DEBT

Choose your own adventure: 4 strategies to get out of debt

July 6, 2023
5 min read

What we'll cover

Difference between “good” and “bad” debt
Quiz to find a path to becoming debt free
Things to do after paying off debt

Debt comes in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes you take on debt purposely, other times it slowly creeps up on you or hits you all at once. But no matter how or where it comes from, most can agree: Debt can be stressful and reducing it isn’t always so simple.

There’s no “right way” to reduce debt, but by exploring different strategies, you could find one or more that can work for you.

The impact of debt on your finances

One way to think about the various effects of debt is categorizing types by “good” and “bad.”

Some “good” debts are designed to help you invest in your future. Think student loans (which can be a major investment into your earning potential) or a mortgage (which allows you to build equity and grow wealth long-term). “Good” debt is typically paid back over an extended term with relatively low interest rates.

Meanwhile, “bad” debt is typically taken on for expenditures that will decrease in value, leaving you paying interest charges without building equity. This type of debt may be taken on in the form of credit cards that tend to have high annual percentage rates ( APR ), which can make paying down your balance take longer and cost more over time.

Interest charges can make debt expensive, essentially taking money from your future paychecks and making it harder to save for your goals. Taking on more debt will likely increase your debt-to-income ratio , making it tougher to qualify for loans you may need, such as a mortgage. Additionally, if debt begins to negatively impact your credit score, loans you do qualify for may come with higher interest rates all around.

Juggling saving while trying to pay down debt is a balancing act that looks different for every situation. When you find the sweet spot of building savings while chipping away at debt, you can set yourself up for a financially stronger future .

Interest charges can make debt expensive, essentially taking money from your future paychecks and making it harder to save for your goals.

A clear path to a debt-free life

A strategy to reduce debt can make it easier to stay on track, help you keep sight of the end game and reduce the chances of further accumulating debt. It’s likely you will find debt reduction requires repaying your debt consistently month-to-month rather than trying to pay it off all at once. Having a plan in place may help you stay on top of payments so you can crush your goal of becoming debt free.

Snowball strategy

With the snowball method , list your debts in order by amount. Every month, make all your minimum payments, then put any funds leftover in your budget toward your smallest balance. As each debt gets crossed off the list, those funds now go toward paying off the next lowest debt. This method lets you harness the momentum of each small win.

Pros and cons of using the snowball method to pay off debt.
Pros	Cons
Simple to start using	May cost you more if your highest balance also has super high interest
Small wins can boost your motivation and keep you going

Avalanche

The goal of the avalanche method is reducing total interest paid. To make this strategy work, pay the minimum balances on each debt and put any extra income toward the balance with the highest interest rate. Once that’s paid off, you’ll direct those payments to the balance with the next highest interest rate — and so on.

Pros and cons of using the avalanche method to pay off debt.
Pros	Cons
Saves money on interest	May need extra money to put toward debt
Structured approach to paying off debt	Could be difficult to stay motivated because it may take a while to fully pay off the first balance

Debt consolidation

It’s tricky to manage debt from multiple sources with varying rates. Consolidating debts into one monthly payment can help. You may be able to do this with a credit card balance transfer or a debt consolidation personal loan. Homeowners might also consider tapping into equity with a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or cash-out refinance . By doing so, you’ll not only have to manage just one payment, but you may be able to reduce your interest rate, too.

Pros and cons to using debt consolidation.
Pros	Cons
Simplifies debt because you will only have one monthly payment	May face high upfront fees
Could secure a lower interest rate	Could come with a higher interest rate than what you currently pay on your debts
On-time payments could increase your credit score	Need to be eligible

Debt management

If debt becomes unmanageable, a professional credit counselor or a debt consolidation company may help. A debt relief program may help you negotiate more time or better rates, manage or consolidate your debts or pursue debt settlement. It’s important to know debt settlement is typically a last resort, as it can damage your credit score.

Pros and cons to debt management.
Pros	Cons
Simplifies debt because you will only have one monthly payment	Creditors may not agree
Could secure a lower interest rate	May be required to close one or more credit accounts
Can get advice from a professional	Could hurt your credit score

Powering through debt-free living

Tackling your debt is an undeniable feat and something you should be proud of. To keep your accounts in the green going forward:

Build a savings safety net
Pay credit card balances on time and in full
Stick to a budget
Keep sources of debt to a minimum

You may also consider creating spending buckets, a feature of Ally Bank’s Spending Account . You can have up to 30 spending buckets to track anything from groceries to bills and more. You decide how much money is needed for each bucket and how often. Spending buckets make it easy to track where your money is going and to see how much you have left over.

Repay and stay away

Reducing debt may feel like an uphill battle. Committing to a strategy, staying focused and knowing you aren’t alone can help. With persistence and an eye on your target, you’ll see the debt you once viewed as a mountain turn into a molehill.

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