does credit card debt suck? Most of us are not immune to the evils of credit card debt. We experience it at some point in our lives.

We typically find ourselves in credit card debt when we don’t know any better (and don’t understand the cost of high-interest debt) and/or when we were struggling financially for some reason. Some of us had not saved enough to weather prolonged financial recessions and turned to credit cards to make up the difference.

When you finally get up or stand up and realize that you need to pay off this credit card debt, depending on how much you have, it can seem like a pretty daunting task.

Account Price The world’s first automatic debt manager that makes it easy to save money, manage your cards, and pay off your debts faster. Get Tally  We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Here are some helpful tips to help you reduce your credit card debt and to help you avoid more debt in the future.

Coming up with strategies to legally eliminate credit card debt

1. Listen to Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey will motivate you to pay off your debts. Period. It’s the man with the seven-step plan that can really help you get your debt reduction plan in motion. It has a daily radio show and podcast that you can access.

2. Create a credit card debt reduction plan

Credit card debt is usually the worst type of debt we have in our portfolio of liabilities. But in reality there may be something worse there. It is good to have a general debt reduction plan and see where your credit card debt takes priority. Should I be attacking this debt first?

3. Know which credit card to pay first

Should I pay the card with the lower balance first or with the higher interest rate? Take the time to understand the difference and make the decision for yourself. If you only have a little credit card debt, it won’t make much of a difference. But for large balances, this can be worth your time.

4. Post a debt payment schedule on the refrigerator

Where your stomach is, so will your mind (or something like that). Focus on your payment plan by placing it front and center.

5. Think twice before cutting your cards

Cut the cards and swear credit for good deeds for some people, but not for me. I have found a silver lining to credit cards. And really think long and hard before canceling your credit card account. This can negatively affect your credit score.

6. Consider getting help with your credit card.

If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling to pay off your credit card debt, I encourage you to seek help from the right people.

Be careful. The credit counseling industry is full of scammers and fraudulent people.

Avoid these types by going to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and find one of its members, a Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

Here’s an additional breakdown of the various (non-DIY) options you have when it comes to getting help with your debt.

• Credit counseling- With counseling, you pay your debts on your own, you only get financial advice to help you organize your budget and put your finances in line to stop incurring debt and start paying it off. The risk here is that you can pay for the information in the counseling sessions that you can get for free. Another risk is that it won’t work for you because you need more support through the process.
• Debt Management- Where the debt relief company actually takes your money and pays your debts for you. I guess the advantage here is more responsibility. The risk here is that, again, you would be paying for a service that you can do for free yourself. Another risk is that high fees are charged by the debt company.
• Debt settlement – When the debt relief company calls creditors on your behalf and negotiates a settlement of your credit card debt for less than what you owe. This is done because your personal financial situation is in a bad place. The risks involved here are many. To get into the position of paying off your debts, you really need to be significantly behind on your payment. Therefore, the debt company might encourage you not to pay, which ruins your credit but allows you to pay off your debt. The risk of overpayment is also high here.
• Bankruptcy- If liquidation is not possible for some reason, then the last straw is filing for bankruptcy.

Do you like the idea of ​​an application that helps you get rid of debt? You can apply for the services of the Pay Off Debt app to help you get rid of your credit card debt. Alternatively, a new app called Tally will help you manage your credit card debt payment with the help of its technology and a line of credit.

Account Price The world’s first automatic debt manager that makes it easy to save money, manage your cards, and pay off your debts faster. Get Tally  We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Take steps to legally eliminate your credit card debt

7. Pay off the high-interest balance first

If you are a big problem, consider paying off your debts by tackling the card with the highest interest rate first. Then move on to the next card with the highest interest rate. This will help you pay less interest over time.

8. Pay the smallest balance first

If you need to be motivated by a quick profit, consider using the debt snowball approach. Take advantage of your small victories and destroy your credit card debt one at a time, starting with the smallest. There is a great psychological advantage to using this plan of attack.

9. Put your credit cards on ice

Literally, put your credit cards in a cup or bowl of water and put them in the freezer. You will still have your emergency card (s), but you will not have it in the store or easily access it for online purchases.

10. Eliminate other expenses

If you say you can’t make payments with your credit card but you haven’t gotten too tough yet, I have no mercy on you. Determine the minimum level of spending you need to provide your family with food and shelter. Then eliminate all other expenses. With this newfound money, you should find it easier to pay off your credit card balances.

11. Become a Freegan

Along those same lines, consider becoming something of a freegan (a person who tries to use only free products and services). You don’t have to change your entire life forever, but it will surely help you get rid of debt if you can dedicate most of your extra income to debt reduction. Using free products and services will only help you do this.

12. Sell your trash

Chances are, at least some of your credit card debt is made up of things lying around your home that you no longer use. To speed up your credit card payment schedule, bring in some extra cash by selling your stuff on Craigslist, Facebook, eBay, or a site like Decluttr.

Also, consider having a garage sale for even faster cash.

13. Increase your income

If you don’t have junk to sell and are serious about reducing your debt, consider hiring a second job or find a way to earn extra money to really help with your finances. Use the additional funds to reduce your credit card debt much faster. Once you are done, you can leave the second job. If you get a bonus at work or find some unexpected money somewhere, use those funds for your debt as well.

I invite you to take a look at some of my money making interviews and also use up all the other resources you have to generate other income ideas. Take this extra income and use it to pay off that old debt.

14. Call your credit card companies to negotiate a better rate

If you don’t mind sitting on the phone for a while, call your credit card company and talk to them about lowering the interest rate on your card. By lowering your interest rate, you are reducing the amount of money your credit card company is adding to your debt each month. All of this takes a few minutes of your time. The worst thing they can do is tell you no.

Tips Keep a competitor card in mind when negotiating. If they resist, tell them that you will probably switch to using a different card and that you will pay for this one. This will likely cause your rate to drop.

15. Transfer your high-interest balance

If your balances and interest rates are large enough, consider transferring your credit card balances to a card with a 0% promotional interest rate. Be aware of transfer fees, which could negate any interest savings you experience. Also, be careful not to use this new card as an opportunity to spend more.

While this doesn’t eliminate your credit card debt, it does help lower balances; All while paying less interest. This is not a method to be used by the undisciplined, but it can be a wise move. You can move the debt that is on a card that charges high interest to another credit card that will not actually charge you interest for a certain period of time.

The only reason I bring it up is that I did it myself in 2002 when I was paying off my own credit card debt.

A new version of this method can be achieved with the Tally app and your line of credit. Learn more about Tally here.

Account Price The world’s first automatic debt manager that makes it easy to save money, manage your cards, and pay off your debts faster. Get Tally We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

16. Observe your spending obsessively

Are you obsessed with controlling your expenses? You may need this additional motivation to help you avoid future debt and to provide additional room in your budget for rapid debt reduction. Track your expenses with software like Personal Capital, or consider zero-based budgeting.

17. Track Your Debt Reduction Progress Visually

Once you’ve started implementing your plan, make sure it’s written down and posted somewhere in your home so you can see it every day. Make sure it reflects your progress when you start paying off your credit card debt.

You may also want to put something in your wallet with your cards if you haven’t already put them on ice.

What have you struggled the most when it came to paying off debt? Any other strategies that you have found effective in finally getting rid of your credit card debt?

Odyssey News

Odyssey has been the lead content writer and content marketer. He has vast experience in the field of writing. His SEO strategies help businesses to gain maximum traffic and success.