Get Out of Debt NOW

Have you ever been debt free? Most of us can answer that question with a "No". Have you ever tried to get out of debt? Most will answer the same.

There once was a time I only had a small property payment and a car loan. That was the closest to being debt free that I've ever been. I have never been fully debt free since I got out of high school. After listening to Dave Ramsey, he makes the plan very simple to get out of debt. Most people don't try hard enough to get out of debt. This is a serious problem. Often, the majority of the people in North America are making purchases using their credit card and have no savings for their retirement. You have to quit being a slave to your creditors and take control over your life.

If you focus on your debt by putting a budget together that's easy to manage, you will be surprised how much money you have to put extra towards your bills. I started the Dave Ramsey baby steps. This included putting your income and all your debts on paper before the month begins. I was surprised that I had more money that I was spending each month than putting towards debt.

Like most people, I have debt. I have two car payments, a mortgage, and three credit cards. Each month I would pay the minimum and sometimes more but realize I could have been putting a lot to our debt. I started making my money work for me and applying all my extra cash to my smallest debt. One of the new cars we purchased in July will be paid off this month. My car loan was on a 5-year note and I'm paying it off within 7 months of my purchase.

I have talked to many people who are in bad shape with their credit and debt and can't make ends meet. When I tell them about the plan, they say they're interested but don't want to do what it takes to sacrifice so they can win later. You see them going out to eat or making unnecessary purchase.

Getting out of debt is not easy. You have to give up the extra spending for a while. The best part is you get to spend and give a lot more, later after you get your creditors out of the way. Since I started on his plan, I have made great strides to financial freedom.

We expect to have everything but our house paid for by the end of 2008. For some of us, it might seem we have a long way to go and give up easily. Don't give up. It's worth it. I look forward to 2009 with a lighter burden and more financial freedom.

Read a few of my articles about a class of Dave Ramsey's that I took called Financial Peace University. If you have any questions, send me an email and I'll respond to your question in an article for others to see. If you want to remain anonymous, just notate that and I'll make sure I do.