Paying off debt is easier than you think if you have the right plan.
Last updated March 19, 2024 | By FinanceBuzz Editors
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Debt is a universal struggle. High interest credit cards, hospital bills, or student loans, car payments — everyone knows the challenge. If you feel like you’re drowning in it, you’re not alone. A recent study shows that over 80% of Americans are in debt.
So how do you get out of it?
Crushing your debt is easier than you might think, as long as you have the right plan. It'll take some work and dedication, but we're here to help. Below you'll find 6 clever ways you wouldn't normally consider to help you crush your debt.
Imagine how great it will feel when you no longer have it looming overhead!
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FAQs
The "snowball method," simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible. Once that debt is paid, you take the money you were putting toward that payment and roll it onto the next-smallest debt owed. Ideally, this process would continue until all accounts are paid off.
What is the best way to crush debt? ›
- List out your debt details. ...
- Adjust your budget. ...
- Try the debt snowball or avalanche method. ...
- Submit more than the minimum payment. ...
- Cut down interest by making biweekly payments. ...
- Attempt to negotiate and settle for less than you owe. ...
- Consider consolidating and refinancing your debt. ...
- Work to boost your income.
If you have $20,000 in credit card debt that you need to pay off in three years or less, you have multiple options to consider, including:
- Take advantage of a debt relief service.
- Consolidate your debt with a home equity loan.
- Take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards.
The 6-step method that helped this 34-year-old pay off $30,000 of credit card debt in 1 year
- Step 1: Survey the land. ...
- Step 2: Limit and leverage. ...
- Step 3: Automate your minimum payments. ...
- Step 4: Yes, you must pay extra and often. ...
- Step 5: Evaluate the plan often. ...
- Step 6: Ramp-up when you 're ready.
The "snowball method," simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible. Once that debt is paid, you take the money you were putting toward that payment and roll it onto the next-smallest debt owed. Ideally, this process would continue until all accounts are paid off.
How do I get out of debt without extra money? ›
How to get out of debt when you have no money
- Step 1: Stop taking on new debt. ...
- Step 2: Determine how much you owe. ...
- Step 3: Create a budget. ...
- Step 4: Pay off the smallest debts first. ...
- Step 5: Start tackling larger debts. ...
- Step 6: Look for ways to earn extra money. ...
- Step 7: Boost your credit scores.
How does debt make you rich? Debt can make you rich when you use other people's money to control assets that appreciate in value and create cash flow that grows your net worth. Good debt creates leverage, for a small monthly fee you can control an asset worth many times the monthly payment.
How to pay off $9,000 in debt fast? ›
7 ways to pay off debt fast
- Pay more than the minimum payment every month. ...
- Tackle high-interest debts with the avalanche method. ...
- Set up a payment plan. ...
- Put extra money toward paying off your debts. ...
- Start a side hustle. ...
- Limit unnecessary spending. ...
- Don't let your debt hit collections.
If you only make the minimum payment each month, it will take about 460 months, or about 38 years, to pay off that $30,000 balance.
How long will it take to pay off $20,000 in credit card debt? ›
It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
Here are seven tips that can help:
- Figure out your budget.
- Reduce your spending.
- Stop using your credit cards.
- Look for extra income and cash.
- Find a payoff method you'll stick with.
- Look into debt consolidation.
- Know when to call it quits.
Is National Debt Relief legit? National Debt Relief is an accredited member of the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR). It has been around since 2009 and has helped over 600,000 individuals reduce their debt. It also has an A+ rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Is $15000 debt a lot? ›
$15,000 can be an intimidating total when you see it on credit card statements, but you don't have to be in debt forever. If you're struggling to make your minimum payments every month and you don't see light at the end of the tunnel, sign up for a debt management program to get out of debt fast.
What is the avalanche method of debt payment? ›
The avalanche method is a debt repayment strategy focusing on paying off the account with the highest APR first, moving down from there. The debt avalanche method can take longer than other repayment strategies, but you could save more on interest in the long run.
What are the three biggest strategies for paying down debt? ›
Strategies to prioritize your debt payments
- Prioritizing debt by interest rate. This repayment strategy, sometimes called the avalanche method, prioritizes your debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest. ...
- Prioritizing debt by balance size. ...
- Consolidating debt into one payment.
The debt snowball method doesn't save as much on interest as the debt avalanche method, because it doesn't pay down higher-rate balances as quickly.
What is my best option to get out of debt? ›
6 ways to get out of debt
- Pay more than the minimum payment. Go through your budget and decide how much extra you can put toward your debt. ...
- Try the debt snowball. ...
- Refinance debt. ...
- Commit windfalls to debt. ...
- Settle for less than you owe. ...
- Re-examine your budget.
Steps to negotiate your debt
- Work with a credit counselor.
- Enroll in a debt management program.
- Try various debt payment strategies like the snowball method.
- Ask the creditor for a payment deferment.
- Ask for a lower interest rate.
- Consider a debt consolidation loan.
How To Eliminate $100,000 of Debt
- Recognize You Have a Big Problem on Your Hands. ...
- Make a Plan. ...
- List Out All Your Debts. ...
- Create a Hard Budget. ...
- Focus On Paying Off Debts With the Highest Interest Rates First. ...
- Don't Skimp On an Emergency Fund. ...
- Get a Personal Loan To Consolidate Debt. ...
- Consider Debt Resolution (Settlement)
Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.
This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off.
