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By Phyllis Zalenski QcTimes.net : The end of the year is often a time for making financial resolutions for the coming year. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to get out of credit card debt, try some of the tips below. Pay your bills on time. Don’t incur late payment fees or penalty rates. Credit card issuers could raise your rates several percentage points if you are late with your payment. Some issuers don’t disclose any particular penalty rate, but they state that they reserve the right to increase your interest rate if you significantly increase your total debt. Check your statements carefully to make sure all of the charges are correct. And also check your statements each month to make sure your rate hasn’t gone up, and that you understand the terms and conditions of the cards you hold. Call your current card issuer and ask that they lower your interest rate. Tell the card issuer that you’ve been a good customer for X years, that you’re making a resolution to improve your f

By GAIL LIBERMAN AND ALAN LAVINE MarketWatch Mailtribute.com : Feeling overly pinched on credit card debt due to higher minimum required credit-card payments, rising interest rates and increasing prices? Your chief options: Call your credit-card issuer, seek debt counseling or file bankruptcy. Both Citigroup and Bank of America say that their credit card holders can feel free to give them a call. Not only do they support debt counseling services, but they also offer debt workout programs. "We offer various options to these customers, such as reducing minimum payments, reducing interest rates, waiving fees going forward or crediting back fees that have already been billed," explains Samuel Wang, vice president of the Citigroup Global Consumer Group. But Linda Sherry, spokeswoman for Consumer Action in San Francisco, warns that some card holders say their interest rates were raised after they told card issuers they were in trouble. At least at Bank of America, a hardship phone

If you're new to a wireless company, do not enter into more than a one-year contract. Consider a pre-paid plan, especially if you use your cell phone very little. People who use their phones very little often end up buying too many monthly minutes with regular plans. Use your phone as much as you can during the grace period, when you can still back out of your contract without paying a hefty penalty. If you don't get good reception at your place of work or home, or anywhere else that you visit often, go with another carrier. Make sure you know what features and services you need. Younger users, in their teens and 20s, tend to use text messages, cameras and music players on phones. Users in their 40s, 50s and 60s tend to use phones to make voice calls. Travelers may want a national plan, while those who don't travel much may prefer a pre-paid plan. Consider whether you'll be using your phone for long-distance. Ask whether the plan includes long-distance ca