Implementing a few debt-free solutions into your daily life can help you reign in spending and pay down your outstanding balances. Debt can occur from overspending, high medical bills, unforeseen incidents and poor budgeting. Recognizing the causes and outlining a clear plan to eliminate debt can help you regain control of your finances.
Considerations
Frequently taking out loans and using credit cards on a whim may play a role in your debt problems. Solving debt is often a matter of developing a measure of control. The need for instant gratification can cause debt to spiral out of control. Rather than use credit cards to immediately satisfy your wants, learn save up for purchases and then pay for items with cash. You'll own these items outright without increasing your debt.
Credit Card Tips
The more you pay in interest each month, the harder it becomes to knock down credit card balances. Take control of your finances and contact your creditors to ask for a cheaper interest rate on your accounts. Most creditors are eager to drop the rate if you have a good payment record with them. This reduction decreases how much you will owe in interest each month, which results in a faster reduction of your actual balance.
Disposable Income and Payments
Disposable income helps eliminate debt more quickly, and if you have a few extra hundred dollars a month, start increasing your monthly payments. Paying only the minimum causes debt to linger, and you will pay more in interest over time. Drop lump sums on your debt every month. Let's say you owe $2,000 on a credit card. Skip the $40 minimum payments and send creditors $200 a month, if possible. Rather than pay on the account for several years, you can possibly get rid of the balance in less than one year.
Consolidation
Consolidation methods can help erase debt sooner. This method does not eliminate debt. However, you can possibly pay a much lower interest rate with a consolidation, which saves you money. And if using a bank loan or home equity loan to consolidate, you'll pay on the new loan for a fixed term, which means you can eliminate your debt in three, four or five years. Debt consolidation firms are also advantageous. They don't issue checks in order for you to pay off your balances. These firms work by consolidating credit cards and loans into one low-rate bill.
