Couple reviewing bills

According to the Federal Reserve, American credit card debt was nearly one trillion dollars at the end of the third quarter of 2020. This considerable amount of consumer debt means that many families need strategies to help them get out of debt. If you feel overwhelmed by your current financial situation, you need to understand that you are not alone. We have identified eight strategies that you can use to help you reduce your debt load and get your financial situation back on track.

1. Put Your Spending On Pause

Before you create a plan to reduce your debt, you have to push aside the temptation to make more. Put those credit cards in a safe place and don't apply for any new accounts. If you want to take things a step further, you can put a freeze on your credit profile, which will prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.

2. Create A New Budget And Get Your Family Involved

Take a look at your budget and determine whether there are ways that you can reduce non-essential expenses while you are getting out of debt. Do you need your entire cable TV package? If you've been having dinner delivered, can you cook at home more often instead?

Once you've gone through the work of trimming your budget, sit down with your family, and discuss the new changes. Having everyone on the same page and accountable to one another will make it much easier to stick to the plan. It also eliminates surprises and bad feelings from dealing with spending cutbacks as they pop up.

3. Find Creative Ways To Put More Money Towards Your Debt

When times get tough, sometimes you have to get a little creative when thinking about coming up with the money to reduce your debt. Here are some ideas to consider:

● Get a part-time job or start a side business
● Have a garage or yard sale
● Sell any unused items you have lying around the house online
● Put any refunds or cashback rewards straight to extra debt payments

There are many ways to earn extra money that may help you eliminate your debt more quickly. Once you're out of debt, you may have stumbled across your favorite new way to build your savings.

4. Only Buy What's On The List

Experts at the USDA estimate that as much as 40 percent of groceries that Americans buy each year are thrown away. That's a lot of money that gets put in the garbage. Create a meal plan for exactly what you think your family will eat each week and stick to it—the same thing for clothing, gifts, or other miscellaneous shopping. Have a plan before going to the store (or shopping online) of what you need to buy and then stick to it. If you need an accountability buddy, bring a friend or family member, or have them “approve” your online order.

5. Cash Only

Going to a cash-only spending strategy is a great way to keep yourself disciplined and on track for getting out of debt. You can help to further reduce temptation by putting the amount of cash allocated to each category in your budget into an envelope. Once that money is gone, any additional expenditures should be reserved until the next month.

6. Work With Your Creditors

Your creditors are often willing to work with you to help get your debts to them repaid. Consider reaching out to your creditors to negotiate a potentially lower interest rate. If you are struggling to repay your outstanding balance, you may be able to negotiate with your creditors to pay back a reduced amount.

7. Use The Power Of Momentum To Pay Off Your Debts

If you can afford to pay a little extra to your debts, consider paying all the extra money against the highest interest rate balance while making the minimum payment on each of your other debts. Once that balance is paid off, take that payment and add it to the minimum balance on the next highest balance. Continue this momentum until you've paid off your last debt. Paying more than the minimum balance can save you years in interest costs and stress. Plus, once your debts are paid off, you can put that money toward saving and investing.

8. Bring In The Experts

If your debt load seems too complicated or overwhelming to attack your own, consider getting advice from the experts. A reputable credit counseling agency can help you develop an action plan to reduce your debt, negotiate with creditors, and create a roadmap for the best way to move forward.

Working with a credit counselor to get out of debt is not a short-term plan. The terms that your agency negotiates on your behalf will typically result in payments over a period from three to five years. Of course, you can always work to make extra payments and get out of debt even faster.

Working your way out of debt can be stressful. Try these tips to help you get out of debt more quickly and get your family back on the road to a bright financial future.