Help. I maxed out my credit cards?

I recommend stacking your payments.

Pay the minimum on all the cards except for 1, preferably the lowest balance one. Pay as much per month as you can afford on that 1 card until it is paid off. Once it is paid off, roll the payment you were making on that card into the payment for another card. Repeat this process until all of them are paid off. This way you are essentially snowballing your payments so they start making more of an impact and you'll be paid off sooner.

This obviously only works if you do not continue using the credit cards. Freeze them all in a block of ice if you have control issues. It forces you to wait and have to think about using the cards when the urge arises.

Well, you maxed out your credit cards, now you pay your credit cards, what kind of help are you asking for? you need money, not help. I wish you good luck dude, sorry about the death, I was there too. Sell some stuff, that's how I did it.

RE:

Help. I maxed out my credit cards? -

I maxed out my credit cards helpI have 7 small credit cards. I have had them one year now. The highest is 1k the lowest is $200. They are all maxed out now. I had a death in the family and had to use them from me not working. I am able to make payments ontime and have never missed a payment ever. But how can I get my credit to go up still? Now it's at 610...I can start paying $50 on each card monthly. Will this help?

Why do you care what your score is right now? You are not working and have 7 maxed out credit cards. You are not in a position to take on any new lines of credit. Your score is a moot point.

You maxed out the cards and now the only thing is to work on paying them off. Put every penny you can squeeze out of your budget on the highest interest rate card while making minimum payments on the rest. When the highest interest rate card is paid off,, move to the next till they are all paid in full.

If cashflow is a big issue, you may want to concentrate on the smaller balance cards just to get them paid off quickly and eliminate one monthy payment. Then work on the highest interest rate cards.

Find ways to bring in more cash -- garage sale, collect alum cans, get a second job. Throw it all at the credit cards.

If you really can't keep up with the cards, contact a NFCC credit counseling service:

http://www.nfcc.org/ These are legit, non-profit companies that offer debt management services for a nominal fee. They negotiate lower interest and payments so you can pay off the credit cards. When you complete the program, you will have decent credit.

Your credit is low because the cards are maxed out. Shows a very high credit to debt ratio.

Until you get them paid down - your credit won't go up.

So pay what you can - more than minimum payment if you can - and don't use them until you get them paid down to about 20% of the credit limit.

I would say start with the smallest balance one - make payments on the others - but get the smallest balance one paid off. Then put that card aside. Then hack away at the next one.

There is no "help" for getting your credit score up until you get the balances down to a reasonable level. And, of course, making all payments on time.

Plastic Surgery

Involves getting old scissors. Do it right now.

Keep one regular account open without an annual fee, but don't use it.

Carrying balances, especially more than 30% of limit, causes damage to score.

You should pay as much as you possibly can and have them show all to $0.

Then use just one card for gas, and pay it off completely every month.

Not sure why people think carrying balances is good for credit. Not sure.

You should pay a little more than that on them.