There are millions of people struggling under the burden of debt problems. People are using credit cards and store cards to take the strain but that is just making their problems worse.

Obviously, credit cards are just a short-term measure and their misuse will see debts spiral out of control. If you are not careful, you could find yourself insolvent.

However, there are simple steps you can take to ensure you stay on the straight and narrow. So here is some debt advice to help you stay out of the red.

Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, you must economise.

List all of your outgoings over the month. You must be completely honest with yourself and include every last expenditure. Then you have to compare the total with that of your income.

If it turns out you are spending more than you are earning, obviously you have to make cutbacks. Cut out any unnecessary expenditure until you have balanced the two columns and have a realistic budget to work with.

You have to follow that budget religiously. You can't overspend and kid yourself you will make up for it the next month. That will just lead to more debt.

When it comes to credit cards, can you trust yourself? Perhaps you have overspent on credit cards in the past. If that's the case, maybe you should just say no to those offers coming through the mail. It could save you a lot of pain in the long run.

However, if you do decide you can use a credit card sensibly, it won't hurt to stick to a few rules just to make sure.

There's no doubt that the best way to use a credit card is to pay off the balance every month that way you minimise the cost by avoiding excessive interest.

It's wrong to think you are managing your credit card debt by paying only the minimum amount every month. It is not realistic to think you can clear your debt this way.

You might not always be able to pay off the balance every month and sometimes you need to use a credit card to help ease the blow of necessary expenditure.

Therefore, it is important to get the best interest rate you can. Look around for the best deals and choose carefully. Be prepared to look beyond the bigger names as they are not always the most competitive.

There are a number of credit cards that offer very low introductory interest rates. Take advantage of these. You should be prepared to change cards regularly to get better interest rates and benefit from more introductory offers when the old ones expire.

Steer clear of store cards as the interest rates these carry are usually way in excess of normal credit cards.

Most importantly, resist temptation. Avoid spending what you can't afford and don't borrow to purchase luxury items. Save up if you want something badly.

If you hit problems, accept the situation as soon as you can rather than denying it. You should seek professional debt advice. A reputable debt counsellor will offer free, confidential advice so you don't have to add to your debt.