Debt is one of people’s most pressing financial problems. Although many take out loans to improve their financial condition, they find themselves juggling multiple payments every month. They are stuck in a cycle of numerous and outstanding debts instead of increasing their earning potential.
Even so, it should be noted that there are plenty of good reasons to incur debts. However, it’s essential to stay on top of them by making payments on time. The problem is many didn’t have a good and practical debt-repayment strategy, resulting in missed or late payments and higher interest charges.
Paying off debts can be overwhelming. But the key is to be proactive by having a debt pay off plan in place that will work best in your financial situation. For starters, read on and learn how to choose the right payoff strategy for your debt.
Identify Your Debts
Having a clear picture of your financial situation is essential to deal with your debts more efficiently. You can start by identifying your debts and categorize them based on type, amount, and term. Note that not all debt is created equal. Some might cost you more because of interest rates, while others might be due to the loan period.
By getting all the relevant information about your debts, you’d be more able to create a plan that you can confidently rely on until your last debt payoff. It would also help you put an order in your debts, giving you more sense of control no matter how much you owe.
Review Your Income and Budget
Regardless of what strategy you choose, you need money to make payments on your debts. Remember that your goal is to be able to pay everything you owe while at the same time sustaining your basic needs. Your debts are just a portion of your entire finances. Although you may want to prioritize certain debts, there are other essential expenses that you have to consider.
That’s why you must review your income and budget. If you’re earning less than you are used to, you might need to make some adjustments. It’s either you cut out some unnecessary expenses or look for ways to earn more. The aim is to come up with a budget that will help you pay off debts without compromising other financial obligations.
Once you take into account other components of your finances, you can better decide how much you can comfortably pay for your debts. With that, it would be easier to pick out a strategy that best fits your needs and resources.
Understand the Different Strategies
The point of using a strategy is to pay off your debts without overwhelming your finances. Depending on your financial capacity, you may or may not pay them all at once, especially if you’re dealing with multiple debts. With an appropriate strategy in place, you can prioritize paying down one debt without neglecting the others until they are all done.
There are several ways to get your debts under control, and we’ve highlighted a few strategies below. Based on the details you learned from your debts, income, and budget, go over each of them and assess which one will work best for you.
Snowball Strategy
Making large payments can be frustrating financially and even emotionally. If you’re someone who needs to see quick wins to build up motivation, you might consider using a snowball strategy. It means you’re going to pay off your debts in order from the smallest to the largest balance, irrespective of the interest rate.
Avalanche Strategy
Higher interest rate debts might be costing you a lot of money every month. If you want to save time and interest over your debt payoff journey, an avalanche strategy might make more sense. With this method, you would be paying your debts from highest interest to lowest interest rate, regardless of the balance.
Debt Consolidation
Dealing with multiple debts with different payments, interests, and due dates can be tough. If your debts aren’t excessive, but you want to make them more manageable, you can opt for debt consolidation. With this strategy, you can roll multiple debts into a single payment, ideally at a lower interest rate.
Debt Management Plan
If you’re making monthly payments and still feeling overwhelmed because your debts never seem to decrease, a debt management plan can also be a good option. It’s a type of repayment plan established and managed by a credit counseling agency.
With this strategy, the usual goal is to repay all your debts within three to five years. However, it should be noted that it’s only available on unsecured debts or those not backed by collateral.
Takeaway
Paying off debts can feel like a mundane task, and choosing the right strategy can make it feel more manageable. But as much as well thought of strategy is beneficial, a successful result still lies in your attitude and behavior. Bear in mind that the main goal is to stay focused on paying off debt, and using the right strategy is only a small part of the solution.