24 y/o Nurse, $30k in Credit Card Debt, Feeling Overwhelmed - Any Advice?
Hi everyone, I’m a 24-year-old nurse living alone and really struggling to get my finances under control. I bring home about $4,000 a month after taxes, but my living expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, etc.) add up to around $3,340. That doesn’t even include gas, food, or any unexpected costs that pop up, and i literally have no savings other than my 401k which isn’t much.
On top of that, I’ve racked up about $30,000 in credit card debt, and I’m starting to panic because I don’t know how to tackle it. The interest is killing me, and I feel like I’m drowning. Later this year, I’ll be moving in with my girlfriend, which should cut my living costs a bit, but I’m still so overwhelmed and don’t know where to start right now.
It feels like there’s no way out other than bankruptcy but it will ruin my credit. I can pick up extra shifts at work but overtime is far from a guarantee. I have no idea what to do.
Update: Thank you everyone for taking the time to give advice, some of these are very long, detailed, and heartfelt messages and plenty of encouragement has been offered. I’m not looking for any sympathy at all, I know I have simply made poor financial decisions and have lived above my means for a while and to get back into good shape I am going to have to go barebones for a while. I believe I am going to go the OT route and work like a madman and with that and living with my girlfriend I should be able to free up and extra ~2k a month. I truly am thankful for everyone who offered anything to me!