Just Starting - credit card question

[Snowballed]

OK
I'm an irresponsible consumer who let things snowball. My CC debt is about 18,000 and I have no assets other than an 8 year old vehicle that is payed for. I live in an apartment with a roommate who is a musician and gives me variable amounts of cash per month to help with bills. I'm not sure how this setup will be looked at by a lawyer or the trustee.
Anyway, my first question is about the 70/90 rule. The only way I can reasonably assure to not use my cc's for 90 days is to stop paying them. My minimum payments are killing me. I pretty much used up my tax refund check to keep current. What should I do?

[annikasaunt]

I stopped paying my cc's 2-3 months before filing. I used the money to catch up on utilities, etc. Once you consult an atty they will tell you to stop paying once you consider filing for bk.

[bkadv]

We were told also by our attorney to stop paying once we'd determined to file. **Just a note about this....keep in mind the creditors will report these as being late up until the date you file bk. At that time you are considered protected from creditors.

[keepmine]

First thing is, what is your income and, how does that relate to your state's median income?
Also, I'd think long and hard about filing over $18K. Many of us filed on debts that were a healthy multiple of $18K.
I'd develop a budget that's heavy on living below my means and see if it's possible to dig out. For sure, you need to stop using those cards.

[tresjolie]

My total credit card debt is $18k+ with a non govt supported school loan of around $5k as well.
With the new minimum monthly payments and high interest rates that I could not transfer to low interest cards (they would not let me) I finally got to where I knew I could not possibly keep up my monthly payments. I made may minimum monthly payments to that point and wanted to continue very badly. I make a decent salary and even tried to get a second job to use to help pay down my debt but all I ended up doing was becoming totally exhausted and just keeping my head above water.
I consulted a BK attorney who, with my circumstances---I have a live-in boyfriend with no income at this point due to being layed off from US Airway---feels I will easily qualify for a Ch. 7. I have no home and an 8 year old paid off vehicle that needs various repairs to keep running.
It is a long and hard decision to decide whether to file bankruptcy. My credit is already bad---I cannot possibly make the payments to keep current. Yes, many people have much higher debt but that does not mean that those of us with smaller amounts are any more able to pay the debt back. It's all relative to each person's circumstances.
If you can manage to budget and/or have other income possibly to help you keep current and pay down your debt by all means do.
My BK attorney told me as well to stop making the payments on the cards--I am going to file---not for a bit as I need to save the money for the attorney and filing fees---and I've had car repairs and taxes to pay for currently.
I have totally stopped using the cc's for about 2 months now and could not use them if I wanted...the late fees and missed payments have taken them over the limits now.
I wish I could pay off the debt---but between all of the above and higher gas prices and more medical costs coming out of my pocket I basically do not have any other choice.

[Snowballed]

Thank you all for responding. I guess I should have mentioned my income. It is a paltry 21,500 last year.
I looked into the debt settlement but it seemed like a bad idea and the monthly payments almost as much as I'm already struggling with. Plus, the black mark on my credit from settling the debt. If I'm going to get a black mark on my credit I might as well go all the way with BK and start fresh.
Thank y'all again for the response.