There are various methods of getting out of debt, the one I like best is the Debt Snowball. It is simple, and provides a quicker sense of accomplishment. Dave Ramsey is the primary advocate of the debt snowball.
So what is it? Well, before I get into the details, I first want to encourage you to make sure you have at least $1000 in the back before you start paying down your debt. This should be used as your emergency fund. Always keep that $1000 in the back so if you have an emergency, you won’t create more debt in taking care of the emergency.
Basically, it is paying the lowest balance first.
If you are seriously trying to get out of debt, you’ve already heard of Dave Ramsey, and especially if you are reading this blog.
Dave is a straight forward, no-holds-barred, tell you like it is kinda person when it comes to helping people get out of debt. He was once in debt so he speaks from experience. He has decades of experience mentoring people to get out of debt and live debt free. His background is not just from experience but is also Bible based by stating “The borrower is slave to the lender” Proverbs 22:7.
He hosts a daily radio show as well as a broadcast each weeknight on Fox Business News and encourages listeners who have become debt free to call in and scream “I’m/we’re Debt Free!!” as an inspiration to others who are working toward debt freedom.
Some people love him others hate him, either way he is absolutely determined to get you out of debt, and so am I.
I too have been in debt, and although I did not used the debt snowball to get out of debt (didn’t know about it back then) I am now debt free. I also believe the debt snowball is the best way to getting out of debt.
So as I mentioned earlier, it is the process of placing your smallest debt first and working your way down to the highest debt.
How do you do this?
Take all your bills, not your living expense bills like water, electric, utilities, house, food, etc. and list them, from lowest balance balance to highest balance
Pay the minimums on all the bills except the first, and pay as MUCH as you can on that one until it’s gone. Usually, this smallest debt is $200 to $600 dollars, and once it is paid off, you have an quick sense of success. That is the whole point of this process. Small victories.
Continue to the second bill, adding the amount you paid on the first before it was paid off and pay that one, hence picking up more dollars each time you pay off a bill and placing those dollars on the next bill (snowball effect)
Do this until the last bill is gone. Now keep in mind it is not just about the debt snowball process, you must also be working a budget and cutting back on spending all at the same time, see Money Management aka Cash Flow and How to Get Out Of Debt.
There are some pros and cons of the debt snowball, I find the pros out way the cons but here they are:Pros:
Cons:
With that said, as Dave says, this isn’t about the math, it is about the forming of a habit of paying off debt. It reinforces the habit by giving early positive results.
As with anything you must stay focused, and commit to follow it through to the end. The small victories and success of paying off that first small bill helps early reinforcement that it is working.
Being debt free is a life time commitment, not just a short term solution. Stay focus and you will be successful.
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Kim,
The debt snowball really works!!! I used it to get out of debt almost 10 years ago. As a proponent of Dave Ramsey, I’d like to add that continued success will only be maintained if a person changes his spending habits. A couple of principles to follow include: stop impulsive buying, use cash (if you can’t pay with cash, you aren’t ready to buy), develop and follow a budget. Lastly, your spouse and you must be on the same page. If you don’t work together, your plans are likely to fail.
Dennis, thank you for visiting and commenting. You are 100% correct that continued success of living debt free is about changing spending habits, self discipline rather than living with the “I want it now attitude.” Purchases always mean more if you have waited until you can pay cash. Also you hit the nail right on the head in that you and your spouse must be on the same saving/spending page in order for your debt free living plan to be successful. Congratulations to you for getting out of debt and showing the plan works!!!
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