Tag Archive for: personal loan

Don’t use the snowball or avalanche until you do this! If you’ve been trying to pay off debt but keep stumbling, this is for you. The truth is, most people start in the wrong place.

They try to pay off debt before they fix it.
That’s like trying to run a marathon with a backpack full of bricks. It’s way harder than it needs to be. Most people give up before they ever hit the finish line.

Before you dive into Snowball or Avalanche, do this one thing first. reposition or consolidate your debt.
This simple move can make your plan easier, faster, and even more motivating.

1. Win First and Create Momentum

Debt is heavy, emotionally, mentally, and financially.
Trying to chip away at high-cost debt one piece at a time wears you down.

That’s why rearranging or consolidating gives you that first win.
It’s like taking the leaves out of a gutter, once you clear the junk, things start flowing again.

That first little win gives you relief. And that relief turns into momentum.
Momentum brings motivation.
Motivation brings progress.
And progress keeps you in the game.

The longer you stay in the game, the better your chance to win.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t about taking on new debt. It’s about moving your debt into better, lower-cost debt so you can finally take control.

2. Simplify Life

Life is already full,  family, work, and everything else.
The last thing you need is to manage 10 or 20 different payments.

When are they due?
What’s the minimum?
Did I miss something?

Consolidating your debt simplifies life.
Now you’re down to one payment, one that’s easier to manage.

And when life gets simpler, it becomes sustainable.
If you can stick with it, you’ll bring more money into your life, and keep less in the bank’s vault.
You deserve to keep more of your money working for you.

3. Pay Less and Save More

This part is all about math.

When you consolidate, you often move from high-interest debt, like 18%, 24%, or even 30%, into something smarter.
That could be a home equity loan, a personal loan, a 0% credit card, or even a private loan from a friend or family member.

That’s like trading a gas-guzzling truck for a hybrid.
Even if you don’t lower the balance, you lower your interest, and that puts more money back into your life.

Here’s a quick example from the numbers:
If you have $10,000 in credit card debt at 24%, that’s about $2,400 a year in interest.
If you rearrange that into a personal loan at 10%, you save $1,400 a year.
That’s $1,400 you can use or enjoy instead of handing it to the bank.

4. Get Out of Debt Faster

When your interest rate drops, something magical happens.
You get more money and more mental freedom.
You finally see progress, and progress feels good.

If you keep your payments the same, more of that money goes toward paying down your debt.
You’re shrinking it faster, without working harder.

That’s the moment when things start to turn around.
You stop paying more and start working smarter.
And once you see your balance drop, confidence grows, and that confidence is priceless.

5. Enjoy More Options in Life

When you free up money, you create options.
More money means more choices.

Maybe it’s building an emergency fund,
helping your kids with activities,
taking a vacation,
starting to invest,
or paying down debt even faster.

Whatever you choose, it’s about creating more freedom.
Because when you’re not buried under high-cost debt, you stop reacting to money, and start directing it.

That’s how people go from struggling each month to being smart with their money.

Before You Start Snowball or Avalanche…

Let’s make this simple:
Before you start any debt payoff plan, rearrange your money first.

Get your first win.
Make life simpler.
Lower your costs.
Get out of debt faster.
And open up more options for your life.

Being smart with debt isn’t about being scared of it.
It’s about using it the right way, to build a better and freer future.

Take a few minutes today to run your numbers through our Accelerated Debt Payments Calculator 
See what repositioning can do for you.

It’s not about struggling to get out of debt, it’s about finding a smarter way to get there.

Be smart with your money, not scared of it. 

Watch our most recent video to find out more about: Don’t Use Snowball or Avalanche Until You Do THIS!

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Retirement should be the time to relax, not worry. Yet many people carry credit card balances, personal loans, or other high-cost debt into their golden years. The good news is you can Stop Letting Bad Debt Ruin Your Retirement by making smart changes now. With a few shifts, you’ll keep more of your money and enjoy more freedom later.

The Hidden Hurdle After 50

Retirement should be about freedom, travel, and family — not about stressing over debt. Yet more and more people are heading into retirement still carrying high-cost debt, especially credit cards.

It doesn’t have to be this way. The truth is simple: you can’t out-save or out-earn bad debt. But you can move into better debt and keep more of your money for life.

Debt Is Just Math

Debt feels scary, but it’s really just numbers. You’re either:

  • Paying the banks more than you should, or

  • Paying less and keeping more for yourself.

The trick is to look at your current debt and ask: “Am I paying less now and less over time?” If the answer is no, it’s time to reposition.

One Debt, Five Very Different Outcomes

Let’s take one simple example: $20,000 of debt.
Here’s how five different people could handle it:

  1. High-Rate Credit Card (24%)

    • Pays $4,800 a year in interest.

    • That’s money gone with nothing to show for it.

  2. Lower-Rate Credit Card (16%)

    • Pays $3,200 a year in interest.

    • Saves $1,600 compared to the first person.

  3. Personal Loan (12%)

    • Pays $2,400 a year in interest.

    • Cuts the cost in half compared to 24%.

  4. Home Equity Loan (8%)

    • Pays $1,600 a year in interest.

    • Frees up an extra $267 a month for groceries, travel, or paying debt faster.

  5. 0% Balance Transfer Card (with 5% fee)

    • Pays just $1,000 for the year.

    • Saves almost $3,800 compared to the first person.

👉 Same $20,000 of debt, five very different costs. The winners are simply the ones who decided to pay the banks less.

Why It Matters in Retirement

Think about this:

  • If you have $20,000 in savings at 1%, the bank pays you just $200.

  • But if you owe $20,000 on a 24% card, you’re paying them $4,800.

Even if your investments earn 8% (that’s $1,600), you’re still losing ground if your debt costs $2,400–$4,800. The math never works in your favor until you lower the cost of your debt.

The Freedom of Better Debt

Moving into better debt doesn’t just save money — it also lowers stress. Every dollar you keep is a dollar that can:

  • Cover rising grocery or medical costs

  • Pay down balances faster

  • Free you up to actually enjoy retirement

It’s not about being debt-free overnight. It’s about being in the right kind of debt so you can breathe easier and live better.

Take Your Next Step

The path forward is clear: pay the banks less, and keep more for yourself. Don’t let rising interest rates and monthly payments eat away at your dreams. You can Stop Letting Bad Debt Ruin Your Retirement by repositioning into better debt today. The sooner you act, the sooner you’ll breathe easier, stress less, and enjoy the retirement you deserve.

Bad debt eats away at your retirement dreams. But better debt builds freedom.

👉 Start by looking at your balances. Then ask: Am I paying too much for this debt?

If the answer is yes, it’s time to reposition. At Smart with Debt, we’ve built calculators and simple tools to help you see exactly how much you can save.

Explore Smart Debt Tools

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Today we are going to discuss how you can consolidate your debt. Debt can feel overwhelming, but the good news is there’s a way to simplify it: debt consolidation. This method rolls multiple debts, like credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills, into a single, easier-to-manage payment. It’s not just about simplifying; it can also save you money if done right.

For example, imagine you have three credit cards with interest rates ranging from 18% to 25%. By consolidating those balances into one loan with a lower interest rate, you could save hundreds of dollars in interest over time. Plus, you only have one payment to track, not three.

There are several ways to consolidate debt. You might use a balance transfer credit card with a 0% introductory rate, a personal loan, or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Each option has pros and cons, so it’s essential to find what works for you.

Debt consolidation isn’t a magic fix. It works best when paired with a plan to manage spending and avoid new debt. But with the right approach, you can take control of your finances and start building a better future.

Contact Us Today! 

Would you like more information on how you can consolidate your debt? Contact us today to find out more about how to turn your debt into your friend instead of your enemy! 

Free Tools For You! 

We also have free tools available! Accelerate Debt Payments Calculator to see which debt option is best for you! 

Learn more!

Visit our YouTube channel to learn more about using debt instead of letting debt use you!

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