In 2016, the average household in the United States owes nearly $17,000 in credit card debt. If you’re one of the thousands of Americans struggling with loans and debt, it is important to come up with strategies that can help you pay off your creditors. Here are ways on how you can effectively manage your money and cut down your debt:
Choose Which Debt You Should Pay First
Sort your interest rates from highest to lowest and prioritize paying your credit card or other debts with the highest interest rate. By doing this, you reduce and settle earlier the debt that charges the most expensive interest.
You can make use of balance transfers. If you have a credit card debt with a high-interest rate that you can actually pay off in a few months, you may want to move this debt to another card or debt relief company that offers lower or even zero-interest. There a lot of these agencies in Miami, Los Angeles or any major city. You can also take advantage of balance transfers to move costly loans for furniture, appliances, cars and other installments.
Establish a Budget
The first step to take is to come up with a budget. Allocating a certain amount helps ensure you have enough money to cover your expenses. Plan in advance and take early action if it appears you will not have enough money for your upcoming bills. You can use an Excel spreadsheet or financial tools and apps to track your monthly income and expenses.
Pay Your Bills on Time
Late payments can make it more difficult for you to pay off your debt because you also have to pay for the late fees. This means that when you miss your payments twice in a row, your finance charges and interest rates will also increase. This also applies to your utility bills. You pay more when you do not pay on time. Set an alert days before your due date so you won’t miss paying everything on time.
Don’t Settle Paying for the Minimum Balance
You need to pay more than the required minimum balance if you want to make a dent in your debt. You only prolong your payoff strategy if you settle to paying the minimum, which is just between two and three percent of your outstanding balance. Go for at least double of the minimum amount. Another strategy is to pay your debt weekly instead of monthly.
Reduce Your Spending
Scrutinize how you spend and find out if there are budget categories you are unnecessarily spending your money on. You may realize you’re spending too much on take-out food or getting your brew from the coffee shop. You may have to change your lifestyle to stop accumulating debt.
Try to leave your credit cards at home so you won’t be tempted to buy unnecessary items when you go shopping. You either have to scale back on your spending or you will be in more debt.
Reaching your financial goals when you are swimming in debt is not a walk in the park but this is doable. These simple tips provide you with strategies that can help you become debt-free.