Cashless shopping is definitely convenient, and it comes in handy when you don't have enough cash on hand for "unexpected" costs or "must-have" treats. Unfortunately, life isn't that easy. Just a few of those "must-have" purchases made on the spur of the moment can add up to a huge credit card debt, and eventually you have to pay the piper. At some point, you have to face the fact that you need to stop using credit cards, show self-control, and get serious about finding ways to get out of debt.
If you are reading this, you probably have a lot of different kinds of debt. Ignoring them is wishful thinking, and you probably ask yourself every time you think about it, "How did I get myself into such a mess?"
The good news is that you've already taken the most important step, which is to realise that you need to change. The truth has finally hit me hard. Of course, your debt won't just go away on its own, so you'll need a good plan for paying it off so you don't have to live like a beggar for the next 30 years.
As with any credit card debt solution, a person must have the guts to finally give up his or her credit cards and focus on whatever debt reduction options are available at the time.
The next step is to break up with your credit cards and get serious about paying off your debt. Since you're reading this article, it's clear that you've already done that, so congrats! If you're like most people, you probably have a grand plan for how you want to pay off our debt. However, even if your plan seems perfect in your head, you need to focus on real world solutions.
When it comes to getting out of debt, you need to set goals that are realistic. You need a realistic plan for how much you'll pay and for how long. You didn't get into debt in a day, and you won't pay it off in a day either. It is important that your goals are both attainable and doable. On the other hand, being in debt doesn't mean you have to live on bread and water for the next 10 years, cancel your cable, and buy everything you need at the Salvation Army just to make your monthly payments.
There is no reason for you to hurt yourself any more. You definitely need a good plan for paying down your debt, and you can get one if you work with your creditors to finally get your finances in order. And it's fine if you still want to keep a few credit cards active in case of emergencies and to help keep your credit score up. Having two credit cards is a good rule of thumb for how to use them. Use one to buy gas and groceries, but pay off the balance every month. The second one should only be used in case of an emergency.
You should also make a budget and keep track of your spending so you know exactly how much it costs you to live each month. Then, you can set up a realistic plan to pay off your debts based on what you've learned. When you see everything in black and white, you'll be shocked by how much you spend on things that aren't important or fun.
A good budget will also help you stop buying things on the spur of the moment, which is how a lot of people use their credit cards. Before you buy something, you should really ask yourself over and over again if you really need it. If it's just a luxury or something you want, look at your budget. If it fits into your plan to pay off debt, you might be able to buy a little something extra every three or four months.
In conclusion, I hope this article has given you some good ideas and useful information that you will be able to use to get control of your debt.
