19 Ways To Lower Debt 

As we approach the end of 2019, if debt is still lingering over your head, know that you aren’t alone. Last year, American household debt hit a record $13.21 trillion! But, if you are in debt, read this today and know that your debt doesn’t have to be the reality for long. There are so many great ways to get and stay out of debt. 

Here are 19 Ways to Lower Debt & Start Living the Life of Your Dreams:

1. Start Couponing. Couponing makes those everyday purchases you have to buy so much easier. Every little bit counts and couponing helps you start spending less today on things you need to buy.
2. Borrow. If you are working on a special project and need specific tools, don’t buy the special appliances or tools. Borrow them instead. 
3. Evaluate your subscriptions. Subscription services are tricky because after a few months, you may forget about them. You might have a few things you pay for that you really aren’t using.
4. Get a part-time job. If you’re really wanting to crush debt faster than normal, get a side hustle or holiday/seasonal gig that will help you put away some extra cash faster.
5. Buy Used. Consignment stores for furniture, clothes, and more can be a great option if you’re looking to cut down on your rising finances. 
6. Learn to say ‘no.’ Often we buy things that we really don’t need. If you’re serious about your debt, you will start to realize when you’re buying things that are unnecessary. 
7. Sell Your Stuff. Do you have treasures hiding in your closet that could be making you money by selling? Sell your stuff to help make up for some extra cash toward debt.
8. Say no to hobbies. While you’re paying down debt, you might need to consider putting a pause on any hobbies, especially if they require a lot of costly events or items.
9. Sign up for deal apps. There are tons of money back apps like ibotta and Rakuten that allow you to make money with things you’re normally purchasing anyway.
10. Use Gift Cards. Use any gift cards you have lying around for meals out or special fun events you want to do. If you aren’t using your gift cards, go sell them online instead and use that cash to pay down debt!
11. Eat at home. One of the biggest ways Americans spend money is with meals out. Save money by making your meals at home and bringing your lunch to work instead. 
12. Save your change. Save those pennies! Just don’t forget to cash them in at a bank or kiosk at the store for dollars you can use more easily.
13. Evaluate your Cell Plan. Call your company and find out if you can pare down your cell phone plan to the basics while you’re paying down debt. 
14. Shop around for insurance. If it’s been a few years, go call around and ask for rate quotes from other companies. Odds are, you can find similar coverage at a lower price with a different company for things like car insurance, renters insurance, and more. 
15. Turn off the lights. Take a sweep around your home and see if you’re wasting energy (and money) by having lights on you don’t need, or other appliances plugged in that should be unplugged. 
16. Join the sharing economy. Do you have a spare room you could rent out? Could you sign up to be an Uber driver? There are now sharing programs for all sorts of things where you could be making money off of things you already own.
17. Pay more than the minimum. One easy way to pay debt off faster is to pretend like your monthly payment is actually higher than it is. This could shave off a few months or even years of payments in some cases!
18. Make a budget. Budgets are your best friend when it comes to managing your debt. They’ll help you see very clearly where your funds are going to each month and help you evaluate where to focus your effort.
19. Call a Debt Relief Company like DebtQuest USA. If none of these are helping you make the progress you need fast enough, consider a debt management company who can help you navigate if debt settlement, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy is an option for you.