It’s no secret that debts can be debilitating. If you’re struggling with debt, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a 2019 study by Northwestern Mutual, the average American has $38,000 in personal debt (excluding mortgage debt). That’s a lot of debt! And it can feel like an impossible hole to climb out of. But the good news is, you can free yourself from the chains of debt—it just takes time, patience, and determination.
First and foremost, you need to come up with a budget. Track your income and expenses for at least one month so that you have a clear picture of where your money is going. Once you have a good understanding of your spending habits, you can make adjustments to ensure that your spending aligns with your goals and values. For example, if you want to become debt-free within two years, you’ll need to cut back on unnecessary expenses and put more money towards paying off your debts each month.
Secondly, you need to create a debt repayment plan. This will involve prioritizing your debts from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate and making the minimum payments on all of your debts except for the one with the highest interest rate. Once that debt is paid off, you’ll move on to the next one on the list and so forth until all of your debts are repaid in full.
Last but not least, stay motivated! The road to becoming debt-free can be long and arduous, but it’s important to remember why you’re doing it. Write down your goals and look at them every day to remind yourself of what you’re working towards. Debt freedom is possible—you just have to stay focused and committed.
By following these three steps—creating a budget, creating a repayment plan, and staying motivated—you can achieve your goal of becoming debt-free once and for all. So don’t give up—keep fighting the good fight! Your future self will thank you later.