If you've been watching your credit card balance creep higher each month, you're certainly not alone. Americans are now carrying over $1.23 trillion in credit card debt , and with average credit card APRs sitting at record highs, the interest charges alone can feel crushing. What makes this situation particularly painful is that many cardholders are paying hundreds of dollars each month just to service the interest, barely making a dent in the actual balance. The rising cost of living has only