Lately, I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed by credit card debt. It’s not huge—around $5,000 spread over a couple of cards—but the interest keeps piling up, and some months I barely manage to pay the minimum. It’s stressful waking up every day wondering if I’ll have enough to cover everything, especially with rent and groceries also squeezing the budget. I’ve tried cutting back on extras like dining out and subscriptions, but it’s hard to find more wiggle room. I’ve thought about consolidating or negotiating with my credit card companies, but I’m not sure where to start or if that would just make things worse. Has anyone else been in this spot? What helped you get through it or get a better handle on your payments? Any advice or even just some encouragement would really mean a lot right now.

That feeling of waking up worried about money is so tough—I’ve been there, and it really drains your energy. One thing that helped me was breaking down the debt into smaller chunks and focusing on paying off the card with the highest interest first, even if it meant just a little extra each month. It’s a slow win but seeing one balance shrink made a big difference mentally.

Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to your credit card companies and explain your situation. Sometimes they can offer temporary hardship programs or lower interest rates if you ask. If that feels daunting, local nonprofit credit counseling services can guide you through options without charging much (or anything). It’s not a quick fix, but little steps add up, and you’re definitely not alone in this.