Experts say many families are one crisis away from financial ruin. The reason? Credit cards. Due to the higher cost of cars, health care, and mortgages many people are using credit cards to cover their basic needs.

The numbers are astounding. 1.7 trillion dollars in total consumer credit. Unfortunately there's no quick fix to getting out of debt, but through discipline and a lifestyle change you can get your debt problem under control.

Dan and Stephanie Acuna of Johnstown are a lot like most married couples. They both have jobs, both enjoy spending time with family and friends, and they owe thousands of dollars on their credit card.

Stephanie admits the problem began before she was married. "I just started using the credit card because I was living beyond my means," says Stephanie. "If I wanted to go do something, and I didn't have the money I'd just use the credit card.

And as Stephanie's credit limit increased so did the balance. Eventually, it topped out at 75-hundred dollars. "I think it just really hit me then." "When I saw the bill that said 75-hundred dollars, I think I just knew something has to stop," Stephanie recalled.

The Acuna's are not alone. The average American carries 85-hundred dollars in credit card debt. In 2003 consumers saved just one-percent of their income but paid twelve-percent to credit cards.

"They don't come with an instruction manual," remarks certified credit counselor Sandy McGeary. As the branch manager of the Consumer Credit Counseling office in Altoona her staff counseled 8-thousand people in 2004 with an average credit card debt of 17-thousand dollars. One woman even amassed more than 30 cards and 142-thousand dollars in debt.

"The real issue isn't the credit card," says McGeary. "It's your lifestyle and the lack of a budget and knowing what you can spend and how much you can spend."

McGeary and other financial experts offer three steps to reducing your credit card balance to zero. First, assess your budget. Look at trimming expenses for recreation, vacation, clothing and eating out. Second, use that money saved to pay more than the minimum balance. And third, pay any new purchases within 30 days.

"They really do need to change the lifestyle," says McGeary. "They need to be honest and say our focus right now is not our wants, it's getting out of the debt because that's the only way we're going be able to move ahead."

Moving ahead is exactly what the Acuna's have in mind. Dan and Stephanie are taking simple steps to leave more money at the end of the month for their credit card payment. Stephanie says, "I only like to spend so much on groceries, and we try to limit all of our trips so we only have to fill the gas up once a week or every other week." Dan says, "We pay more than the minimum charge because if you pay the minimum charge on the credit card, you're never going get ahead. You're going get even more in the hole."

And they're counting the days until they're out of debt. "I'm going to probably cry," says Stephanie. "It's gonna be the best feeling in the world."

You may be asking yourself, "What's the big deal if I have a few thousand dollars on my credit card?" If you don't account for that debt your credit could be ruined, and banks may be leery to lend you money for any big purchase like a car or a house.