Picture it now (no, really, picture it): Instead of spending all your money on debt payments, you’re building up your savings and paying cash for vacations. No more using your paycheck to pay for the past—you’re enjoying the present and feeling prepared for the future.
Now, that sounds like a good life! And I’m here to tell you it’s not only possible— it’s inevitable if you follow the right plan.
Want to get out of debt? I’ve got 28 ways to help you make it happen. I’ll be real with you: It’s going to take some hard work and determination. But it’s totally worth it!
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Before I jump into some practical tips to pay off your debt, there’s one thing you need to get right first—your mindset. Because here’s the truth: You behave like you believe. So if you don’t believe you can be debt-free, you won’t be. But if you choose to believe it, your behavior will reflect that belief!
You have to draw a line in the sand and decide that you’re done with debt. Matter of fact, go ahead and decide that right now. You can’t solve a problem while continuing to create it. I’m talking no more swiping that credit card or taking out personal loans for things you can’t pay cash for. Those habits have gotten you where you are now, and they won’t help you get out. If you want something different, you have to do something different.
Ooh, did I hit a nerve? For a lot of you, this will probably require a big lifestyle shift—and a big mindset shift. But if you really want to get out of debt, you’ve got to stop doing what you’ve always done and embrace the changes that will get you where you want to go.
Change your mindset. Change your money habits. Change your life.
I’ve been right where you are—in debt and desperate for a way out. But me and my husband, Sam, were able to pay off $460,000 of debt (yep, you read that right) only because we decided enough was enough. We were going to do whatever it took to get rid of our debt and get our lives back!
And guess what? You can do it too! Every day, I see folks who have gone from being crushed by a mountain of debt to standing on top of it, shouting in victory (literally).
So, what’s the plan that helped me—and millions of other people—go from financial frustration to freedom? Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps. This proven plan gives you a clear path so you can save for emergencies, pay off debt, and start building wealth. With the Baby Steps, you’ll stop living paycheck to paycheck and start gaining confidence and control over your money and your future.
But before you can start paying off debt, you need a safety net (and no, I’m not talking about credit cards). Baby Step 1 is to save $1,000 for your starter emergency fund. After you’ve saved up that first $1,000, then it’s time to attack your debt.
Okay, once you’ve got that $1,000 buffer between you and life’s little emergencies, it’s time to go all in on Baby Step 2: Pay off all your debt (except your house) using the debt snowball method.
What’s the debt snowball method? It’s the best (and fastest) way to pay off your debt—especially if you’re juggling multiple debts. Here’s how it works:
1. List all your debts from smallest to largest—regardless of interest rate.
2. Attack the smallest debt with a vengeance while making minimum payments on the rest of your debts.
3. Once you pay off the smallest debt, take that payment and apply it to your next-smallest debt.
4. Repeat this method until all your debts are gone!
The debt snowball works because it gives you quick wins and momentum to plow your way through the rest of your debt! And it usually only takes people between 18-24 months to pay it all off. (Two years? That’s a drop in the bucket! A couple years of intensity for decades of freedom? Worth it!)
Now, in my case, it took around seven years for my husband and I to pay off our debt. So, of course, I picked up some tips during our own debt-free journey that I want to share with you. Use these debt-elimination tips to get the weight of those debt payments off your shoulders and out of your life for good!
1. Make a budget.
I’m putting this one at the top of the list because it’s that important. You can’t get out of debt without making a budget. Period.
A zero-based budget is the best way to make a plan for every dollar of your paycheck. And to be honest, a budget is like bloodwork—it reveals all. Your budget will show you where your problems lie. It will show you where you’re spending your money and (more importantly) where to cut back so you can throw more money at your debt snowball.
And listen, budgeting isn’t some punishment for being bad with money! Think of it as custom organization for your money. Budgets are bougie! Because not only does a budget give you the freedom to decide how you spend your money, but it also helps you find more money! Who wouldn’t want that?
Pro tip: The free EveryDollar budgeting app makes it super easy to create your budget and track your spending every single month. EveryDollar played a huge role in helping us pay off debt—and it can do the same for you!
2. Start your own business.
One of the biggest factors that helped Sam and I pay off our debt was increasing our income (which helped us increase our debt payments). We were already working as musicians, but that only brought in so much. So, we decided to start a talent agency that books other entertainers as a way to grow our core income.
Maybe you need to start your own business too. Do you have a knack for making things? Do you have a skill or trade that solves a problem or creates convience for others? Do your friends really like your baked goods? Find a way to use your talents and skills to fuel your debt payoff. And who knows—you might jump-start a new career!
3. Get a part-time job.
Not the entrepreneur type? Hey, that’s okay! Find a side hustle or two to earn some extra cash on the side. Become a driver for Lyft or Uber. Deliver pizzas. Walk dogs for Rover or Wag.
Sam and I did everything from hosting jet ski tours to working at a vinyl tint and lettering garage when we were paying off debt. Whatever you decide, do something to get more money coming in every month so you can pay off your debt quicker—and celebrate sooner!
4. Sell the car.
Right now, the average monthly payment for a new car is $700.1 That’s a hot mess!
Think about how much faster you could get out of debt if you traded in your expensive ride for a used car you can actually afford. Then, you could throw that car payment at your debt snowball every month—instead of out the window. And later, when you’re debt-free, you can save up to buy your dream car in cash!
When Sam and I were getting out of debt, we went from being a two-car family to a one-car family. Sure it took a lot of extra coordination, but you’d be surprised how this really can help you kiss that car debt goodbye!
5. Cut up your credit cards.
I’m serious. I know some of y’all are going to think I’m crazy for this. But you’ll never get out of debt if you continue to create it each month! The credit card industry has tried for decades to convince us that we need a credit card (or five) to survive. They’re wrong. I’m here to tell you they’re playing you.
Even if your credit card feels like a safety net, it’s really just keeping you stuck in the cycle of debt. Plus, they steal your confidence to handle your money on your own, without the use of debt. Cut those jokers up (every last one) and never look back! I did exactly that, and let me tell you, I’ve never looked back.
6. Use the envelope system.
Did you know people tend to spend less when paying in cash over plastic?2 That’s because you actually feel your hard-earned money leaving your wallet—which can make you think twice before handing it over to the cashier.
So, pay with cash when you can and use the cash envelope system to organize your money and stick to your budget. When you’re trying to claw your way out of debt, this is the kind of habit that will hold you accountable and keep you on track.
7. Pause investing.
I didn’t stutter. Stop contributing to your retirement investments—and that includes your 401(k). Why? Because right now, you want all of your income to go toward paying off debt so you can get out of debt faster!
Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. You can start investing again once you’ve paid off your debt and saved up a fully funded emergency fund. By then, you’ll have enough money freed up that you can put even more of your income toward retirement!
8. Quit the comparison game.
A big reason people spend more than they should and go into debt in the first place is because they’re caught up in comparison. But you know who wins at the comparison game? No. One. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses! (Spoiler alert: They’re probably living a lifestyle they can’t afford.)
Maybe you need to get off social media for a season or put up some boundaries with family and friends. Whatever it takes to run your own race and keep your eyes focused on your goal. In 20 years, while everyone else still has car loans, mortgages and credit card bills, you’ll be glad you sacrificed when you did. This is the time to live like no one else so later you can live like no one else!
9. Tell the kids you’re on a budget.
Getting out of debt is a family effort. So, get everybody on board—including the kids! Teach your children about money so they understand what you do and don’t have room for in the budget. Talk to them about your vision of having a life without debt. You might be surprised by how much they want to chip in and help you reach your goal as a family.
10. Take Financial Peace University.
If you’re serious about ditching debt, you need a good game plan. And Financial Peace University (FPU) will give you that plan. You’ll learn all about the 7 Baby Steps I mentioned earlier, plus how to beat debt and build wealth that lasts.
The principles taught in this class changed my life, my marriage and my money for the better. And they can change yours too! Sign up now for an FPU class and take control of your money for good!