To help you tackle your balances, we’ll cover how to build the foundation you need to eliminate your debt and share some tactics you can employ right now to succeed. We’ll also explain strategies that may be appropriate for people who are feeling financially strong, as well as a few techniques for people who are having a harder time. Let’s get started.
Take Control of Your Budget
Basic financial stability is an essential part of paying off debt. Getting there is easier said than done, but making a budget that works is a critical step. One way or another, you need to find a way to make sure your income exceeds your monthly expenses. When you’re in that position, you benefit in two ways: Your income, expenses, and budget depend on a variety of factors, including your job, family situation, and health. Creating a monthly budget that works for your needs is the first step toward becoming debt-free.
Use the Debt Snowball or Debt Avalanche Method
You can certainly wing it when paying off debt—it’s never a bad idea to throw extra money at your credit card bills. But with a bit of planning, you can gain confidence while improving your chances of success. Two popular debt payoff methods are:
Debt snowball: Pay off the loan with the smallest balance first.Debt avalanche: Prioritize the card with the highest interest rate.
Debt Snowball
The debt snowball is a strategy that helps you build momentum as you eliminate credit card debt. To use this approach: Over time, the amount you pay toward each balance gets larger, since you’re paying the minimum payment plus the amounts you used to pay toward other cards. Your payments “snowball” until you’re debt-free. The debt snowball is a psychologically rewarding strategy because it provides a boost of confidence each time you pay off a debt, creating a series of quick wins. And since you start with the smallest debt, it shouldn’t take too long to get that first win.
Debt Avalanche
The debt avalanche helps you minimize the total amount of interest you’ll pay as you eliminate your debt. It is different from the debt snowball concept in that it does not care so much about the psychology of small quicker wins but focuses mostly on minimizing the total amount of interest you’ll pay as you eliminate your debt. This approach might get you quicker to the finish line since the total cost is lower given the same behavior of payments. Instead of prioritizing by balance, you’ll focus on the interest rates: If your balances are on the larger side, you might not build momentum quickly with the debt avalanche. However, this approach should help you save on interest costs over your lifetime because you’ll wipe out your most expensive debts first.
Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche
The big-picture goal is to pay off your debts. While it might make mathematical sense to use the debt avalanche, it doesn’t make any sense unless you actually pay off debt. If you get discouraged and lose motivation (or see that in your future), try the debt snowball instead. If you want to see how these two strategies compare for your debt, run the numbers yourself. It’s not terribly difficult to build a table showing how your credit card payments (and extra payments) work.
Consolidate at a Lower Interest Rate
High-interest rates make it hard to get traction. Even as you work hard to make your payments, it might feel futile when you see the interest charges piling onto your balance each month. Minimizing those interest costs can help you save money in the long run—and get out of debt faster.
0% Balance Transfers
Credit card issuers sometimes offer promotional balance transfers with a 0% annual percentage rate (APR). You can use those promotions to move your debt to a new card and (temporarily) avoid interest charges. Make sure you know what interest rate you’ll pay when the promotion expires, in case you’re still working on that balance. Also, keep an eye out for any balance transfer fees that could reduce the benefits of transferring your debt. For a list of the most competitive offerings, see our roundup of the best balance transfer cards.
Debt Consolidation Loans
If you don’t have any luck with 0% offers, a debt consolidation loan could help. If you can find a personal loan with an interest rate that’s lower than the one on your credit card, you can save on interest each month. Check out some of the best lenders for debt consolidation loans to get started.
Negotiate With Lenders
It might be possible to get a lower interest rate without moving your balance. If you’re not confident about getting approved for a consolidation loan at an attractive rate, try negotiating with your current card issuer. Contact your card issuer and ask them to lower your interest rate. To improve your chances, highlight why the card issuer might benefit from working with you: your history of on-time payments, your long-term relationship, or your improved credit score. You could also mention any recent hardships, such as a job loss or unexpected medical expenses. Using this strategy, one phone call could save you a substantial amount of money. Cutting the rate on your credit card means more of each monthly payment goes toward reducing your balance. With a smaller balance (and a lower rate at which it’ll grow), paying off debt becomes easier.
Consider a Loan From Your Retirement Account
Raiding your retirement savings to pay off debt is generally not recommended. Retirement accounts are often protected from creditors, so lenders typically can’t force you to withdraw those funds to pay off debt. Plus, time is an important factor when saving for retirement. Taking retirement plan loans and withdrawals can slow your progress toward retirement or require you to start from scratch. But if you have no other options, using a loan from your retirement plan to pay off credit card debt could make sense—as long as both of the following statements are true: Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict whether or not you’ll be able to repay the loan. Life brings surprises, and if you leave your job before paying off your 401(k) loan, you may need to pay taxes and penalties. You may also need to repay the loan in full. Not all retirement accounts offer loans. An employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) may have a loan feature, but your employer decides whether or not to include that option. Individual retirement accounts like traditional or Roth IRAs do not offer loans. You might be able to take back contributions from a Roth IRA, but you’ll pay a 10% penalty if you’re under 59 ½.
Think About a HELOC
If you have a substantial amount of equity in your home, you may be able to consolidate your credit card debt using a home equity loan. However, taking out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) puts your home at risk. A HELOC might also end with a lump-sum or “balloon payment” that would reduce the benefits of consolidating, so be sure to include those expenses in your decision.
Use a Credit Counseling Service
If you’d like to enlist the help of a professional, a nonprofit credit counseling service may be able to help you take control of your debt. These organizations offer guidance and education. They can also arrange a debt management plan, in which you make one monthly payment through the credit counseling service that goes toward multiple debts. You might also benefit from lower rates or fee waivers. Ready to get started? Researchers at The Balance have reviewed numerous services to identify some of the best credit counseling agencies to start with.
Look Into Debt Settlement
If there’s no realistic way to pay off your credit cards, you could consider debt settlement. You and your lender can agree on an amount (less than what you currently owe) that will satisfy the lender. As part of the agreement, your lender should not attempt to collect the debt or bring legal action against you after you’ve paid the agreed-upon amount. You can settle your debt with a lump-sum payment or a series of payments. Either way, be sure to get everything in writing so the agreement is clear. Debt settlement is something you can attempt on your own, or you can pay a debt settlement company to guide you through the process and negotiate on your behalf. Debt settlement can provide an affordable solution that puts debt behind you, so you know you won’t struggle forever. However, debt settlement can hurt your credit score. Plus, if you stop making payments on your credit card balance while exploring debt settlement, that balance could keep growing due to late fees and interest charges.
The Bottom Line
Credit card debt is toxic, and it can feel overwhelming to imagine ever paying off a large balance. But once you pay off your credit cards, all of that money will be available for more important things. You’ll be able to plan and save for future goals, and you’ll feel less pressure each month when your bills are due. It may be a long road, but it’s one worth taking.
