Debt has become as much a staple in American society as apple pie or baseball.
Many market analyses claim that as many as 80% of Americans are living with some amount of debt, with the average household drowning under $134,000 dollars in unpaid bills.
The average national debt has risen 11% in the last decade and from the looks of the current state of the economy, is only getting higher.
So, how can you beat the odds and climb out from under your mountain of debt?
Here are the three most popular methods used by American families to settle their debts, fix their credit, and take back their lives.
Order Regular Credit Report Checks
Checking your credit score regularly is the single most important thing you can do to repair your credit. You can check your credit score for free using several companies like Equifax and Credit Karma.
Some of these companies even offer free credit monitoring services that will send you a monthly report, allowing you to stay up to date on even small changes to your credit.
Credit reports are extremely usefully because they allow you to see which area of your credit score is weighing you down the most. Your credit score is based on five main areas, including payment history, age of accounts, credit utilization, types of credit accounts, and credit application history.
But by looking at your report, you will be able to immediately tell which area of your credit you should begin to focus on first.
Hire a Credit Advisor
Working with an advisor from a credit repair company allows you to settle credit disputes you may not have been able to settle on your own.
For a low monthly fee, your credit advisor will contact your creditors to renegotiate interest rates and create a payment schedule that works for your needs and lifestyle. The Credit People review for 2017 as well as Lexington Law and Sky Blue Credit Repair, all boast customer approval ratings of 8.8 out of 10.
Working with a credit repair company takes the guess work and frustration out of formulating a plan to repair your credit and gives you the peace of mind of having credit professionals working on your side.
Establish New Credit History
Another important way to begin repairing credit is to establish some positive credit history. Even if you have been denied one type of credit you may be eligible to start a new type of credit.
One way to establish new credit history is to apply for a secured credit card through your financial institution. Secured credit cards require an initial deposit that serves as your credit limit. If payments are not made on time, your credit card company or financial institution can choose whether to withdraw your deposit to serve as a payment.
These types of credit cards are excellent for those wanting to repair their credit because they allow you to have control over the way you use and pay back your credit.
Finding Life After Debt
Being in debt doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Americans today have more options than ever before to repair credit and start a new credit history.
In addition to working with a credit repair company, opening a secure credit account, and checking your credit score, many banks also offer additional educational credit resources and financial advisors who can help you make smart money choices to help you avoid getting into debt in the first place.
Utilizing all of these amazing resources and making smart money choices will help you beat the odds and beat your debt. 
I run a small financial services firm in Austria. Here, the burden of debt for individual households is not quite as high as in the United States. However, the opportunities to make money here are limited, so once you are in debt, it is difficult to get out of the situation for a different reason. It is difficult to make extra money and doing business is burdensome.