You’re ready to be out of debt. That sounds like the understatement of the century, right? You can’t wait to be debt-free. But you feel like you’ve tried everything. And everywhere you turn, your debt is still there — impacting just about every area of your life. Here are some creative credit card debt solutions you probably didn’t realize you could use to help you pay it off.
1. Get a Credit Card with a 0% APR Intro Period
If you have good credit, you may be able to find a credit card that offers you a 0% APR intro period on balance transfers. This means that for a certain number of months (usually between 12 and 21), you will not be charged any interest on the money you transfer to your new card. That can give you some serious breathing room to pay down your debt without accruing any more interest.
2. Do a Debt Snowball or Debt Avalanche
One way to stay motivated while you’re paying off debt is to use the debt snowball or debt avalanche method. With the debt snowball, you focus on paying off your smallest debts first. As you do that, you build up momentum and confidence, which can help you tackle your larger debts. The debt avalanche method is similar, but instead of focusing on your smallest debts, you focus on the ones with the highest interest rates. That way, you save the most money in interest over time.
3. Refinance Your Debt
If you have a good credit score and steady income, you may be able to refinance your debt to get a lower interest rate and monthly payment. This can free up some extra cash each month that you can put toward your debt. Just be sure to do your research and compare offers from multiple lenders before you choose one.
4. Get a Part-Time Job
If you’re really struggling to make ends meet, getting a part-time job can help you bring in some extra income each month. You can use that money to make larger debt payments and get out of debt faster. Just be sure not to overdo it — if you’re working too many hours, you could end up burning yourself out.
5. Negotiate with Your Lenders
If you’re having trouble making your monthly payments, reach out to your lenders and see if they’re willing to work with you. They may be able to lower your interest rate or give you a grace period on your payments. It never hurts to ask — and you may be surprised at what they’re willing to do to help you out.
6. Get a Personal Loan
If you have good credit, you may be able to qualify for a personal loan with a low-interest rate, or even a home equity loan with bad credit. You can use that loan to consolidate your debt into one monthly payment — which can save you money on interest and help you pay off your debt faster. Just be sure to compare offers from multiple lenders before you choose one.
7. Use Windfalls to Pay Off Debt
If you get a bonus at work or some unexpected money, put it toward your debt. That way, you can make a dent in what you owe and get one step closer to being debt-free.
8. Cut Your Expenses
If you want to free up some extra cash each month to put toward your debt, take a look at your budget and see where you can cut back. You may be surprised how much money you can save by making small changes to your spending habits.
The Bottom Line
No matter what strategy you use, getting out of debt is no easy feat. But it’s definitely worth trying these creative credit card debt solutions. Once you’re debt-free, you’ll have more money to save and invest — and you’ll finally be able to sleep soundly at night knowing your debt is behind you.
