Here are 3 things that will make it difficult or even impossible to get out of debt. If you notice yourself doing any of these, then you can breathe a sigh of relief--because things are about to get easier when you stop doing them!
1. Don't blame the economy. Or the bad habits your parents taught you. Or your boss who won't give you that raise you so desperately need (want...).
Acting as though someone else is responsible for your problem does NOT empower you to be able to change that problem. And it sure won't help you get out of debt.
Even if your financial state is somehow someone else's fault, you can bet they won't feel too inclined to get out of debt for you!
Give yourself power over your problem by owning it and taking responsibility for it--even if you didn't create it.
2. Don't try to make more money. This isn't a problem in and of itself. But it does become a problem when you use it as part of your strategy to get out of debt.
You would think this would be the number one thing to do, right? But a raise in income rarely helps anybody to get out of debt. In fact, most people will just dive down further in the red, in direct proportion with their new higher level of income!
Really, what you should do instead is change how you spend. Otherwise, you're very unlikely to ever get out of debt, no matter how much money you make. People of all incomes are in debt, and it's because of their spending habits--not the adequacy (or supposed inadequacy) of their incomes.
A complete guide to changing your spending habits is beyond the bounds of a single article. But almost every one can look at their monthly spending habits and find non-essentials that can be cut out or accomplished more cheaply, with the resultant savings being used to help you dig yourself out of the red.
Even if you do get out of debt without a change of spending habits, you'll likely end up in the same bad financial situation within a year or two's time if you don't change the way you spend money.
3. Don't expect to get out of debt overnight. Or within a year's time. Removing debt from your life and getting back on your feet financially is a process that will take some time.
The worst thing you can do is to just give up and file for bankruptcy because you think it will take an impossibly long time to get out of debt. Once you decide the steps you need to take, just make sure you stick to them. With every passing month you'll see improvements--sometimes more than you expected.
Soon--perhaps a lot sooner than you think--you will get out of debt, just as long as you stick with your plan and keep your goal in front of you.
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