Perhaps you've been able to get a handle on your credit card and other debt through credit counseling , debt consolidation, or even bankruptcy. You've got a good budget you're working with, you're not getting any further into debt, and your even managing to put some money away. Life is finally settling down after your debt mess, and then one day you open the mailbox and find a letter from a collection agency.

What would you do with an extra $625 a month? You could put that money towards credit card debt or built up savings account. We're talking $7,500 a year, and you don't need to get a raise or start saving dryer lint--you just
need to cut back in little ways that add up. Try these ten tips for saving up to $625 a month.

You're struggling with credit card debt, but managing somehow, when suddenly you're hit with a one-two punch from one of the credit card companies--or maybe all of them. Maybe you've barely managed the payments and then you get a bill with an amount due of several hundred more dollars than was due last month--and you haven't made any new charges. Or you've paid on time since you've opened the account, but suddenly the percentage rate has grown by 5 percent, 10 percent, or more! It's not fair! How could they do this? Isn't this illegal?

You can work on getting your credit card debt, student loan debt, and other financial troubles under control, but until you get organized with your finances, you'll never be able to fully achieve financial freedom. Here are some tips to get organized with your finances.

1. Prepare a budget and stick to it. You should know exactly how much money is coming in and how much money is going out. These amounts need to be balanced.

Should you pay off your credit card debt with a home equity loan or line of credit? It sure is tempting--wouldn't it be nice to trade in all those bills in your mailbox every month for one payment? And what about the lower interest you'll most likely pay on a home equity loan, not to mention that some of the interest paid on a home equity loan can be tax deductible, while credit card interest is not.

There are some things to consider when thinking about paying off your credit card bills with a home equity loan or line of credit:

Of course you want to be able to pay for your child's college education. Who doesn't? It's the American dream, right? For those who can afford it, paying for college for the kids outright is a great thing. For most middle-class Americans however, the thought of paying the bill for four years of higher education or taking on more student loan debt can be downright nightmare-inducing.

Here are some things to remember when planning for your children's college education:

Even with health insurance, all it takes is one major illness or injury to be stuck with overwhelming medical bills. When this happens, you might feel like there's nothing you can do but pay the entire amount owed or file for bankruptcy. In most cases, however, there are several measures you can take to whittle down medical debts both big and small.

Think your student loans can't be canceled? In most cases you're correct, but there are some instances in which your student loans can be totally or partially canceled. Canceling your student loan will depend on what kind of loan you have, but here are some of the more common ways it can be done:

• Permanent total disability: If you're unable to work because of a chronic or terminal illness or an injury, your loan could be canceled.

Identity theft can wreak havoc with your credit score and cause long-term negative effects to your finances. People with a household income greater than $150,000 have higher rates of fraud. Consumers in the age group 25 to 35 have a fraud rate of 5.38%, which is the highest of any age group.

In 2005, nearly nine million Americans became the victim of identity theft. Here are some important things you can do to prevent identity theft.

Cash for Clunkers
If you're thinking of using the Cash for Clunkers program to get a new car and perhaps taking on auto loan debt, consider the following:

1. You must be buying a new car. Used vehicles do not qualify.

2. The new car must have a manufacturer's retail price of less than $45,000.

3. The new vehicle must adhere to certain combined fuel economy standards. Cars must get at least 22 miles to the gallon. Trucks must get between 15 and 18 miles per gallon, depending on the type of truck.