How to reduce debt using the snowball debt reduction method

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By Brad Merritt
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Snowball Debt

Almost everyone has some type of debt that they would like to reduce and get rid of. The problem is that most people view their money emotionally instead of rationally, and find it hard to stick to a debt reduction plan. I like to use the classic snowball debt reduction to help me reduce my debt in a rational, goal oriented way. If you view your debt rationally and stick to the snowball debt reduction plan, you will reduce your debt. Here is how you do it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

have debt
be patient and stick to the plan

Step 1

The first thing we want to do is identify the highest interest rate you are paying in your debts. So make a list of all your debts and order them from the highest interest rate to the lowest interest rate.
Step 2

Now you want to look at all of your income and compare this to your debt. Do you have enough left over to set aside each month to go toward paying your debts? Be realistic about this amount and do not strap yourself each month for necessities like gas and food.
Step 3

Specify what that amount of money will be to go toward paying your debts each month.
Step 4

Once you have established the extra amount of money you have left over each month, make the minimum payment on all debts. Whatever money is still left over after you have made all of your minimum payments, put the extra toward the debt with the highest interest rate.
Step 5

When you finish paying off the debt with the highest interest, reassess the extra money you have coming in each month and to pay down the debt with the next highest interest in the same manner.
Step 6

OPTIONALLY: You can list your debts from the lowest to the highest balance, and apply your money toward paying off the debt with the lowest balance first and then moving up the list. This also works, but it only works really well if you have debts with an equal or near equal interest rate.
Step 7

Now that you understand this technique - take a look at how to analyze your debt to income ratio here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2311884_calculate-debt-income-ratio.html