If you want to get out of debt, you need a plan. This post is the first in a series that will show you the quickest way to get out of debt and get on with your life. You’re already off to a good start by taking the initiative to find this article.
Step 1 – Declare War on Your Debt
If you really want to get out of debt, you have to be committed all the way. It won’t be easy. It won’t be quick. And it probably won’t be much fun (until you pay it all off). To reach your goal of becoming debt free, you must promise yourself that you’re not going to give up until you’re finished.
Give your debt an ultimatum. Declare war! Proclaim doom and destruction on your debt. Write it down if you need to. This might sound silly, but my point is that you can’t accomplish your goal if you go at it halfheartedly. You need to be enthusiastic about your choice to get out of debt if you want to last until the end.
So that’s your first step. That’s all you need to do right now. Commit to getting out of debt. Declare war on your debt!
Stay Tuned!
If you want to keep getting tips on how you can get out of debt and manage your personal finances well, make sure you sign up for free updates to Provident Planning! I’ll be continuing this series throughout the year while I also explore other aspects of dealing with your money.
Let me know if you’re committed to getting out of debt by leaving a comment below!
Paul Williams is a fee-only financial planner in Lancaster County, PA. He has a passion for teaching others about personal finance - especially from a Christian perspective. If you'd like to learn about his financial planning and tax preparation services, click here. If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in:
- How to Get Out of Debt: Step 2 – Stop Increasing Your Debt
- How to Get Out of Debt: Step 7 – Focus on Paying Off Your Debt
- How to Get Out of Debt: Step 5 – Build a Starter Emergency Fund
- How to Get Out of Debt: Step 4 – Find Ways to Cut Back & Earn More
- How to Get Out of Debt: Step 6 – Make a Plan to Pay Off Your Debt
January 13th, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Paul,
Absolutely right on! I don’t know of anyone who was able to kick the debt without becoming emotionally involved. Your phrase “Proclaim doom and destruction on your debt” sums it up and (although probably unintended) caused me to chuckle a bit. Great use of words.
This is the first time I have been here and I like what you are doing. Your list of over 1000 bible verses about money is incredible. I signed up for your RSS feed and am looking forward to more great content.
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January 13th, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Hey, Joe! Thanks for your comment.
I might have gotten carried away with the phrasing, but you got the point.
You’re going to find more success if you’re passionate about getting out of debt. If you hate your debt, you’re going to do everything you can to get rid of it.
I’m glad you like the site and the Bible verse page. It took a lot of work, but I think it can be helpful as Christians study God’s Word on personal finances. Let me know if you find anything I should add there. And thanks so much for subscribing!
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January 15th, 2010 at 9:59 PM
“Let me know if you’re committed to getting out of debt by leaving a comment below”
Amen Brother.
Best to never get into debt.
When you are in debt you are a slave.
Daddy Paul´s last blog ..Use your credit card to your advantage
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Paul Williams
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January 15th, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Thanks for your comment, Paul! It’s definitely best to avoid getting into debt if possible. Blessings!
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June 1st, 2010 at 9:25 PM
I’ve been declaring war on debt about 6 years now. $2100 to go… it’s not easy… paying off debt and avoiding it is an uphill battle. Totally against what our culture teaches us.
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Paul Williams
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June 1st, 2010 at 9:51 PM
Great, Arthur! Sounds like you’ve made quite a bit of progress despite the long struggle. We most often hear the success stories of how people pay off $30,000 in debt in only 6 months (or some other amazing feat), but the majority of people will be in a long battle to overcome their debts. Let us all know when you’ve paid the rest off!
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