The Egglestons' Progress

David spells out his strategy for tackling credit card debt with Step 3: Learn to play the credit card game. He creates a chart to help the Egglestons figure out the order in which to pay off their 12 credit cards. David's theory is to pay off the cards with the smallest balances first. According to David, the Egglestons need to reduce the amount of debt they're carrying on all their credit cards as fast as possible. "In a matter of months we can reduce their cards and they'll have fewer cards, therefore they'll make fewer mistakes, therefore the credit card companies can't get them as easily," David says.

Following this system has given Sally and Dan a huge emotional boost. "It's very motivating and it feels so good to have a plan," says Sally. Dan shares his wife's enthusiasm. "We're being proactive instead of just reacting to the bills coming," says Dan. "We have a goal and we're going to get there and we can see it."

Overall, the Egglestons say that tackling their debt has been a positive experience. "It's been very emotional, but it's also been wonderful because I really believe it's brought us closer together," Sally says. "Dan was so not a part of the bills or the finances, and he's talking in language I've never heard him talk before."