Getting ahead may seem difficult when your living expenses have gone up so much. Rental rates in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have put a squeeze on many families that have already been living paycheck to paycheck. Combined with higher gas prices and higher grocery bills, it sets the stage for financial disaster.

If you miss one minimum payment, then rates on all of your credit card accounts could increase to the default rate. Many credit card issuers include a universal default clause in your cardholder agreement.

You might be able to get by short-term by using your credit cards to cover some monthly expenses. Using credit cards at the supermarket or gas station can help you stretch your monthly budget in lean times. However, this very practice of using credit cards for regular living expenses can be very risky. According to Daniel Johnson of Vision Credit Education, reliance on credit cards for non-emergency living expenses is a sign that you are already overextended. Continued overuse of credit cards just to get by will eventually result in financial ruin.

All is not lost if you have found yourself having to rely on credit cards in order to maintain your current standard of living. Reputable credit and financial counseling programs serving Pennsylvania residents can allow you to break free from the cycle of credit card debt.

Nonprofit credit counseling programs provide more than just debt management plans. Their Accredited Financial Counselors can help you analyze your financial situation. Their job is to show you how healthy or unhealthy your current situation is. From there, they can offer various options that may help you improve your situation.

Options offered may include self-directed payoff plans, loans, debt management plans, ignoring collections, or even bankruptcy. In addition, there are even mortgage delinquency default resolution programs that can help homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Getting help means contacting an agency that you trust and telling them your story. It may seem odd discussing your private finances with a stranger. However, many clients actually are relieved to discuss their situation with an understanding professional that does not know them on a personal basis. Indeed, such conversations are private and allow you to get the help you need without advertising your situation to friends and neighbors.

Not all nonprofit agencies are the same. Contact several to see what programs they offer and to compare their fees. Many of their services may be free.