For too many, credit cards are considered a necessary evil. We understand. It’s far too easy to fall prey to the temptation to buy things you can’t afford. So if you’ve made your deal with the devil and are now feeling consumed by the flames of credit card debt hell, consider this infographic to be a long, tall glass of water. Start at the bottom and work your way up to see how you can get down to a manageable number of credit cards, transfer your balances to a lower-interest card, eliminate finance charges, settle debt, and improve your credit score, and (with a bit of discipline) reach credit card nirvana.

see part 1: The Descent into Credit Card Debt Hell

Here’s Mint’s advice on how you can lift yourself out of the abyss.