I never thought I’d let my credit card balances get so high, but here I am, juggling over $8,000 spread across three different cards. Each month, I pay the minimum, but it feels like I’m just treading water. The interest keeps piling up, and it’s honestly exhausting. I’ve tried budgeting apps and cutting back on everything non-essential, but there always seems to be some unexpected expense that throws me off. It’s starting to affect my sleep and my mood, and I’m worried this will keep snowballing. I’m tempted to consolidate the debt or maybe talk to a credit counselor, but I’m not sure what the best first step is. Has anyone else been stuck in this kind of situation? What helped you get out of it or at least feel less overwhelmed? Any tips or just some reassurance would mean a lot right now.

That feeling of treading water is all too familiar, and it’s brutal when interest keeps eating away at your progress. One thing that helped me was focusing on just one card at a time—usually the one with the highest interest—while still making minimum payments on the others. It’s called the avalanche method, and even small extra payments there can make a difference over time.

Also, unexpected expenses can really throw off the best budgets. I found it useful to set up a tiny “buffer” fund, even if it’s just $20 a month, so those surprise costs don’t derail everything. And talking to a credit counselor can be a great move—they can sometimes negotiate lower rates or help you create a manageable plan without feeling overwhelmed.

You’re definitely not alone in this, and it’s okay to take it step by step. Just focusing on one small win at a time can help ease that exhaustion and give you some breathing room mentally and financially