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How To Pay Off Your Debt Faster
By Kevin Harper MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Debt can be overwhelming and stressful, but with some forethought and discipline, it’s possible to pay off debt quickly and gain control of your finances. In this article, we’ll look at the advantages of paying off debt as soon as possible, how to pay debt off fast and what happens if you fail to settle your accounts.
The advantages of paying off debt as soon as possible
You’ll want to take control and get debts paid off with both speed and intensity. Doing so will save you considerable cash in the long run, add to your momentum and boost your motivation. Here are several benefits to paying off your debt quickly.
Saving on interest
The longer it takes you to settle your debt, the more you end up paying in interest with little or no reduction in principal. This is particularly true with high-interest credit card debt. By setting your sights on paying off your debts quickly, you can save a substantial amount of money in interest charges.
Building good payment history
Paying off debt quickly and consistently shows credit bureaus that you’re responsible with your finances. By building a good payment history, you’ll also improve your credit score, which can lead to lower interest rates.
Having a good payment history can help you in other ways, too. For example, prospective landlords check credit scores, and when you boost yours, you’re more likely to secure future leases and rental agreements. A good payment history will also help you secure a good home loan (one of the few types of loans that even the most anti-debt advisors agree is necessary).
Earning access to more financial opportunities
With an improved payment history and a lower debt-to-income ratio, you may have access to more financial opportunities, such as lower interest rates on loans and credit cards or access to more significant loan amounts. These should be used sparingly and wisely. Nevertheless, home loans and some business opportunities often require taking on some debt, and having a good credit score will make obtaining these easier.
The fastest ways to pay off debt
If you want to get your debt paid off fast, pick the techniques that best fit your circumstances. These can accelerate the process of freeing yourself from the burden of debt. In the long term, you’ll keep more dollars in your bank account using these eight strategies.
Double your monthly payment
The fastest way to pay off debt is to double your monthly payment or make extra payments toward the principal of the loan. When you make a payment on any debt, it will significantly reduce how much interest you pay over the life of the loan. If you can’t afford to double the payment, increase it as much as possible. As long as you make principal reductions each month, you’ll pay off your debt sooner than if you only make the minimum payment.
Go with the avalanche method
If you have multiple sources of debt, you may want to try the debt avalanche method. This method involves paying off your accounts from highest to lowest interest. You’ll still make the minimum payments on each debt, but you’ll apply your remaining funds to the debt with the highest APR. In doing so, you accumulate less interest over time.
This differs from the snowball method, wherein you ignore the APRs and instead focus on paying off your smallest loan first (after paying the minimum balance for all debts). Once you’ve paid off your smallest debt, you’ll then turn to your larger ones. The snowball approach is popular because you see short-term success, and it can be a big motivator. You’ll wind up paying more in interest over time, though, which is why the debt avalanche method is the best option long-term.
Work out a repayment plan
Provided your debt is unsecured (meaning it isn’t backed by collateral), you may be able to enroll in a debt repayment program. For credit card debt, you can work with a nonprofit credit counseling agency to set up a single consolidated payment. The agency will negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to agree to a monthly amount within your budget. You’ll pay the credit counseling agency and it, in turn, will use the money to pay your outstanding accounts.
Using a debt repayment plan shows creditors that you’re taking active steps toward eliminating your debt. It also provides you with structure and increased accountability, so you’re less likely to miss a payment.
It’s essential to understand the terms of any repayment plans you agree to and how they will affect your credit score in the future. If you choose to take out a debt consolidation loan, work with a reputable debt consolidation lender to significantly lower your interest rate and help you pay off your debt faster.
Negotiate debt settlements
If you’re finding it hard to make payments on your debt, consider negotiating a debt settlement with your creditor. When your creditors reduce or eliminate your principal balance, it’s called a charge-off — they are essentially writing off your loan (or a portion of it) as a loss.
Though charge-offs can dramatically decrease your debt, they also can negatively impact your credit score. You should attempt to negotiate with your creditors to remove late payments from your credit report.
Use your tax refund and cash gifts
When you come into extra money — be it in the form of cash gifts, bonuses, refunds or overtime earnings — use it to make extra lump sum payments toward your debt. This will help you pay it off much faster and reduce the interest you have to pay, all without requiring you to dip into your savings or rework your budget.
Pull in extra cash with a side hustle
Consider earning extra money through a side hustle or part-time job to repay your debt. A side hustle can be a business you enjoy and potentially build into a more significant source of income in the future. Even if it’s just a temporary second job, you can put the extra income to work and make quicker progress on your debt reduction goal.
Decrease your monthly spending
Take a close look at your monthly expenses and see where you can cut back. The more you reduce your monthly spending, the more money you can put toward paying down debt. There are a few ways in which you can do this:
- Draft a budget and closely monitor your spending
- Compare prices before purchasing items
- Cancel subscriptions you no longer use
- Cook at home instead of eating out
- Wait a bit before buying nonessentials or expensive purchases to see if you still want them or if it was an impulsive desire
- Drive less to save on fuel
Catch debts before they go to collections
When a debt goes to collections, it means your creditor has sold your financial obligation to a third-party debt collector. Once your debt reaches collections, it can negatively impact your credit score for quite some time and make paying off your debt more challenging.
If you’re struggling to make payments, you should reach out to your creditor as soon as possible to negotiate a payment plan or debt settlement. It can be very time-consuming to remove collections from credit bureaus and costly to hire a company to do it for you. By catching your debts before they go to collections, you can avoid these problems.
Know your rights when you negotiate with debt collectors, as they are subject to strict regulations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). If a debt collector is harassing you or using illegal tactics to collect a debt, you should report them to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Should you pay a debt collector or the original creditor?
When given a choice, it’s better to pay your original creditor rather than a debt collector. The original creditor is the company you originally owed the debt to, while a debt collector is a third-party company that purchased your debt from the original creditor.
Paying your creditor directly can help ensure that the payment gets credited to your account and can help you maintain a better credit score. If you instead pay the debt collector, they are not required to report the payment to the credit bureaus.
Is it better to pay off debt or save the money?
You’re not alone if you are unsure whether to pay down your debt or add to your savings account. It’s generally best to have a balanced approach that combines debt reduction with saving. Build up a small emergency fund of at least $1,000 before you start increasing your debt payment amounts. This will provide some financial security and help you avoid adding to your debt when you run into unexpected expenses.
It’s important to find a balance that works for you, however. Over-focusing on one goal may result in neglecting the other. Once you build a small emergency fund, you can go on to pay off student loans and revolving credit before pursuing your larger savings goals. If you have a mortgage on top of this, it’s better to pad your savings account than it is to pay off your mortgage early. After you pay off your largest debts, you’ll have more cash flow available to bolster your savings account.
What happens if you don’t pay debt?
Failing to pay a debt can bring unwanted consequences. These consequences can substantially affect your future financial health and lifestyle. Here are some problems you could face if you fail to pay off your debts:
- A lower credit score: Late or missed payments can be reported to the credit bureaus, which will negatively impact your credit score.
- Difficulty obtaining credit: Nonpayment of debt can negatively impact your ability to get future loans.
- Increased collection calls: If you don’t pay a debt, you may receive persistent collection calls from debt collectors trying to get you to settle what you owe.
- Higher interest rates and fees: Unpaid debts may incur higher than average interest rates and fees, and this can make your debt even more difficult to pay off.
- Legal action: In extreme cases, unpaid debts can result in legal action, such as a lawsuit or wage garnishment.
- Difficulty renting: If you’re a renter, a lowered credit score may make it harder for you to rent an apartment or house in the future. Many landlords and property management companies check the credit scores of prospective tenants and may consider you to be a risk.
If you are in one or more of these situations, it’s best to act quickly and decisively. Avoid falling behind on debt obligations when you can, and address any debts that become overdue as soon as possible.
Start tackling your debt at lightning speed
When you’re in debt, the best thing you can do is make a plan and stick to it. By knowing how to pay off debt faster, you can save on interest, build out a payment history that proves to creditors that you’re responsible with your money and ultimately gain access to more financial opportunities. Whether you choose to negotiate your debt with creditors or a nonprofit agency or create a payment plan that addresses multiple accounts, there are steps you can take today to speed up the process of becoming debt-free.