3 Mistakes To Avoid When Paying Off Debt

Forbes Advisor Brand Group

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Published: Apr 12, 2024

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Paying off debt can be an incredibly challenging journey, and data shows 77% of American households are dealing with some form of debt, with credit card debt averaging $3,911. As consumers struggle with record debt, what options do you have to tackle these large sums?

The problem may not be that you have debt but rather the mistakes you are making that cause your financial burdens to get out of hand.

To navigate this complex landscape, it’s essential to address critical questions: Why has my debt spiraled out of control? How can I accelerate the debt repayment process? And what mistakes should I avoid while paying off debt?

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Why Is My Debt Out of Control?

Surveys show that many U.S. households are grappling with debt, with a significant majority having taken on more financial burden than they can comfortably afford. This financial imbalance can arise from poor spending habits, but debt can often balloon out of control as a result of financial hardship or income insecurity.

If you’ve accrued high-interest debt, managing a rapidly accumulating principal balance can become increasingly challenging, especially when faced with a job loss and without a safety net or emergency fund.

Key factors contributing to debt accumulation include:

Financial hardship: Unforeseen financial challenges or emergencies that strain your ability to meet financial obligations.
Income insecurity: Changes or instability in income sources, leading to difficulties in managing expenses and debt payments.
Poor spending habits: Spending patterns that contribute to accumulating debt beyond what you can afford.
High-interest debt: Any debt with steep interest rates that results in rapid accumulation of interest charges, making it harder to pay down balances.

Unfortunately, getting out of debt involves more than sheer determination. Regularly paying on your credit cards and loans is certainly important, but this alone may not make a dent in your debt if you are making other financial mistakes.

How to Pay Off Debt Faster

Making real progress in debt reduction requires a multifaceted approach, including revamping spending habits, mastering budgeting, establishing emergency and retirement funds, and knowing where to find help when you get off track. Sometimes, the best way to get out of debt can be to work with consolidation specialists who can help identify the right payoff strategy for you.

Take inventory of all your outstanding debt
Implement changes to your spending habits
Learn how to budget and prioritize debt payments
Explore debt consolidation options
Consider help from Consolidation Specialists at Accredited Debt Relief

In other words, there are many decisions that need to be made. It’s also likely that you’re going to make some mistakes along the way. Recognizing the most typical mistakes and how to avoid them can prove crucial for maintaining momentum toward financial stability.

Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Off Debt

Mistake No. 1: Not Making Changes to Your Spending Habits

We are creatures of habit. We frequent the same stores, opt for familiar brands and even dine at the same restaurants because they provide us with a sense of comfort. What you don’t realize is it could be costing you more than you can handle financially. Changing your spending habits is essential to breaking free from existing debt and preventing future debt.

How can you tell if your spending habits are healthy? Look at your spending over the course of one month. Then, ask the following questions about where you are spending money the most:

Are you buying coffee every morning?
Do you get takeout for lunch and dinner regularly?
Do you buy more expensive brands because you haven’t considered alternatives?
Do you regularly spend a lot of money on nonessential shopping?
Do you have subscriptions that aren’t needed?

You can significantly reduce unnecessary spending by adopting small habit changes, finding alternatives to pricier items and canceling old subscriptions.

Mistake No. 2: Acquiring New Debt Too Soon

If you are making regular payments and progress toward reducing your debt, you may have the urge to celebrate by taking on new debt. Even though you might think you are ready to start paying for a new car or opening a new store credit card, it’s usually not a good idea.

Taking on new debt can hurt your credit score, and if you overestimate your ability to start paying new bills, you could quickly become overwhelmed by payments you can’t afford.

Paying down debt takes time, and patience is key. Debt consolidation services, for example, typically span 24 to 48 months, while balance transfers and debt consolidation loans could take even longer, depending on the options you choose. How can you determine if you’re ready for new debt?

Accredited Debt Relief consolidation specialists advise against taking on a loan or using credit cards to make purchases if you cannot comfortably afford the monthly payments required to pay it back. Even if you have a high income and can afford the payments, you’ll want to consider practicing good habits to help you repair your credit.

Here’s how you can determine whether you’re ready for new debt:

You have an emergency fund
Your credit score has improved after six to 12 months of on-time payments
Your debt utilization is under 35%
You have a steady income and can comfortably afford the payments
You have no late payments or delinquent debt

Mistake No. 3: Not Consolidating Your Debt

If you’re juggling multiple debt payments every month, you could be spending more on interest than necessary. Debt consolidation is a common way to refinance your debt—it involves paying off high-interest credit card debt with a new, lower-interest credit card or loan. Having a lower interest rate on your consolidated debt can save you money over time.

Consolidating your debt allows you to streamline your payments by making just one payment on the new loan instead of managing multiple creditor payments.

Accredited Debt Relief

15% to 25%

A+

Connect with a debt relief specialist for assistance

Accredited Debt Relief

On Accredited Debt Relief's Website

How Accredited Debt Relief Can Help

If you are considering debt consolidation as an option, you’ll also want to consider speaking with a consolidation specialist. These options could be alternatives to bankruptcy and making minimum payments that could lower your debt burden.

A debt consolidation option might be right for you if:

You are struggling to make minimum payments
You need to pay off more than $30,000 in credit card debt
You can’t qualify for a consolidation loan
You want an alternative to bankruptcy

Consolidation specialists can provide personalized solutions to consolidate your debts, paving the way for a more manageable financial future. With a range of options tailored to lower monthly payments, especially for debts exceeding $25,000, and no credit score limitations, the prospect of becoming debt-free is within reach.