[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e7dff3″ custom_padding=”0px||100px|||” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ bottom_divider_color=”#ffffff” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_2_font_size=”30px” custom_padding=”||16px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
by Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=”custom_row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”vertical-align second-on-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for\u00a0how to pay off credit cards on your own and get out of debt<\/strong>, you\u2019ve made a great choice! Here\u2019s a quick, down and dirty run through of two credit card payoff strategies to help pay off debt as quickly as possible. But before we get into that, you need to make a few decisions about your credit cards if you want to pay them off.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#e4f8e0″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||120px|||” bottom_divider_style=”curve2″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The first decision is whether to use your credit cards while you\u2019re paying them off. My advice is don\u2019t! I know that\u2019s a tough thing to ask when it\u2019s easy, convenient, and available. But you need to make a decision on whether you want easy \/ convenient \/ available or you want it paid off. You can\u2019t have both. My recommendation is to put it away someplace safe. Consider putting your credit card in a plastic bag, filling it with water and then freezing it. If you \u201cneed\u201d to use it, you\u2019ll have to wait for it to thaw because microwaving it will create a light show that your neighbours won\u2019t want. You can also lock it up, or give it to someone you trust for safe keeping.<\/p>\n The second decision you need to make is where the money will come from to pay off your credit card. Will you earn extra income to pay it off? Will you reduce some expenses and use that extra money for payments? Will you sell something? Regardless of where the money comes from, know how much you can put towards your payment on a monthly basis.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong>MyMoneyCoach.ca has a great list of 10 places to find money for whatever you need it for. Check out their list<\/a> and see if you can find some money to pay off your credit cards faster.<\/p>\n And the third, which I think is the most important to helping you stay the course, is why you\u2019re doing it. You need to become crystal clear why you want to pay off your credit cards so that you follow through, pay them off and keep them paid off. Instead of focusing on the negative, what you don\u2019t want like stress, high payments, etc., focus on the positive, on what you do actually want. Some examples could include: I want to pay off my debt so I can feel peaceful around money and credit; I want to become debt free so I can travel, save for a home, my children\u2019s education.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e4f8e0″ custom_padding=”||100px|||” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Okay, now that you\u2019ve made some decisions, let\u2019s talk about Winter. Winter, you ask? Not to steal from\u00a0Game of Thrones, but winter is coming. And what I mean by that is when it comes to how to pay off credit cards, you can choose the snowball or avalanche method. Hopefully my less than funny winter and\u00a0GoT\u00a0references make sense now (nudge, nudge)!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||120px|||” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ bottom_divider_color=”#e7dff3″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\nDecisions to Make Before You Begin Paying Off Your Credit Cards<\/h2>\n
Decision 1 – Are You Going to Continue Using Your Credit Cards While You Pay Them Down?<\/h3>\n
Decision 2 – Where Will the Money Come From to Pay Off the Debt?<\/h3>\n
Decision 3 – Why Are You Doing This?<\/h3>\n
Prepare for Winter!<\/h2>\n
The Snowball Debt Repayment Method<\/h2>\n