It’s a great time to get out of credit card debt. The economy is beginning to work its way back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, many people are facing issues with high-interest credit card debt as a burden that will be going worse after the Federal Reserve increases interest rates as soon as next year.
There are 6 best ways to pay off credit card debt fast. These 6 steps are elaborated in this article.
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MAKE AN EXTRA MONTHLY PAYMENT
Always make sure that you don’t wait until for payment due date to pay some of your balance, and you aren’t limited to making just one payment each month.
Credit card interest is compounded daily, and the finance charges are based on your account’s average daily balance. That means that each day you wait to make a payment, you’ll have to pay more money in interest charges.
If you get paid every two weeks or bimonthly, making two payments a month might be good if you’re paid more often like, a weekly paycheck or you’re a tipped worker you might need to consider jump-starting your debt plan by paying weekly.
More advantage is to making more than one monthly payment is if you use that money to pay down your credit card balance as soon as you have it, you won’t have the chance to change your mind later and spend that amount on something else.
Just to ensure that the total amount of money you pay by the due date on your credit card statement is at least equal to your minimum payment because late charges and penalty rates can still apply if you fail to do so.
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GET A BALANCE TRANSFER CREDIT CARD
If you have a good credit score, you might be eligible for a credit card that can help you to pay down your outstanding balance sooner.
Balance transfer using credit cards offers 0% introductory APR rates for a limited promotional period this varies, but up to 12 to 18 months. This intro period provides you an exposure of opportunity to pay off your debt quickly.
Since you’re not paying interest, your entire monthly payment goes directly towards paying off the principal. Make it a priority to pay off your balance before the promotional period ends.
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Plan OUT A REPAYMENT PLAN WITH A “DEBT AVALANCHE” OR “DEBT SNOWBALL”
There are two main important features of thought when it comes to credit card debt repayment.
The first is the “debt avalanche” method which focuses on paying off your cards with the highest interest rates first, and then, once those are paid off, moving to those with the lowest interest rates.
The other important feature is the “debt snowball” method. This is especially for people who struggle to stick to a debt reduction plan when it seems to be no end in sight.
Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey, states that the “debt snowball” focuses on paying off your smallest debts first, then moving to your next-smallest balance, and so on. According to expert economists, clearing small debts early in the paydown process can be worth it which helps some people stay motivated to stick with it.
This is not as quiet as cost-effective paying off the high-interest debt first, but if it gives you the motivation to move forward and pay off your debts, it might be the preferred routine.
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TAKE OUT A PERSONAL LOAN
If you don’t have good credit, applying for a personal loan, and paying off your credit card debt in fon time can be your best option. You can search for a lender online or opt for a local bank or credit union to check if they offer personal loans. You’ll still be paying interest, but comparatively at a lower rate, but APRs for personal loans are often several percentage points lower than credit card APRs.
Also, you will only have to make one debt payment every month instead of having multiple credit card accounts and due dates to keep track of.
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REDUCE SPENDING BY TIGHTENING YOUR BUDGET.
Nobody prefers or liked to hear this, but one of the easiest ways to quickly pay off debt is to save more money at it every month.
This means finding new ways to save, such as canceling your cable TV or reducing the number of nights you order food from outside. Anytime you can make more than the minimum payment on your credit card bills, you will able to be one step closer to being debt-free.
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CONTACT A CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP.
If you’ve already tried all the methods on this list and are still struggling to get your credit card debt under control, it might be a good time to call in the pros.
Nonprofit credit counseling services will observe your credit card debts in the context of your other financial obligations, such as home equity loans or line of credit, car payment, or student loans, and work with you to create a repayment plan. Some even negotiate with credit card companies to get you a lower interest rate and offer financial literacy education that can keep you from falling back into the debt trap in the future.
If your financial situation is especially dire, and you’re on the way to bankruptcy, it’s an important requirement to go for credit counseling before pulling the trigger. Taking this step on your own could help in the realization that you can conquer your debt with a payoff plan, and not bankruptcy, after that in the future.
BOTTOM LINE
It might not be quick or easy, but many people who succeed at following a debt management plan will have the feeling of relief once they become debt-free is worth the effort.
If you have a lot of credit card debt, there’s no time but the present to work on getting rid of it.
