How to Get Out of Debt Fast – And Stay Out

Debt is something many people experience at one point or another. Nobody wants it, and when you have it, you want to get out as soon as possible. Well, in today’s article we will discuss how you can manage your debt to do exactly that! You’ll learn How to get out of debt fast with straightforward actions to try.

Determine How Much You Owe

 

The first step towards managing debt is to determine how much of it you have. Make a list of all your debts and categorize them so they’re easy to understand. Write down who you owe to and how much, identify the interest rate, and note the due date as well. 

It’s important to include these details so you can get a clear picture of what you owe and how to get out of debt fast. You also want to make sure you keep the list updated so you can always have the right information available. 

 

Minimize Existing Debts and Don’t Create More

 

This is obvious, but it needs to be said. If you want to manage your debt and get out of it, you need to minimize existing debts as much as possible and stop adding to the list. If you’re already in debt, stop creating more of it or you will make it a lot more difficult for yourself. 

Bargain for Lower Interest Rates when Learning How to Get out of debt fast.

 

Dependent on the type of lender, you may find some interest rates are not set-in-stone. If so, they can be negotiated, which means you can bargain with your creditor or credit card issuer for less interest rate. If you can, you should! 

Where they agree to a low-interest rate, the burden on you will not be as heavy because you’ll have to pay less. That also means you will be able to pay off the debt faster, which is a good argument to mention in the bargaining process. 

 

Set Your Priorities

 

If you have a lot of debt and you cannot pay it each off at the same time, it’s essential that you set your priorities. Take the list of debts and determine which ones you should pay first. To determine that, you must look at the due date and consider the interest rate. 

Essentially, what you must do is rank your debts based on the due date, from urgent to less urgent, and then arrange them based on the interest rate, from highest to lowest. 

If you have debts on credit cards that are coming to the end of their promotional interest rates, look to move them to a better card via a balance transfer. It may sometimes be the card that fees are attached to this, so check to see which card is best by using best buy and comparison tables. As a rule, always apply for the longest interest-free period possible.

 

Make Regular Bill Payments

If you stop paying your bills, they will add a late fee to the debt for each payment you miss. They could also negatively affect your credit rating and credit score. Not to mention, if you miss two or more payments in a row, they may increase the interest rate and the charges, which makes it a lot harder to get out of debt. In short, not paying your bills regularly will only make your debt worse. 

Set a reminder on your calendar for each bill so you do not forget or miss them. It’s also a good idea to keep track of everything in a diary; enter each payment you make and make note of the days until the next payment.

If you do happen to miss a payment, make up for it as soon as possible and do not wait until the next due date. 

Evaluate Your Expenses to Find Out How to Get Out of Debt Fast

 

As mentioned earlier, minimizing debt is the most important thing because it’s what will allow you to get out of debt fast and know how to stay out. To do that, you don’t only have to pay off what you owe, you also have to evaluate your expenses and cut them down where possible so you can save money. 

Having good financial habits is what will keep you out of debt, so evaluate your expenses honestly. See what you’re spending every month and cut off the fat; eliminate the expenses that are not necessary, at least for a while, and use the money you save to minimize and eventually eliminate debt. 

One way to visualise all your expenses is to create a budget.

Increase Your Budget

 

If you want to pay off your debt as soon as possible, you need to find a way to increase your budget. Now, there are many things you can do to add more money to your account. 

For one, you can use a life insurance policy. If you’ve deposited cash into it, you can borrow some of that from the insurer. 

You can also use your retirement fund and take some money out of it. This should be the very last option, used only when you’re drowning, and you need a lifeboat. Why? Because this can lead to tax consequences, early withdrawal penalties, and more. 

Last but not least, use all of your free time on a side hustle to earn extra cash from home.

 

How to Get Out of Debt Fast by Tackling One Debt at a Time

 

One often overlooked aspect of getting out of debt is dealing with the stress of it all. Remember, to take it one debt at a time – Try not to focus on everything owed as a whole picture and look at it as milestones or a sequential checklist. Hopefully, by approaching what you owe in this manner, you will ease the mental load that goes along with having debt.

Get Help

 

This should never be looked at as a last resort.  Sometimes you can’t get out of debt all on your own. You can go for professional assistance, consumer credit counselling, make a debt settlement or declare bankruptcy. 

It may feel embarrassing, but the options are there for people to use them, so do it if you need to. Then, make it a goal never to find yourself in the same situation again. 

 

Managing debt can be done in many ways, just don’t try all the methods at once. Understand your situation, analyse it, and then choose the method that will work best for you. Make a plan A, a plan B, even a plan C. Do that and you will be well on your way to learning how to get out of debt fast!

 

This is a guestpost.