Getting out of debt can be a very lonely and intimidating experience. But here's a shocking stat - almost 80% of Americans have some sort of debt & the average credit card balance stands at more than $5K.

But just because you're not the only one dealing with debt, doesn't mean that it's not important to set clear & manageable steps to become debt-free. So here's our step-by-step plan on how you can start your journey towards being debt-free:

<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Paying off debt can be easier if it's all in one place. Here are our top picks for companies that will help consolidate your debt.</div>

1️⃣ Assess your situation. Calculate how much total debt you have so you know what you're working towards.

2️⃣ Understand how much you can realistically put towards your debt. After your non-negotiable living expenses, how much do you have left to put towards your debt?

3️⃣ Use this calculator to get a realistic timeline & play around with some numbers.

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<div class="frich-tip">Congratulations on taking this first step towards becoming debt-free! Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter where we share actionable tips on all things money.</div>

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Frich-vetted tools to help you on your debt repayment journey

1️⃣ Debt consolidation options.

2️⃣ Companies that help you make quick cash.

3️⃣ Credit repair tools.