So, Christmas is over and you've managed to get through the festive period with being able to (just about) afford all those presents and foodstuffs.

But as the New Year begins, it begins to dawn on you that maybe you spent more than you intended.

And before you know it, the credit card bill arrives on the doormat, and before you've even opened the envelope you have an idea of how bad it's going to be.

But don't panic, with a bit of careful planning you can organise your credit cards and help get your finances back on track.

After budgeting for your mortgage payment, your next priority should be whittling down any credit or store card debt you've accumulated over the festive period.

Your first step should be to research 0% credit cards in order to help ease some of the debt. Look for those with a lengthy interest free period on balance transfers.

There are still many deals on credit cards on the market, despite the ongoing credit crunch. Some 0% interest deals can last for up to 15 months, but some of those offered by banks can charge larger balance transfer fees.

However, whilst you're likely to be charged a higher typical APR than advertised rates, if you're sensible in your payments and can pay it off before the 0% expires then you could find yourself clearing your debts quicker.

If you do need a longer period of time to pay off the debt, consider switching between cards before the 0% offer runs out. The switching part is relatively simple; it's remembering when to do so that catches a lot of people out.

If the idea of switching from card to card sounds a little too complicated, you should look into credit cards that offer a lower rate of interest for the life of the balance.

Credit cards can be the easiest way to fall into debt, but with careful planning and a little regulation of your spending habits it can be easier than you think to clear the debts accumulated and get your finances back on track.

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