Getting out of debt is alot easier than it seems when you are staring at a pile of credit card debts or student loans that you just don't know how to get ahead of.
Here Are the Steps to Take to Get out of Debt
1. Get organized
This is the part that alot of people are afraid to tackle. Make a list of all of the different debts that you need to pay off. Make a list of exactly how much you owe to each different place. For example, if you have a Visa credit card that you owe $2,000 to, put that first on the list. Also include the interest rate and the due date for that debt. Keep doing this for all the different things you are trying to pay off. That way, you can prioritize which debts you want to tackle first.
2. Create a Plan
Once you can see a full picture of what you owe, you can start to create a plan. But before you create a plan, it is important to take a step back. There are a few things that you need to consider such as being realistic about your plan. You don't want to set yourself up for failure. Paying off debt can take a long time -- two years, three years, even longer. It isn't something you can fix overnight. Also be aware that this is only temporary. Any sort of lifestyle adjustment that you make now to pay off your debt will eventually end. And with alot of perseverance, you absolutely can pay it off.
3. Pay minimum repayments on time
To tackle your debt, you have to make all of your bare minimum repayments on time. This is very important for your credit score. You can set up automatic payments to make sure that those payments will be make on time and in full.
4. Top up on your minimum repayments
Obviously, you'll have to pay more than your minimum repayments to put a dent in your debt but exactly how much will vary from person to person and it could even vary from month to month. A good rule of thumb is to aim to pay double your minimum repayment. It might be difficult in some cases, so even paying $20 or 50$ more can speed up the process os getting out of debt
5. Pay debts with the highest interest rate first
It may be useful to pay off your debts with the highest interest rate first. That way, once it is fully paid, the money that you would have used to pay off the interest could actually be allocated to top up repayments on your other debts.
6. Be Patient
Paying off debts can sometimes take a long time depending on the amount of debt you have. The most important thing is to gain momentum so you begin to see your debt balance decrease.
7. Make Lifestyle Sacrifices
The hardest part of paying down debts is that it requires a lifestyle change . Again, it's just temporary but you'll have to cut back on certain areas of your spending if you want to free up money in your budget to put towards paying down your debt.
8. Stick to your Plan
Once you have a plan in place, it is important to stick to it. But, if extra cash pops into your bank account from a tax refund or a really generous gift, you can put it towards paying off your debt as well to fast forward the process.
Paying down debts is a temporary commitment and is one that is very achievable. All it takes is getting your plan in place, sticking to it, and watching it happen. Good Luck!
when the debt is big is really hard to get away without being broke