How to Get Out of Debt
If you’re in a situation where debt is negatively affecting your life, you’re probably looking to get out of it fast.
Read on to learn why it’s important to pay debt as soon as possible, as well as different methods for doing so.
How to get out of debt fast
When it comes to getting out of debt quickly and regaining financial freedom, you have several options. Some of these are as simple as increasing your monthly payments while others may require more planning, such as budgeting.
1. Understanding Your Debt
First, start by listing all your outstanding debts to get a clear picture of how much you owe. This can help you decide which accounts to settle first and how much extra money you need to set aside monthly to get out of debt faster.
Start by gathering and reviewing your loan agreements and credit card statements. In these documents, you'll find information regarding your accounts' outstanding balances, repayment schedules, interest rates and other loan terms or fees.
You can find your loan agreements and monthly statements by logging into your bank or credit card issuer account using their website or mobile app. You can also contact the lender to request copies by mail or email.
2. Create a budget
Whether you're looking for greater personal accountability or simply want to take a methodical approach, budgeting can be a useful tool. There are budget apps and software you can link to your bank accounts and automate the process, or you can grab a sheet of paper and just do it the old-fashioned way.
The first and most important step is to set your financial goals and educate yourself on your particular situation. If your expenses exceed your income, a budget could help you spot expenses — if any — you could do without.
But, even if you don't have this problem, budgets are a great way to rework your monthly spending to free up money that you can put toward paying down your debts.
3. Reduce your expenses
Once you create a budget, track your expenses and analyze where your money is going. You might find you can make minor tweaks to lower your bills and cut back on unnecessary expenditures. You can then use freed-up money to pay down your debt .
For example, if you find you’re ordering takeout frequently, you can start eating at home more while limiting dining at restaurants and ordering takeout only for special occasions.
You may also consider canceling subscriptions you don't need or use as often. These can include streaming services, gym memberships, app subscriptions and more.
4. Consider the debt snowball method
The debt snowball method is a debt repayment strategy that focuses on eliminating your smallest debts first.
The idea behind the method is to make the minimum monthly payments on all of your debts, but put any extra cash you have toward the smallest debt. Once your smallest balance is paid off, you will take the money you were previously using to pay off that debt and apply it to the next smallest. This cycle will continue until you are debt-free.
This method keeps many people motivated, since they can see results right away. However, it may not be the best option for those with multiple high-interest debts since, if you leave those for last because they’re larger balances, you can end up spending much more over time due to additional interest charges.
5. Consider the debt avalanche method
While the debt snowball method focuses on paying off your smallest debt first, the debt avalanche method (also known as debt stacking) focuses on paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first.
The first debt will take the longest to pay off, but once it’s settled, you can apply the money you used to pay it to the next debt with the highest interest rate. As you move through this cycle, the remaining debt will take progressively less time to eliminate.
The benefit of the debt avalanche method is that you will pay less interest overall, and more money is applied directly to the principal each month. The faster you can pay down your principal, the faster you can pay off your credit card balances and other debts.
6. Ask for better interest rates
Lowering your interest rates may be one of the quickest ways to reduce what you owe. A lower interest rate means that you pay less over the life of the loan. For example, if you take out a $5,000 personal loan with a 6% interest rate, you’ll pay $300 in interest charges. On the other hand, if the loan had an interest rate of 3%, you would only pay $150.
Additionally, when you pay debts with lower interest rates, more of your money goes directly to the principal balance (and therefore the quicker you can eliminate your debt). Getting a lower rate can reduce your monthly loan payments.
While you usually can’t negotiate a reduction in your balance, you may be able to get your creditor to lower your interest rate. Each company has different rules for negotiation, but you’ll never be penalized for asking.
Entering the negotiation with some leverage will be your best chance of success. If you can find a competitor that offers a lower rate on an equivalent credit card or loan, your creditor may agree to match the interest rate as a way to keep your business. Try to avoid leveraging a temporary or promotional rate because creditors are much less likely to match those.
Note that having a good or excellent credit score and an established history of on-time payments improves your odds of getting a lower rate. If you do, be sure to mention it during negotiations with your lender.
7. Earn extra income if you can
If your primary income is not enough to adequately cover your debt payments, consider picking up a side hustle, at least temporarily.
There are plenty of ways you can make more money and boost your monthly income. Some common part-time jobs include rideshare driver, food delivery, transcribing and cleaning.
You can use the extra income to make extra payments toward reducing your debt. You should also consider using tax refunds, work bonuses and other unexpected cash to pay down your bills faster.
8. Take out a debt consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card
A debt consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card can help simplify your financial situation if you have multiple accounts with large balances and high interest rates. With these, you can combine multiple bills into one manageable monthly payment — hopefully at a lower rate.
Many financial institutions offer debt consolidation loans that can help you combine and resolve unsecured debts. These personal loans let you pay off multiple balances faster, and some of the best debt consolidation loans can save you money in the long run.
A balance transfer credit card works similarly by letting you consolidate the balances of multiple cards into one. Then, you can focus only on one monthly credit card bill with a fixed due date. The best balance transfer credit cards will even provide a low intro APR (or 0% APR) for anywhere between 12 to 21 months when you transfer your balance.
9. Ask a credit counselor about a debt management plan
If you would prefer to have a financial expert assist you in managing your debt, you can meet with a credit counselor. These typically work on a nonprofit basis to assist people with low income or poor credit scores. They can often provide guidance regarding debt consolidation, refinancing, bankruptcy and more.
It’s possible your counselor might recommend you enroll in a debt management plan (DMP). These plans are designed to help people keep up with their monthly bills until they settle the outstanding balance.
A DMP is carried out over an extended period of time (often three to five years) in which you're usually not allowed to use your credit cards or open new credit lines. However, your credit counselor will ensure that you have the information, resources and guided experience to handle your debt independently once the process is over.
Note that while nonprofit credit counseling agencies offer free assistance, signing up for a DMP typically has a set-up and monthly fee of around $50 or less. Also, keep in mind that DPMs are mainly useful for people struggling with credit card debt. Student loans and secured debts such as mortgages and auto loans aren't eligible.
Pros and cons of having debt
Carrying some debt can have certain financial benefits as long as you make timely payments and avoid accruing excessive interest charges.
For example, having different types of debt, such as with a mortgage and a credit card, improves your credit mix, a factor used to calculate credit scores. Paying all your accounts in time can also raise your score since it shows lenders that you're a responsible borrower.
However, the potential drawbacks of debt can outweigh its benefits, especially if you rack up more than you can handle. Outstanding debt that sticks around for too long can lead to the following:
- Additional interest: Debt comes with interest charges that can add up over time and make paying down your principal balance more difficult.
- Risk of default: If you start making late payments or miss them, you may default on your loans. This can damage your credit and make it harder to qualify for new credit accounts and might even impact your chances of renting an apartment.
- Collections: If you're over 120 days late paying a bill, it may be sent to a debt collection agency. Lenders assign or sell your unpaid debts to collection agencies that use aggressive tactics to get you to pay. Like a defaulted loan, a collection will lower your credit score significantly.
- Lower credit score: Excessive debt relative to your monthly gross income, along with any missed or late payments, will negatively impact your credit history and your ability to borrow in the future.
With these downsides in mind, it's essential to carefully consider how much you can afford to repay before taking on new debt. You should also have a straightforward repayment plan and good financial habits to avoid falling in a debt cycle.