1. Talk to your creditors. If your monthly payments are so high that you find you have no money left at the end of the month for even an ice cream cone, it is time to talk to your creditors. Most creditors will be willing to work out a lower monthly payment with you to help you find a more manageable way to pay them off. If you can do this, it will free up a little money in your monthly budget. The reason you want to do this is because if you never have any money to spend on yourself (and we are talking small items) then you would be highly likely to overindulge and spend far too much. So, work out manageable payments so that each month you have a little bit of room in your budget to treat yourself without going further into debt.

2. Set up a system, and watch the benefits. If you want to get out of debt and stay out of debt you have to recognize and get excited about the rewards of having no debt. So, set up a cycle that eliminates your debt piece by piece, but that also keeps you from incurring more debts. So, pay off the highest interest rate first, then use what you were paying for that and apply it to the next debt, and continue doing this until all debts are paid off. Then spend one month, and take all of the money you would have spent paying off debt, and pay yourself. Buy something fun, go on a vacation etc. You will love the financial freedom you feel of not having the weight of huge debt payments each month.

3. Live within your means. You do not have to do without to live within your means. You may not get to eat out at Joe's crab shack, but you still get to eat. You may not get to buy a $300 designer leather bag, but you still have a purse to throw your keys in. So, while working to get out of debt, the biggest thing you have to remember is that you want to live within your means. So, in other words, bring in more than goes out each month. You can still get great entertainment and have tons of fun without spending tons of money.

4. Another great way to permanently get out of debt without doing without too much is to consolidate your payment. Often you can get a better interest rate, and you can make one monthly payment, so when you add extra money to the payment, the benefit goes further. You also worry less about late fees, and such problems.

You can trade, exchange, work extra, or make due so that you can live debt free without living without. It is amazing how much someone could probably use a skill you have, and you could trade your talents for something they have that you need. This is a great way to stay out of debt and not do without.