Easy Methods for Paying Down Debt

Digging out of debt can be difficult so it's best to make the process as easy as possible.  If you're not sure where to start, here's a helpful guide to simple debt-elimination strategies.

Budget First

If you don't have a solid budget, do that first.  It's next to impossible to pay down debt without knowing how much money you have coming in, how much you have going out and where it's going.

Go High

Arrange your debts according to interest rate.  Use the majority of your money to pay down the debt with the highest interest rate first, while simultaneously making minimum payments on the other debts.  That's the fastest, cheapest way out of debt (it's called the "debt avalanche.")

Go Low

The debt-snowball method is an alternative to the debt avalanche.  Arrange your debts according to the balance owed from low to high.  Use the majority of your money to pay off the debt with the lowest balance first, while simultaneously making minimum payments on the other debts.  Once the debt with the lowest balance is paid off, move on to the debt with the second lowest balance.  This method may not be the cheapest option for total debt repayment, but it's a nice method to keep you motivated!

Use a Transfer

If you have debt on a high-interest rate credit card, look into transferring the debt onto a zero-interest card.  If you can pay off the debt before the zero-interest offer expires, you'll save cash. Just be sure to do the math to make sure the savings will be above and beyond the cost of any balance transfer fees (they usually run 3%).  Or consider transferring your balances to a credit card that features an everyday low interest rate and no balance transfer fees like our VISA Platinum cards.

Cut Things Off

As US News suggests, if credit card debt is a problem, try cutting them out of your life.  Metaphorically speaking, of course, as keeping cards maintains your credit history and that helps your credit score.  When you go shopping, leave your credit cards at home sometimes.  Delete credit card info from your computer and phone.  With credit cards out of sight, it'll be easier to keep them out of mind and slowly - but surely - eliminate debt.

Article written by Chris O'Shea; with editing by Adventure Credit Union