<prompt> Human: I knew we had credit card debt, but not this much!After a huge blow up about finances by my husband, he finally revealed just how bad it is.75, 600My hands are shaking typing that.After pulling up our credit report, I saw we have 5 credit cards which were all opened between 2009-2011 and we have never been late with a payment.However, due to many circumstances, the most recent being an 8 month period of being unemployed and now being underemployed, we are now living paycheck to paycheck and have resorted to using credit cards to pay for things like gas so we can pay our monthly bills. This is the first time in years we have added to the debt.Our mortgage is 1,144month.Revolving credit minimum payment of 1,396month.Interest on cards:AE 13.24Upromise 12.4Capital One 7.15Chase 13.24Citicard 13.24 on 7,856and 28.4 on 3,174- dont understand why it would be 2 rates?The cards are maxed out and we cannot keep this up and I dont know what our alternatives are.There were times over the years I was unemployed due to two difficult pregnancies- both with preemies. The last pregnancy was with unexpected twins requiring me to be on bed rest and the babies in NICU for 2 months.We have been on a vacation once in our 16 year marriage and hardly ever eat out, or even go out, for that matter.We have used money for home remodeling and send our children to private school due to the horrific conditions of our public school.This is the last year for our oldest- who will be going to public high school next year. The twins have 2 more years until they go to public high school.After a tearful conversation with my husband, I now realize we are sinking and cant live with this debt any longer.I am now seeking a second job.I have set up an appointment to speak with a non-profit debt counselor, and have tried calling the CC companies myself- they wont go any lower with the interest rates, because to them we are good customers since we have always made our payments on time.Reviewing our statements- we have paid most of the principal on this debt and are now being crushed by compounding interest.This is not my husbands fault and I am not blaming him. Due to issues with postpartum depression and lingering depression, he has tried bringing this up over the years- but I would shut him down due to my mental state and inability to cope.What can we do now?I am now fully awake to this situation. While I cant change the past, I want to move forward without this monster over our heads.Please, any advice is very appreciated.TL;DR- 75,600 of credit card debt and now cant keep paying our monthly living expenses without being late on the credit card paymentsedit to add:Total monthly income net 6,300Monthly Expenses:Mortgage- 1,144;Revolving credit- 1,396;School- 800 3 more months only, then will resume at 550 in September; Bills oil, water, electric,...-400; gasoline- at least 100; Internet and 2 phones we have cancelled cable a year ago- 150;Food- not sure we always eat in ;Property tax- 680Car Tax- not sureCar insurance- not sureHome insurance- not sureother- not sure.Life insurance- 60Total monthly expenses known amount 4,730Breakdown on cards: Upromise 15,730 Capital One 15,497 Chase 23,140 Citicard 11,199 AE 10,062Assistant: i suggest putting the twins into public school asap and not wait the 2 years. whats the point? they either adjust to it now or in 2 years. itll probably be easier for them to adjust now at a slightly younger age. also, who cares about your kids friends? kids make friends and leave friends all the time on their own. in 2 years, their friends will wonder hey how come they arent in school with us anymore? oh their parents cant afford it...fuck that shit! i think itll be easier for everyone to pull them out now than put them through a bigger embarassment later on. my 0.02Human: This is the best advice, but the OP is totally opposed to the idea. She really wants her kids in Catholic school.Unfortunately, we can offer advice, but thats all. Shes drowning and doesnt want to believe she has to let go of things she values to save herself and her family.Assistant: I am willing to let go of things I value, but not the family I value.I am looking for a second job and want to get a grip on this thing, so that my children dont have to pay for my failure.  <response>: I think its naive to think that an immense financial hardship like this wont affect your children, one way or another. I believe youve also fallen into the trap of thinking that spending more money is the way to cultivate happiness in your childrens lives.Youre thinking short-term, but do the math out. Calculate how long itll take for you to pay off not just this 75k, but the additional private school tuition, then their college tuition. At your interest rates, you could probably buy a house in CASH by the time youll be done paying your debt off.But you dont want to do the math, because for you this is a wholly emotional decision, driven by short-term needs and blindness to your long-term problems.Thats exactly the sort of thinking that got you into this mess and its exactly the thinking thatll make you ignore my words, my reasoning, and the advice and urging of practically every other commenter here. Youll cling to the small change advice that wont really get you out of the problem, the handful of people assuring you that everythingll be fine and not much will have to be different, and that any sacrifices you have to make wont touch your core values.I honestly wish you the best of luck. Because you will need it. 