How to Get Out of Debt:  13 Best Expert-Backed Steps for Success

Dealing with debt can feel like a hopeless situation. You try your best to make your payments, but interest charges eat up all your progress. The next month, you’re back to square one.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry: You don’t have to be stuck with debt forever. We reached out to several experts and got their best tips for how to get out of debt.  Here’s what they had to say.

1. Find Your Motivation

Fo Alexander: “Whatever your reason, make sure that it's enough to keep you encouraged when times get tough.”

Leslie H. Tayne: “You need to know what goes in and out of your household and whether those expenses can be covered with your income.”

2. See Where you Stand

3. Identify Poor Spending Habits

Andrea Woroch: “Everyone has a trigger, and it's important to face it to avoid it and prevent it from destroying your financial gains.”

4. Increase Your Income

Tayne: “Side gigs, such as baking, photography, dog walking, babysitting, ride-sharing, or turning unoccupied space in your home into a rental, can all generate extra income.”

5. Narrow Your Focus

Brian Walsh: “People want to feel like they are making progress, so they spread their focus and resources across all of these goals.”

SWIPE UP TO READ MORE