first card.
7. Consider a part time job to supplement your income.  Use all the extra income to pay the debt.
8.  After clearing the debt, go back to saving and build up 6 to 8 months of savings.

It will take time.  So, stay encouraged.  When you finish, remember how painful this was and don’t use credit cards when you can’t pay it off right away.
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I just realized that your debt is in collections. Definitely call the creditors and work out a payment plan.  They will take something vs. nothing and will be shocked if you actually call them.  Then, follow step #6.  Sorry about your job loss - an understandable reason for getting into debt.
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