According to the personal-finance website WalletHub, U.S. consumers were on track to finish last year around $80 billion dollars in credit card debt.

Ouch.Even though we're already two weeks into 2017, it's not too late to take steps to get out of debt as quickly and inexpensively as possible.Here are a few tips from WalletHub:• Make a budget and stick to it.Rank-order your expenses - including debt payments, emergency fund contributions and other savings - and trim the fat until the amount you earn exceeds the amount you spend. It doesn't take long for luxuries to begin to feel like necessities, so cut liberally.• Build an emergency fund.Your goal should be to gradually save about a year's worth of after-tax income through monthly contributions to an emergency account. And you should actually start the process before getting serious about paying off debt. Otherwise, you'd simply be too vulnerable.• Improve your credit and do a balance transfer.A higher credit score will help you save on everything from loans and lines of credit to insurance policies. You also need at least good credit to score a decent 0 percent balance transfer credit card.• Try the island approach for better card terms.Using the same card to make everyday purchases and carry a balance from month to month is a mistake. It increases the amount that accrues interest and forces you to settle in terms of either rewards or low rates. The island approach - designating multiple cards for specific types of transactions - solves both problems.• Pay off debt with the snowball method.Devote the majority of your monthly debt payment to the balance with the highest interest rate, while making minimum payments on any other balances you may owe. Then repeat the process when your most expensive debt is gone.For the full report and a complete explanation of these tips, visit

http://wallethub.com/edu/credit-card-debt-study/24400.