Everywhere you look these days there's an article about debt.  The country is in debt, families are struggling, college graduates are taking more on …. It can be easy to feel a little overwhelmed.  If you're searching for a way to handle your own debt management, then the following 5 tips will definitely be of interest.  The easy to follow tips can help you get a handle on your own debt management before it gets a hold of you.

1.   Get a Clear Picture.  Gather together your bills as well as payment stubs and any other sources of income.  Tally up what you have coming in as well as what you have going out for a month to get an idea of what you're currently facing. 

2.  Make a Realistic Plan.  Debt management can be a lot like dieting.  We tell ourselves we can make do with nearly nothing, scrape by until we get to where we want to be and then we an let loose.  But, just as with setting unrealistic fitness goals, setting pie-in-the-sky debt management goals will only set you up for failure.  Take a good, long look at your lifestyle and determine what you can cut out or simply cut down on.  If you see that you're spending a lot of money renting DVDs, check out your local library.  Most of them offer free DVDs and CDs for loan, including new release titles.  This can be an easy way to cut down on entertainment expenses.  Splurge once a month on a bag of good quality coffee and then take that on the go with you in a travel mug instead of pulling into a coffee shop drive-thru.  These are small steps but over the course of even a month, small steps such as these can save big bucks.

3.  Investigate Online and Automatic Payment Options.  Several companies now offer customers easier ways to pay on time and avoid late fees.  This is usually done by paying online or by automatic debit from your account.  By paying this way you can avoid payments going out late and thus avoid late charges.

4.  Limit Your Credit.  This may be a good time to cut up some extra credit cards, especially those which have a high interest rate.  You can call and cancel them and then cut up the card if it has a zero balance.  If there is still a balance to be paid on the card you can still cut it up to avid temptation as far as using it. 

5.  Save What You Can.   Saving can be difficult for anyone, but especially someone who is working to bring down their debt.  As you finish haying off one card or debt, use that money to either pay off more on another debt or simply put it away in the bank account.   If you have a job where you can pick up some extra hours then go for it.  If not, have a look at what you have and consider selling it in order to not only declutter your home, but also to raise funds to pay off your debts.

Plan your debt management program along a timeline with a goal end date for when you will be debt free.  This will keep you on track and will also let you track your progress as you get closer and closer to a debt free life or simply a more comfortable life with regards to debt.