Paying off debt can be a long and difficult process, involving lots of frugality, self-restraint and discipline. You need to budget and save and perhaps even work a little extra on the side for the extra money that you need to pay down your loan. You hold back on making expensive purchases and you adapt your lifestyle so that you spend less money on luxuries and entertainment.
However, there are a few ways that you can make the process of paying off your debt as sweet and simple as possible. The easier paying down debt is, the more likely you are to stick to your financial goals. With a few tips and tricks, you can pay off your debt in a much easier way and get yourself to financial freedom faster.
Here are some ways that you can make paying off your debt a lot easier:
Consolidate Your Loan
One of the hardest parts of paying off debt is keeping all of your separate bills and payments organised. Another challenge is the huge interest rates which are incurred on certain types of debt, such as credit card debt, that really slow you down when you are trying to pay them back.
One strategy for making your debt easier to pay off is to consolidate your loan. This is when you take out one big loan at a better interest rate and use it to pay off all your debts. Now you only have to worry about paying off one loan, so it is much easier to stay organised and keep track of your progress. You can focus your efforts singularly on the one loan.
Also, with a better interest rate it will not take as long to pay the debt off because more of your monthly payments will go toward the principle amount rather than toward the interest. Over the course of paying the loan you will have to pay significantly less due to the lower interest rate.
Of course, although a consolidation loan is easier to manage it might keep you tempted to remain in debt. If you do take this option, make sure that you have a clear strategy for paying it off and a specific goal for getting out of debt.
Automate Your Payments
One way to make paying off your debts easier is to make it so that you make your monthly payment to your loan without even thinking about it. Most banks will have a feature in your online banking which allows you to set up an automated payment for a specific amount each month. On the date that you choose, the payment will instantly be taken out of your bank account and used to pay down your debt.
This makes things easier for you in a number of ways. First of all, you won’t ever have to keep track of monthly loan payment dates and deadlines and you will never have to worry about missing a deadline and incurring a late penalty.
Also, it can be a lot easier to be frugal and save money to pay down debts if you never really see the money in the first place. If you have the money in your bank account you will be tempted to spend it, but if it disappears before you even see it then you will be less likely to miss it and find it easier to stick to a frugal budget.
These are just a couple of simple but effective strategies for making the process of paying off your debt easier, so that you can reach your goals of financial freedom as soon as possible.
Katie Latchford is a writer who offers great financial advice about practical money management topics including debt consolidation loans and savings tips to benefit you.