How To

How to Cut Credit Card Debt

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By Kristi Patrice Carter
User-Submitted Article
(4 Ratings)
Cut Credit Card Debt
Cut Credit Card Debt

If you're carrying any credit card debt, you are asking for trouble. Not only are you putting your family finances at risk you but you are also squashing your dreams of financial freedom. In this article, I will teach you how to cut credit card debt so that you can achieve financial peace. Sound interesting? You bet! Let's get started

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Stop using your credit cards. That’s right – cut them up and never use them ever again. This will keep you from buying stuff that you can’t afford. After all, if you don’t have the cash to pay for it now, you won’t have the cash to pay for it later either. It’s that simple. Without credit cards, you’ll be forced to live within your means and save for things that you really want. You’ll eliminate the need to buy stuff and that you don’t need which will save you a ton of money.

  2. Step 2

    Budget your income to cut credit card debt. If you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, you absolutely must budget your money now. To do so, write down your income and then determine the minimum amount of money you need to cover your regular monthly expenses like rent, gas, and electricity. Next, figure out the minimum you need for groceries and other household expenses and necessities. Any additional money should be used to pay down debt. Whatever you do, do not deviate from this plan.

  3. Step 3

    Snowball your debt to cut credit card debt. Next, take your “pay down debt money” and snowball it for maximum efficiency. With the debt snowball method, you will send the minimum requested payment + the “pay down debt payment” and apply that to the smallest credit card on your list. Once that is paid off, you combine the previous payment with the new debt payment and soon you'll have cut credit card debt drastically. Trust me, this works to cut credit card debt.

  4. Step 4

    Be creative. Find creative ways to make more money. After all, the more cash you have to pay off your debt, the quicker you can cut credit card debt. Therefore, any extra money from part time jobs, birthday gifts, tax refunds, bonuses from work, whatever, must go toward cutting credit card debt. This will help you reach your financial freedom goals faster.

  5. Step 5

    Act responsibly. Don't buy things that you can't afford and make a commitment to live within your means. This means limiting eating out at restaurants, buying new clothes, extravagant gifts, etc. Instead, you have to stay focused and cut costs whenever you can. Not only will this help you save a lot of cash but it will provide you with additional funds to cut credit card debt.

  6. Step 6

    n conclusion, many folks have credit card debt however, you can cut credit card debt if you stop using credit cards, snowball your debt, budget your income, find creative ways to make money, act responsibly. By doing this, you will cut debt fast and achieve financial freedom sooner. Good luck and remember that you can do it!

Comments  

openwave said

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on 11/17/2008 Thank you for sharing! Have a great day.

markhenry said

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on 11/14/2008 Useful information on cutting credit card debts.

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