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Overwhelmed by Debt?

Follow these 5 simple tips to get out and stay out

By Christian NissiPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Overwhelmed by Debt?
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Have debt got you down? If so, you're not alone. It seems like everyone has a little bit of debt to deal with these days.

Have debt got you down? If so, you're not alone. It seems like everyone has a little bit of debt to deal with these days.

And while some people have tons of debt and are struggling to get out, others have relatively little money owed and can't understand why they're still overwhelmed by it.

It's a challenging situation that requires a delicate balance of patience and discipline—you don't want to make things worse by spending on credit or cutting expenses too quickly—but some steps can help keep you on track.

Track Your Spending

If you're overwhelmed by the amount of debt built up in your life, it's vital to get a clear picture of where all that money is going. Tracking your spending will tell you exactly how much money is coming in and where it's going.

There are many benefits of tracking your spending:

  1. It helps you see which out-of-control expenses can be reduced or eliminated.
  2. Budgeting is more effective because it allows for better planning and predictions based on past data.
  3. It will enable families to prioritize their needs and obtain a better handle on how much they need to save to meet those needs (or if saving is necessary).

Set Your Goals

Setting goals is crucial to overcoming debt. A plan of attack is essential and ensures you're hitting the right balance between saving money and paying down your debts.

Thinking about how you will feel when you reach your goal can help motivate you to stick with it.

A few strategies may help you stay on track while pursuing your financial goals:

Be realistic with yourself when setting goals

Don't expect miracles overnight! As long as they're achievable, it's essential to set small milestones along the way so that reaching them feels like an accomplishment;

Make sure the payoff outweighs what it takes in terms of time and effort

If not, then perhaps this isn't an appropriate goal for now (or ever). If there are too many consequences for failing at this task, then it may cause more stress than its worth;

The most effective way is by having someone else hold us accountable

Whether that be an app or another person doesn't matter as long as we know someone will check up on us from time to time."

By Jonas Leupe on Unsplash

Make A Debt Payment Plan

If you're overwhelmed by debt, you should first plan how to get out of debt. That means figuring out what kind of payments you can afford and setting up an automatic monthly payment plan so that your creditors don't keep harassing you.

To set up a debt payment plan, take this simple checklist with you to meet with someone in person at your bank or credit union:

  • Please list all of your debts and their balances with interest rates
  • Choose one debt at a time (do not choose two or more)
  • Find out the minimum monthly payment on each debt if no additional fees or penalties are involved (this may require calling customer service). Your objective is to pay off your debt as soon as possible rather than spreading yourself thin across multiple accounts.

Cut Costs And Earn More -- Or Both!

Keeping a few things in mind is essential as you begin to pay off your debt.

First and foremost: don't spend what you don't have!

Regardless of your financial situation, always maintain an income that matches your spending. If you spend more than what comes into the household, something will eventually have to give.

Second: Think about where else you can cut back on expenses to have more money to pay off debts and avoid getting into yet another one.

Taking a good look at all areas of your life and identifying ways to save money will get easier as time goes by -- but it's still worth doing now and then, even if it feels like an exhaustive process.

Don't Borrow any more Money.

You've done a lot of hard work to get your debt under control. Please don't ruin it by borrowing more money.

If you take out a loan to pay off your credit card, you'll only incur more interest charges than the ones already plaguing you. You could also wind up in even worse shape if the lender asks for collateral or a co-signer.

If you need cash right away and can't wait until payday (or perhaps there's no money left), try selling some stuff on Craigslist or eBay instead of relying on friends and family members who have probably been hearing "I'm sorry" from you for months now.

Tackle The Emergency Savings

An emergency saving is a stash of cash for sudden, unexpected expenses—a friend who needs a place to stay after getting evicted, your car breaking down at the wrong time, or an unforeseen medical bill.

These funds will help you avoid taking on more debt than necessary when something goes wrong.

Having one is essential because it gives you peace of mind: knowing there's money set aside for emergencies means that if something terrible happens.

It won't cost anything in interest (or worse, ruin your credit) to borrow from the bank. It also helps prevent late payments by allowing more flexibility with your budget when things get tight.

In a nutshell

Getting out of debt may be challenging, but it's not impossible.

If you follow these tips, work hard every day, and stay focused on your goals, you can get back on your feet and look forward to a brighter future for yourself and your family.

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About the Creator

Christian Nissi

Hi, I'm Christian. Writing is a great way to express myself creatively and share my thoughts with the world. I work hard to produce high-quality content that engages my readers. When I'm not writing, my family and friends keep me busy.

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