By STEVE BUCCI, bankrate.com

Dear Debt Adviser,
I have a low-interest first mortgage, but a large-interest second mortgage. We want to keep the home and can make the first mortgage payment. What can we do with the second?

Dear Debt Adviser,
We received notice that if we did not use a credit card we have had for many years in the near future, it would be canceled. Is this a problem, since we have other cards and really have not used the card that's in jeopardy? Does this cancellation affect one's credit rating? -- Vicki
Dear Vicki,

Dear Debt Adviser,
My husband constantly spends small amounts of money. This month, his spending added up to $345. That amount is on top of our regular monthly spending deficit of $400 a month.
He seems to think he has the right to spend money because he is "stressed" or it's "not a big deal" because he spends just the little amounts.

Dear Debt Adviser,Do you have to be late on credit card payments, etc., to utilize credit counseling? We are drowning in credit card debt but continue to make our minimum monthly payments. We've heard you have to be late on payments to use credit counseling. Any help is much appreciated.-- KristinDear Kristin,

Dear Debt Adviser,My husband and I have $80,000 in credit card debt in addition to a mortgage of $136,000. We are paying our bills on time but I do not see a way out of this if we continue making the minimum payments. He makes $80,000 and I make $20,000. He refuses to make a budget because he knows we won't stick to it.

Dear Debt Adviser,With this financial crisis, what should credit cardholders with credit card debt expect to happen to their existing finance charges? Will it have a direct negative impact on finance charges (e.g., raise the charges)? Finally, if the finance charges are sure to rise, is there any way to tell by how much? -- JeffDear Debt Adviser,

Dear Debt Adviser,I have a mortgage of $213,000 on a home valued at $276,000. My credit score is 713. I'm wondering if I would be better off to max out all my credit cards -- the combined limit total is approximately $70,000 -- and pay down my mortgage? Can you advise? -- JoyceDear Joyce,

Dear Debt Adviser,I have been badly used by a credit-card company. A credit-card debt consolidator told me to stop paying for now and to save money in an account that can be used toward paying off the credit card later. Eventually, I'll be able to settle down the road for 40 cents to 60 cents on the dollar.