Get Serious…and Get out of Debt!
It’s time folks…time to talk about that dirty little secret you’ve been hiding. Yes, it’s tough to talk about, and it’s embarrassing to admit for sure, but it’s time to bring up that secret you’ve been hiding behind closed doors. No, it’s not that secret stash of chocolate you keep for “emergencies” while you insist to your friends at the gym that you’re eating clean, or even the dirty dishes you hide under the sink when company comes over. This is more serious than that–it’s that mountain of debt you keep “meaning” to pay off.
Even if you have all of the trappings of wealth—the fancy car, the designer clothes, an enormous home—if you still owe on these things, your wealth is a façade. If you’re in debt, chances are you’d like not to be. If you’re ready to get serious about it, you CAN dig your way out of that mountain. It won’t be easy, it probably won’t be fun (although seeing your total debt amount go down actually IS pretty fun!), but it is doable.
Here is the key: the money you bring in from these ideas MUST go toward your debt! Making an extra $100 does not give you license to buy new shoes when you are facing a pile of bills. It gives you the opportunity to bring those bills down to a manageable level—and to eventually get rid of them altogether. Need a little motivation? Think about how fantastic it will feel not to have to pay those monthly bills. Wouldn’t it be freeing not to be chained to that pile of debt? If you weren’t paying off a car, a mortgage and credit card debt, you would certainly have a lot more disposable income, PLUS you would have money to put into savings and put towards retirement. Can you imagine how wonderfully free you would feel? That’s the feeling you need to remember when you feel like paying off debt is too much work. And none of these things are things you have to do forever.
Ready? Here are a few ways to bring in extra cash to pay off debt:
SELL SOME STUFF: Take a good, hard look around you. What do you own that you don’t need? Stop letting these things clutter up your life and get rid of them! Use the cash to throw at your debt. Whether it’s an extra car, too many clothes, toys the kids no longer play with or collectibles that collecting nothing but dust, if you once used them, someone else will to. You will be amazed at the amount of unused items you have in your home. Not only will you bring in extra money, you will also love how it feels to get rid of the clutter. There are all kinds of ways to get the word out: put an ad on Craigslist, in the local newspaper or on the bulletin board of your local grocery store.
SELL YOUR SERVICES: What are you good at? Which of your skills are marketable? Think about things that you can do that other people either can’t do, don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. The list is endless…babysitting, elderly care, lawn mowing, personal shopping, errand running, chauffeuring, home organizing, tutoring, marketing, dog walking, pet sitting, housesitting, car detailing. You would be amazed at the number of services people are willing to pay for!
GET A SECOND JOB: Yes, working 40 hours each week can be daunting enough, but pulling in a second income can help you topple that mountain of debt. A word of advice? Try to find a second job that entails something you may enjoy. That will make it much more likely that you will be able to stick with it long enough to make a difference. Plus, you don’t want to make your life miserable. If you enjoy people, maybe retail or customer service is for you. If you like working independently, try data entry.
DONATING PLASMA: This can actually be a pretty quick way to earn extra money, and you are doing a worthwhile service for the health care community at the same time. Typically you are able to donate twice each seven days, and many plasma donation centers offer bonuses for new donors. Plus, you get a little free time to yourself. If you like to read, bring a book or an e-reader and pass the time, or play a game on your phone.
“EXTRA” MONEY: Since you should currently have a budget in place with your bills all accounted for, any additional extra money should go towards your debt. A few examples would be money from a raise or bonus, rebates and tax refunds.
Paying off your debt is hard work, but with the right attitude and a good amount of fortitude, you can get it done. And when you do, enjoy the freedom it brings—you deserve it!