How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt: Complete Guide to Getting Out of Debt Fast
Whether you're dealing with $5,000, $10,000, or even more in credit card debt, the situation can feel incredibly overwhelming and stresful. But here's the good news - you're not alone in this struggle, and with the right approach and strategies, paying off your debt is absolutely achievable!
First things first, let's acknowledge the fact that debt is very common. According to recent data, the average American carries $6,455 in credit card debt as of 2025 [1]. Understanding how much debt is normal can help put your situation in perspective.
However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't focus on paying off your debt. Getting stuck in an endless cycle of debt payments will hold you back from building a financially stable future. When you have credit card debt, it's important to create a plan to pay it off as quickly as possible. Credit cards typically have high interest rates that compound daily, meaning your debt continues to grow exponentially the longer you avoid it.
But the good news is, we're here to help you create a plan to pay off your debt fast! Here are Frich's steps to create an actionable plan to get rid of your debt ⬇️
1️⃣ Assess Your Debt
Start by looking at your credit card statement(s) to check:
- The total balance
- The interest rate (APR)
- The minimum payment amount
- The credit limit
Once you know these numbers, review your budget and figure out how much you can realistically put towards your debt each month.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Use our debt calculator to see exactly how different payments will affect your payoff timeline. The more you can dedicate to your debt, the better; even $50-100 extra can make a huge difference in how much interest you'll end up paying.</div>
2️⃣ Understanding Your Debt-to-Income Ratio
Calculate your debt-to-income ratio by dividing your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income. Financial experts generally recommend that your total debt payments shouldn't exceed 36% of your gross income. If your ratios are higher than these benchmarks, it's a clear signal that you need an aggressive debt payoff strategy.
<div class="frich-tip">Learn more about how your credit score works and how it impacts your debt options.</div>
3️⃣ Choose Your Debt Payoff Strategy
Now that you understand the full picture of your debt, it's time to choose the most effective strategy for paying off your balances. The two most popular methods are:
SNOWBALL METHOD: Focus on paying off your smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. Here's how it works:
- Continue making minimum payments on all your debts
- Put every extra dollar toward the account with the lowest balance
- Once that debt is eliminated, add that payment to the next smallest debt
Example: If you have three cards with balances of $1,200, $3,800, and $8,500, you'd focus all extra payments on the $1,200 card first.
The psychological advantage of this method cannot be overstated! Each paid-off account provides a motivational boost that helps maintain momentum.
AVALANCHE METHOD: Focus on paying off debts with the HIGHEST interest rates first. This method typically saves more money in total interest paid and can result in faster debt elimination from a mathematical standpoint.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Whichever method you choose, the most important factor is consistency! Learn more strategies for avoiding and repaying credit card debt. Setting clear financial goals helps maintain motivation throughout your journey.</div>
4️⃣ Cut Expenses & Find Extra Cash
Next you should find extra room in your budget to pay off the debt even faster. Some ideas for cutting back on expenses and earning extra money include:
- Pausing nonessential subscriptions: Audit your current subscriptions - streaming services, meal prep kits, subscription boxes etc. See if there are a few you can live without for the time being.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Rocket Money helps you find & cancel unused subscriptions quickly & effortlessly! Audit your subscription spending to find easy savings.</div>
- Limit eating out: Cooking meals at home is an excellent way to save over 50% on your food budget. Start meal planning every week, writing out your grocery list, and sticking to that list when shopping.
- Controlling impulse buys: Implement a 24-hour rule on any non-essential purchases. This gives you time to truly think about whether or not you need that item. Here's our quick guide on how to avoid spending money on dumb stuff:
- Sell items you no longer use: This is the perfect time to declutter your space and gather items you no longer use or need. Apps like Poshmark, Mercari, and Facebook Marketplace make it easy to sell items.
- Pick up a side hustle: Sometimes cutting out expenses can be difficult when you're already on a tight budget, but that doesn't mean you can't find extra cash elsewhere.
Master the basics with our comprehensive budgeting 101 guide and explore proven strategies for making extra money. Remember, these steps are temporary. The point is to dump any extra money you can towards your debt. Once your debt is cleared, you can reinstate your subscriptions and reintroduce your discretionary spending if it still aligns with your other financial goals.
5️⃣ Boost Your Income for Faster Results
While cutting expenses helps, increasing your income often provides a more sustainable path to debt freedom.
NEGOTIATE YOUR CURRENT SALARY: Before seeking additional income sources, maximize the earning potential of your current job. Research salary ranges for your position and prepare a compelling case for a raise. Document your accomplishments and quantify your contributions wherever possible. Learn how to negotiate a raise and discover advanced strategies for negotiating higher pay.
DEVELOP STRATEGIC SIDE INCOME: The gig economy offers numerous opportunities to generate additional income on your schedule. Discover profitable side hustles that can accelerate your debt payoff.
MAXIMIZE WINDFALLS: Tax refunds, work bonuses, and gifts represent powerful opportunities to accelerate debt payoff. Commit to applying at least 80% of any unexpected income directly to debt payments. Use your tax refund strategically for debt payoff.
KEEP AN EYE OUT ON HOW TO DECREASE YOUR BLLS: Find the best phone plan deals to reduce your monthly bills.
6️⃣ Lower Your Interest Rate (If Possible)
Another option is to try to lower the interest rate on your debt. Having a lower interest rate would mean more of your payment goes toward the balance instead of interest.
CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY: Many people don't realize you can actually negotiate your interest rate! Call your credit card issuer and politely ask if they can reduce your APR. If you've been a responsible customer (on-time payments, good credit history), they might lower it. Improving your credit score can help you qualify for better rates. Learn how to fix your credit score to access lower interest rate options.
CONSIDER A BALANCE TRANSFER CREDIT CARD: Some credit cards offer a 0% intro APR for 12-18 months on balance transfers. This means you could move your debt to a new card and pay it off interest-free during the promo period. Just make sure:
- You pay off the full balance before the promo period ends
- The balance transfer fee (usually 3-5%) doesn't outweigh the interest savings
- You don't rack up new debt on the old card
LOOK INTO A DEBT CONSOLIDATION LOAN: If you have decent credit, you could take out a personal loan with a lower interest rate (e.g. 7-12%) and use it to pay off your credit card debt. This turns multiple high-interest payments into a single, lower-interest payment, making it easier to manage.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Using a debt consolidation calculator can help you decide if a debt consolidation loan would be beneficial for you.</div>
7️⃣ Automate & Stay Consistent
Once you have a plan in place, it's time to set up automatic payments so you never miss a due date.
SET UP AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS: Configure automatic payments for all your debt accounts to ensure you never miss a due date. Don't just set up automatic minimum payments - automate your strategic debt payoff amounts as well!
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Consider opening a dedicated high-yield savings account specifically for debt payments. Set up a high-yield savings account for your debt payment fund.</div>
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Use apps and online tools to monitor your debt payoff progress and maintain motivation. Update your balances monthly and celebrate milestones along the way - paying off individual accounts, reaching halfway points, or achieving specific dollar amount reductions!
PREVENT NEW DEBT: The most critical aspect of debt payoff is ensuring you don't accumulate new debt while paying off existing balances. Build a small emergency fund of $500-1,000 while paying off debt. This buffer can prevent you from relying on credit cards when unexpected expenses arise. Learn how to build a robust emergency fund to prevent future debt accumulation. The most important thing is that you stay consistent and don't incur any additional debt.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF: Having debt can be really stressful. Remember, that our goal is to build long-term healthy money habits. So if you feel anxiety creeping in, take a look at our free resources on how to maintain your mental health during the debt payoff journey.
8️⃣ Build Your Post-Debt Financial Foundation
Successfully paying off your credit card debt is just the beginning of your financial journey!
ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY FUND: Once your debt is eliminated, redirect those monthly debt payments toward building a comprehensive emergency fund. Keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account that's separate from your regular checking account. Learn how to build a robust emergency fund after paying off debt.
START INVESTING: With your debt eliminated and emergency fund established, you can focus on building long-term wealth through investing. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, prioritize maximizing this benefit - it's essentially free money! Start your wealth-building journey with our investing crash course and plan for retirement savings.
AVOID LIFESTYLE CREEP: One of the biggest risks after paying off debt is immediately increasing your spending to fill the gap left by eliminated debt payments. Instead, maintain your debt-payoff budget for at least 3-6 months after becoming debt-free. Set new financial goals for your debt-free future and track your progress with financial milestones.
Once you pay off this debt, it's crucial to learn from the experience and avoid repeating the same mistake. Start planning for your financial future beyond debt & understanding how inflation affects your debt and savings can help you make better financial decisions in the future.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Prioritize having an emergency fund saved up, so an unexpected expense won't put you back into debt. Here are our favorite HYSAs to keep that emergency fund in.</div>
Btw - here's how others are doing 👀
Do you have credit card debt?
💸 32% Yes
👏 68% No
These numbers from our Frich community show that nearly one in three people are dealing with credit card debt, so you're definitely not alone in this! Remember that debt is normal, and with a solid strategy you will be able to overcome this and start building wealth for the future. For more comprehensive debt management strategies, explore our complete debt resource center.
The most important step in paying off credit card debt is simply getting started! Choose the strategy that resonates most with your situation and personality, then commit to taking action immediately. Whether you start with the debt snowball method, negotiate with your credit card companies, or implement aggressive expense cuts, the key is beginning your journey today.
