You’ve been bombarded with credit card offers of all types since you became an adult, so it’s no surprise that you’re now thousands of dollars in debt. This massive debt, combined with the occasional missed payment, has caused your credit score to sink so low that it’s considered poor. With a poor credit score, you’re bound to have issues with getting car loans, mortgages and other loans you may need. Fortunately, it’s rather easy to get rid of poor credit—but only if you use some smart debt management. Reduce credit card debt with these five rules.

The five rules of debt management.
You might have seen all the commercials on TV advertising companies that claim to get rid of your debt right away. This is a huge lie, as getting rid of debt is not an overnight process. Rather, it takes time, and the use of a debt management plan, in order to eliminate debt and raise credit scores. By following the five rules of debt management below, you’ll be able to come up with a debt management plan that works for you.

Reduce Credit Card Debt Rule #1: Cut Up Those Cards
If you want to get out of debt, you have to stop spending. For some, it’s as simple as not touching the cards, but for others, it’s a good idea to take the cards out of the wallet and throw them in a drawer, or cut them up. Any good debt management plan involves ceasing to use the credit cards, so before you do anything else, do that.

Reduce Credit Card Debt Rule #2: Determine Your Total Debt
It’s amazing, but many people do not know what their total debt is. If you’re clueless in this regard, it’s time to take a little time to figure it out. Take out all those credit card statements and add up the balances. When looking at them, also look closely at the interest rates and minimum payments—and write those down as well. You’ll be using it when establishing the rest of your plan.