One of our main goals is to dramatically improve your financial future by helping you become debt-free. A big part of that goal is getting the most bang for every extra buck you have and using that money to reduce your non-deductible debt first.

For most folks, a big chunk of their non-deductible debt comes from their credit card debt - especially after the holidays! We'll show you the simplest way to pay off your credit card debt in just one year.

The first step is to figure out which of your credit cards has the highest interest rate. This is the card you want to pay off first - not the card with the highest balance as many people assume. Next, stop using this credit card. That's right, lock it away in a drawer if you have to, but stop using it. Trying to pay off a credit card with an ever-growing balance is like trying to run up a down escalator!

Now, call your credit card company and ask for your current balance. Jot down your current balance and divide it by 12. This is the principal payment you need to make each month. All you have to do is pay this amount plus the finance charge listed on your monthly statement, and you'll have a zero credit card balance just one short year from now!

(If this dollar amount is too steep for you to pay each month, don't tune out. We'll show you another method that should be more manageable in just a minute.)

Concentrate on paying off this one card in full while just making the minimum payment on your other credit card debt. Once this card has a zero balance, move on to the card with the next highest interest rate.

If your credit card debt is so high it puts these monthly payments out of your reach, plan to pay off your card over two years. If that's still not doable, you can still make a dent in your credit card debt. How? By simply making your minimum monthly payment plus that month's finance charge.

So if your minimum monthly payment is $25 and your finance charge is $20, send a payment for $45. This way, since you're paying the minimum plus the finance charge, you're at least making a dent in the principal. If you can afford it, you can use this method with more than one credit card at a time.

Straight Talk Tip: No matter which of these methods you choose, remember that you must keep making the minimum payment on all your cards each month.

Credit cards can be a very useful part of your financial arsenal, but they can easily turn into an enemy if you're not careful.

The strategies we just walked through will help you reach zero balances on your credit cards, but that won't do much good if you simply run up your balance again. So, please, promise us that once you've reached a zero balance you'll only charge something on your credit card if you know you can pay the balance off in full when your bill arrives.

It might take some discipline at first, but trust me, it will make a huge difference in your financial future.