4 Smart Ways to Manage Your Debt in Tulsa

No matter how you accrued it in the first place, coming to terms with the amount of debt you have and figuring out how to manage it can feel overwhelming. It can also be challenging to sort through the various ways to manage debt. Don’t despair—there are solutions available to you. Keep reading for four ways to take control of your debt in Tulsa.  

Calculate your debt  

Figuring out how much you are in debt is the first step to managing it. How much debt do you have in total? What types of debt do you have? What are the interest rates, due dates, and so forth? It can be helpful to keep all of this information in one place where you can easily see the full picture.  

It’s important to note that if you feel your debt is at the point where you are unable to manage it on your own, you might consider reaching out to a financial professional or looking into options for debt relief.  

Research ways to pay off debt 

There are a variety of methods for managing and paying off your debt. Here are a few of the more well-known strategies.  

Debt avalanche 

A debt avalanche approach prioritizes paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first because it will probably save you money on interest in the long term. It will likely take more time to feel like you are making a significant difference in your debt with this method.  

Debt snowball 

The debt snowball method prioritizes putting as much money as you can towards paying off the smallest debts first. Eliminating smaller debts can help you feel like you are making real progress.  

Whether you choose the debt avalanche or snowball method, you still want to make minimum payments on all your other debts.  

Debt consolidation 

Taking out a personal loan is another way to manage your debts by consolidating them. Debt consolidation means that your high-interest debts are combined, paid off with a loan, and then you make one monthly payment to repay the loan, ideally with a lower interest rate than the debts originally carried and a fixed repayment schedule. 

To get approved for a personal loan, your credit score, credit history, and income are usually taken into consideration by the lender. A score of 670 or higher is generally considered good on the standard credit scoring ranges, which typically go from 300 to 850. A good score can help you qualify for loans with better interest rates, lower fees, and more flexible repayment terms. 

 It’s helpful to do some research on potential providers and loans in Tulsa, as well as their requirements to qualify and terms and conditions.  

If you consolidate your debts, make sure you can afford to repay the loan in full for the agreed upon time so as not to risk taking on more debt through fees from missed payments or interest, or risking a hit to your credit score. Include your monthly repayment amounts in your budget.  

Build a budget  

A key part of managing your debt is learning to stick to a budget. This may require you to learn new financial habits. The following can help:  

1)Keep track of your money. Try writing down all of your expenses for a full month. This includes essentials (e.g., rent or mortgage payments, groceries, and utility bills) and non-essentials (e.g., dinner with friends, movie tickets, a beverage from your favorite coffee shop). Don’t forget to include contributions to your savings account, investments, and any other financial arrangements. By the end of the month, you should have a full picture of where your money is going and how you can adjust your budget to better serve your financial needs.  

2)Don’t forget to save. Saving may not be your first priority while you are managing debt but regularly contributing to your savings, college, or retirement accounts can help you build a safety net and avoid taking on more debt in the future.   

3)Take small steps. Remember, you can’t change everything at once. Shifting your finances and habits won’t happen overnight. Figure out how you can make the biggest impact on your debt and prioritize actions that help you get there.  

Avoid taking on new debt  

You want to avoid taking on new debt while you are learning to better manage your current debt load. Try paying your bills on time and in full so you incur fewer late fees, missed payment fees, or interest. Aim to pay off your monthly credit card statement in full. Stick to your budget and try your best not to take on more debt due to spending on non-essentials. Think about using cash or a debit card for payments so you avoid spending more than you have.  

Don’t let your debt control you  

Having any kind of debt can feel like a huge hurdle to your financial well-being. Learning smart strategies for managing debt is a great way to feel more confident and in control of your finances. Calculate how much debt you have, research ways to lower or eliminate your debt, build a budget, and avoid taking on new debt. Embracing these strategies helps you improve your finances in the long run.  

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