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Statistical analysis shows that the average American has the highest debt load in history. As these increase, people are finding it almost impossible to get out of debt --- which is what most people wish for, in order to retire comfortably, make a major purchase, such as an auto or home, or just to be financially secure. Here are a few simple tips that can help you be debt-free, and live the life you dream of.

1. Get rid of those cards! This may seem too simple, but if you have a heavy load on those cards the best way to recover from it is to stop using the cards! The only way to achieve this is by making certain that you cannot use them, thus cut them up! Another way to approach this would be the possibility of entrusting a credit card to a close family member or friend who can be trusted to hold on the card in case of need, but destroy the rest of those credit cards.

2. Meet with a financial counselor, someone who is specially trained for helping people that are having problems with debt as you are. These professionals will help you form a plan that you can follow, step-by-step, to come out from under your burden of debt, and may even be able to give you some emotional support in the process. Many times these services are free through a non-profit organization or a government agency.

3. Choose debts to pay off wisely: this is a step often ignored by debtors, who are all too eager to rid themselves quickly of debt. They become ambitious, and pay off their first few debts haphazardly. Later, they often lose steam and stop paying off debts, leaving themselves in the same situation in which they began. Instead, with the help of your financial counselor, pick the right debts to pay off first. Select debts that are affordable to pay off, which are accruing at a high rate, and/or which are affecting your credit most severely.

4. The fourth and most important step is debt consolidation -- the process of lumping together smaller debts into a single, larger debt. To most people with debt problems, paying off the total debt may seem an insurmountable task. Through the process of debt consolidation, a manageable monthly payment can be obtained. Your financial counselor can assist you in finding an agency from which to take out a debt consolidation loan. The smaller debts are repaid with the consolidation loan, leaving you a single, smaller monthly payment instead of a large number of more expensive payments.

Whether you're 25 or 65 years old, whether you owe a few thousand dollars or a hundred thousand dollars or more, and whether you're making six figures or just scraping by, debt consolidation will help you get out from under your debts. Being able to buy a car or house, or being able to plan your retirement or your children's college education, will be much easier once your debt problems are resolved.