Lemondrop

Remember when you got your first credit card and your parents said, "Now this is only for emergencies," to keep you from accumulating too much credit card debt? And suddenly, "emergencies" included those cute new wedges, furniture for your new apartment and a trip to Cancun? Oops, now you're in debt!

So were Sandra, Carrie and Gina. But they got out, with planning and persistence, and you can too.

Sandra Hanna, 27, Vancouver and Denver.
Problem: Shopping and social outings

Debt Debacle: Sandra was off to a good financial start when she moved home after college to save money. But when she landed her first professional public relations position, she wanted to dress like her well-clad colleagues. Between the new clothes and apartment furnishings, she quickly racked up $2,000 in credit card debt -- and learned that her spiffy co-workers had done the same.

"I was heading down that path," Hanna said. "I would have gotten more in debt. Nothing was going to stop me. I thought I'd work hard and worry about it later."

Savvy Solution: Hanna and her co-workers decided to start a support group to discuss personal finance. By dissecting bank statements and exploring money-management methods, they tackled their bulky balances. In four months, Hanna had paid down her debt. The group evolved into Smart Cookies, five women who help others deal with debt. The women have authored a book and write a column for the New York Daily News.

Hanna has since realized she can have nice things without living beyond her means. She suggests tracking spending, having some play cash each week and "staying really clear on the big picture."

Carrie Rocha, 32, Osseo, Minn.
Problem: She married into (her husband's) debt, and car and home loans

Debt Debacle: Carrie only had a small amount of credit card debt but, combined with a car loan, second mortgage and tax bill, she and her husband owed $50,000. They had other shoddy spending habits, such as going out to dinner too often.

Savvy Solution: The Rochas, who have a 3-month-old and a 2-year-old, erased their debt in under three years. They decided to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses and started paying cash for everything. They also began planning cheaper date nights and family outings, such as picnics and zoo trips. Rocha now gives her hubby haircuts at home, has downgraded their cell-phone plans and cut cable, and spends only $40 on weekly grocery shopping.

Like Hanna, Rocha has parlayed her experience into a new gig helping others build healthier finances. She left her position as chief operating officer at a nonprofit to run a blog called Pocket Your Dollars and teaches personal-finance classes. Her advice to others in debt is to start planning for emergencies like car repairs and stop using money as your treat -- tax refunds, for instance, should be put in savings, not spent on a new couch.

"I really think it's about not only getting out of debt, it's about staying out," Rocha said. "Get $1,000, and just put it some place and don't touch it."

Gina Gallow, 30, New Orleans
Problem: College living expenses and hurricanes

Debt Debacle: Gallow's credit cards really were used for emergencies -- during Hurricanes Gustav and Ivan, the NOLA teacher was forced to seek temporary shelter in hotels. She had also charged clothes, books, food and gas while in college. The end result was five credit cards totaling $10,000 in debt.

Savvy Solution: Gallo has diminished her debt to $2,700 since January through selling home-cleaning products, cutting frivolous spending and paying extra on her bill every month. She's canceled three of her credit cards and tracks her budget on her phone, something she recommends to everyone.

"It's all nice and well to say I want to pay off things and I want to get to this goal, but if you don't know where your money is going, every penny, you're still going to spend it on stupid stuff."