Hi Kelly,
First of all, you’re absolutely right to zero in on paying down your credit card balances. This is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself financially, because as long as you carry a balance, you’re paying in interest money that you could be saving for your retirement instead – or to help pay for your daughter’s college. So that’s the first step, setting clear priorities and then sticking to them.
It’s also essential to have a very clear understanding of your spending. Even when you’re already on a tight budget, there may be opportunities to save that you haven’t considered. Use SUM180’s free Spending Tracker if you haven’t yet – it will give you a clear picture of where your money goes and help you identify areas where you might be able to save.
Also, look for opportunities for more income. Be creative. Some people make extra money selling things they no longer need on eBay; some people rent a room in their home, or do freelance work on weekends, or take housesitting or petsitting gigs. I even read about one grandmother who became an Uber driver for extra income.
Good luck, and please keep us posted?
.