Steering away from direct payday loans is one of the best things you can do for your budget. If you are not scrambling to get fast cash because something extra popped up, then you are ahead of the game! Many people are living from paycheck to paycheck and find the need to apply for online payday loans when the expenses become too much to handle. It takes lots of hard work and dedication towards your finances to make changes for the better.
Here are 13 ways to help your budget steer clear of direct payday loans.
- Motivate yourself to pay off your debt. Keep a chart on the fridge or by your desk and keep track of the lowering expenses. Watching your debt fall before your eyes is a great way to keep yourself on track when tough days challenge your budget.
- Find a method to pay down your debt which fits your style. Some choose to attack the largest bill first, others go for the one with the highest interest rate and some like to stab at the small debt first for immediate results. Whichever you choose, stick to the plan. If you have an online payday loan as debt, the high interest attached to outstanding debt will be cumbersome if not taking care of right away.
- Finding an extra source of income to increase payments towards your debt is a great way to make your plan a quick success. Hustling some money on the side form selling things you do not need, babysitting, or doing odd jobs for friends or neighbors are quick cash to add on to your payments. Any bit of extra to lower the principle will help.
- Stop using your credit cards. Paying down your debt but creating more on another card defeats the purpose. Tuck them away and keep from using them while you work at ridding yourself of debt.
- Keep on track with reminders. Continue to make your payments on time even if they are the minimum ones. Set up reminders on your phone or computer so there is no freedom to forget your focus.
- Get your family involved with the plan. Have a meeting each month in order to keep the focus on cutting back. Let your family help make suggestions to new ways to cut back expenses. Keep tabs on the success rate, especially if children are involved. It will be good for them to learn how budgeting works.
- Take ownership of your deb problem. As easy as it is to blame the creditor, the temptations to spend more that you have was ultimately your decision. You made the decision to spend money on the credit cards or use direct payday loans in order to make ends meet. Many people are choosing and third party money without cutting back.
- Understand that debt is a problem. Creditors will not keep lending to you in order for you to keep spending. Using online payday loans when credit cards stop giving you access to cash is not helping the problem.
- Don’t forget interest rates on your debt only make matters worse. The balances will continue to grow with interest as they sit and remain unpaid.
- Read the fine print to any creditor contract. Whether a credit card or payday loan online contract. You need to be informed of your rights and consequences if you fail on your end of the contract.
- Keep additional fees from adding to your balance. Late payments, overdrafts, or spending more than your limit will attach fees to these balances. Even payday loans attach the fees to your payoff. These small amounts add up and just keep taking away from any progress you could be making in getting rid of debt.
- Paying minimum amounts is not going to get you anywhere. If you are focusing your entire extra on one card to lower the debt, then paying minimum on others is temporary. Eventually you will focus extra in order to pay the others off, one at a time.
- Just because your income may increase, your lifestyle costs do not need to. Having a few extra hundred dollars a month can help pay off debt or build a savings. It does not mean you are free to upgrade your car or cell phone, especially if you carry large debt. Prioritize your money; the perks can always come later.
