Whilst doing some research into the type of questions that people ask search engines for debt advice, I stumbled across something quite amusing: It seems that many people are asking search engines for a little bit of divine intervention. People are not just searching, ‘please help me get out of debt’ but ‘Jesus help me get out of debt”, “Holy spirit help me get out of debt, “God help me get out of debt”, “can SOMEBODY help me get out of debt” and “can YOU help me get out of debt?”

If only it was that simple! Having faith in a higher being is one thing but last time I checked divine spirits are not on the payroll of Google or Yahoo, but you may know something I don’t.

Joking aside, Debt is a serious issue but the simple truth is that the only person (or entity) that can help you get out of debt is YOU! Yes, you’re going to have to take some responsibility for yourself, ‘get your ducks in order’ - You may believe that Jesus is coming, but if he does, it isn’t going to be to pay off your credit card!

It is stressful feeling financially out of control, there are some steps you can take on coping with financial stress.

The first thing to do is to be honest with your situation and find out exactly how much debt you are in. Take some time to sit down and figure out exactly how much you owe, who you owe it to, and how much you have to pay on a monthly basis.

The second thing you need to do is to determine how much you have available each month to pay towards your debts. To do this, you’ll need to add up your monthly expenses, including the monthly payments on your debts, which you determined in the first step. Gather your bank statements, check registers, credit card statements and receipts for the last 6 months to determine how much you spend on a monthly basis.

The third thing you need to do is determine how much your monthly income is. If you bring home more than you spend each month, then decide how much extra you can put towards your debts each month. If you spend more than you bring home each month, then you will need to make some decisions, such as cutting back on expenses that aren’t necessary.

Once you’ve worked out how much more money you need to stay afloat, there are some excellent tips already written on practical steps to get debt free quickly:

1. How Can I Get Out of of Debt Quick? Take on a Second Job

This will be the most straightforward, surefire route. Take on a second job flipping burgers, delivering pizza…heck, mowing lawns in the neighborhood. Whatever you can do in what little free time you have. Chances are, even on a part time basis, you can bring in a couple hundred extra dollars a month, which will go a long way toward paying down your debt.

2. How Can I Get Out of of Debt Quick? Sell Something Online

Look around for a bit. Do you have a bunch of crap around the house collecting dust? You’d be surprised what someone might pay for it on E-bay. Can you draw, or are you clever with the turn of a phrase? Find an online store where you can create your own designs and sell them online–Cafe Press and Zazzle are two good options. You might even be able to sell your professional expertise and get moonlighting work at freelance sites likeGuru and Elance.

This next article is directed towards mom’s working from home but is equally applicable to men looking to dig your way out of debt:

1. Phone a creditor. Find out what you can do to get started knocking down your debt. Work out a payment arrangement. Some creditors are even willing to take a smaller lump sum just to get the debt settled. Keeping the lines of communication open is crucial, especially when you are going through difficult financial times.

2. Cut up any unnecessary credit cards you own. Some people feel the necessity to have one emergency card. But get rid of all the rest.

Taking the first steps towards getting back on financial track can be hard. But the rewards, especially with regard to peace of mind, are great.

The above is an important statement. It is easy to tap into google: “Dalai Lama help me get out of debt” but that is no different from burying you head in the sand as the interest payments mount up. You need to face up to reality.

You need to get organized: cut back on unnecessary spending, prioritize your debts to pay off the highest interest first, get rid of your credit cards, work like a dog and be humble in taking on anything that is available. There are tough times ahead but the sooner you take action for yourself the better you’re going to start coping.

Sorry that your search of “God help me get out of debt”, landed you with a mere mortal, but I hope that mantuition has given you some starting points.