Debts can be emotionally draining and often lead to a vicious cycle of borrowing and unaffordable interest rates. You may have got to a point where you feel as though taking out one more credit card will only be a drop in the ocean when it comes to the debt that you have already accumulated.

If you are reading this article, then the good news is that you are clearly ready to make a change. By taking small steps and manageable lifestyle changes, it is possible to rid yourself of the debt cycle and finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Take care of the essentials first

The biggest repayments are usually the most important. These usually have the biggest repercussions in the event of a missed payment. It is best if you can get into the habit of setting money aside for your mortgage and car loan as soon as soon as you get paid. This should be your number one priority.

Make sure you are fulfilling legal obligations

Once the absolutely essential repayments have been taken care of, you should ensure that any legal obligations to make payments have also been fulfilled. These may be child support payments or taxes, but either way, it’s very important that you comply, because failure to do so over time could eventually lead to jail time.

Make priorities

You should then start to make repayments by prioritizing those with the highest interest rates. Making changes to your lifestyle and any other outgoings that you have can also help you to be more empowered to rid yourself of debt.

Some debt can take a long time to clear. But by knowing when to seek legal advice and take action, it can be possible to repay debts and start to live life without financial burden again.

Source: Findlaw, “Which debts should you repay first,” accessed Sep. 14, 2017