6 Quick Ways to Save Money, Even When You're Deep in Debt (2024)

6 second take: There are ways to save money, even as you pay down your debt. Here are a few budgeting tips to help you along the way.

You know you have to save money. But it can be daunting, especially if you’re struggling with debt. There are quick ways to save money, despite being cash-strapped. Whatever amount you stash away, it’ll be a huge help in the long run.

To help you get started, you first need a budget.

What Should a Budget Look Like?

When creating a budget, you’ll have to start with a proper self-assessment of your financial condition, cut corners on expenses, and lead a frugal life.
6 Quick Ways to Save Money, Even When You're Deep in Debt (1)

Add Technology to Your Financial Planning

Ifyou’reindebtdue to undisciplined spending, thenyoucan add technology to your money-saving strategy to help you save money better and more quickly. Apps can help you automate your budget, savings plan, and spending habits. Some of the more prominent ones are Mint, You Need a Budget (YNAB), BillTracker, Ibotta, GoodRx, and so on.

Get Help With Budgeting Today —Download the Personal Finance App Here >>

Quick Ways to Save Money

Once you’ve laid the groundwork to save more money, here are some quick ways to put your plans into action:

6 Quick Ways to Save Money, Even When You're Deep in Debt (2)1. Shop at the Cheapest Grocery Stores

Groceries aren’t cheap. And retail food prices are skyrocketing. Another easy way to save money quickly is by cutting down on the amount you spend on your weekly shop. Some stores maysaveyoumore on groceries than your nearest Walmart. Here are some of the places with the most affordable deals:

  1. WinCo
  2. Aldi
  3. Sprouts and Fresh Thyme
  4. Salvage grocery outlets
  5. Trader Joe’s
  6. Fairway

2. Reduce Your Bills

You can increase your savings by cutting down your various outstanding monthly bills. Cut out items that take up a large share of your paycheck. These could include cable TV, Netflix, gym membership, phone service, and so on. Ask yourself, “Do I need these services at all?” If you answer no, then stop wasting your money on them.

Next, identifywaysto reduce the charges of servicesthat you need to keep and pay for. For instance, ifyouuse credit cards, youcan contact your card issuer to check out whether or not the company would be willing to slash the rate on your balances.

Save on Your Bills and Manage Unwanted Subscriptions — Sign Up Here >>

3. Increase Your Insurance Deductibles

This is another smart way to create an additional space in your budget and catapult your savings. Many people buy insurance, and it’s your choice whether or notyou’d like to keep it. But ifyou’re paying for insurance, why not raise the deductible? Doing this will dramatically reduce your insurance premium.

For instance, theInsurance Information Institutesays that ifyouraise your car insurance deductible, youcan reduce your premium by 15 to 40 percent, depending on how much you raise the deductible by.

And apart from that,youcan invest your money in a high-deductible health insurance plan to enjoymoreaffordable premium.To offset the higher deductible, youmight want to contribute a certain amount of your payroll deductions (a pre-tax money) towards a health savings account (HSA) and use it to pay for your out-of-pocket costs.

4. Wipe Out Your Debts

Never ignore the telltale signs. A small debtcan quickly balloon into a large, overwhelming amount through over-limit charges, late fines, and high interest rates. Paying offdebtshould be your top priority when setting your budget.

Consolidating your debt can helpyoupay it off easily, providedthat you have a steady source of income. But make surethat you always make the monthly payments on time.

Get a Free Debt Relief Consultation — Visit Site >>

Youcan also use one of twodebtrepayment strategies:

The ‘Debt Avalanche’ Method

You’ll have to pay back the highest-interest-rate debts first. This method will help you save hundreds — maybe even thousands — of dollars in the long run.

The ‘DebtSnowball’ Method

Using this method, you repay the smallest debt first. It will be easier to take care of that small amount. Plus, this will encourage you to continue making repayments.

Youcan choose anydebtrepayment methodyouwant, butmake sure to create a realistic plan to achieve your goals.

Allot separate funds for each category — groceries, monthly payments, medicines, leisure, etc. — to keep yourself from burning out.

5. KeepMoreFrom Your Paycheck

Ifyou’reliving from paycheck to paycheck, a tax refund can seem like a windfall. But your tax refund is basically an interest-free loan to the government. You’re allowing the Internal Revenue Service to withhold a large portion of your paycheck for way too long. Ask your employer for a fresh W-4 form to claim more allowances. This will reduce your taxes while increasing your savings.

Get the Most out of Your Refund — File a Free Federal Tax Return >>

6. Curb Your Impulses

The most important way to save money? If you're serious about saving money, change your impulsive “need it now” attitude. Choose financially rewarding ways to unwind or to feel better instead of trying to live someone else’s life. Put in extra effort to curbing your lifestyle inflation when you get a bonus or raise; adopt some frugal habits; and avoid trying to keep up with the Joneses.

6 Quick Ways to Save Money, Even When You're Deep in Debt (2024)

FAQs

How can I pay off $40 K in debt fast? ›

To pay off $40,000 in credit card debt within 36 months, you will need to pay $1,449 per month, assuming an APR of 18%. You would incur $12,154 in interest charges during that time, but you could avoid much of this extra cost and pay off your debt faster by using a 0% APR balance transfer credit card.

How can I save money fast with debt? ›

Here are some tips to help you get started:
  1. Create a budget. ...
  2. Prioritize your debts. ...
  3. Make more than the minimum payment on your debts. ...
  4. Consider debt consolidation. ...
  5. Set savings goals. ...
  6. Automate your savings. ...
  7. Cut back on unnecessary expenses.
Sep 19, 2023

How to pay $30,000 debt in one year? ›

The 6-step method that helped this 34-year-old pay off $30,000 of credit card debt in 1 year
  1. Step 1: Survey the land. ...
  2. Step 2: Limit and leverage. ...
  3. Step 3: Automate your minimum payments. ...
  4. Step 4: Yes, you must pay extra and often. ...
  5. Step 5: Evaluate the plan often. ...
  6. Step 6: Ramp-up when you 're ready.

How to pay off $20,000 in debt? ›

If you have $20,000 in credit card debt that you need to pay off in three years or less, you have multiple options to consider, including:
  1. Take advantage of a debt relief service.
  2. Consolidate your debt with a home equity loan.
  3. Take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards.
Feb 15, 2024

How long will it take to pay off $20,000 in credit card debt? ›

It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.

How to pay $60,000 in debt off? ›

Here are seven tips that can help:
  1. Figure out your budget.
  2. Reduce your spending.
  3. Stop using your credit cards.
  4. Look for extra income and cash.
  5. Find a payoff method you'll stick with.
  6. Look into debt consolidation.
  7. Know when to call it quits.
Feb 9, 2023

How to go from living paycheck to paycheck? ›

10 Tips to Avoid Living Paycheck to Paycheck
  1. Focus Funds on Fundamentals.
  2. Get Better Deals.
  3. Refinance or Repackage Debt.
  4. Downsize Big Expenses.
  5. Boost Your Income.
  6. Pay Yourself From Your Paycheck.
  7. Manage Impulse Spending.
  8. Delay High-Ticket Purchases.
Jul 27, 2023

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How much debt do most 30 year olds have? ›

Average debt by age
GenerationAverage total debt (2023)Average total debt (2022)
Millenial (27-42)$125,047$115,784
Gen X (43-57)$157,556$154,658
Baby Boomer (58-77)$94,880$96,087
Silent Generation (78+)$38,600$39,345
1 more row
Mar 28, 2024

What is the avalanche method? ›

In contrast, the "avalanche method" focuses on paying the loan with the highest interest rate loans first. Similar to the "snowball method," when the higher-interest debt is paid off, you put that money toward the account with the next highest interest rate and so on, until you are done.

Is 15k debt a lot? ›

$15,000 can be an intimidating total when you see it on credit card statements, but you don't have to be in debt forever. If you're struggling to make your minimum payments every month and you don't see light at the end of the tunnel, sign up for a debt management program to get out of debt fast.

How to get out of debt when you are broke? ›

Sign up for a debt relief program

Those options usually include: Debt consolidation loan: You may qualify for a debt consolidation loan that comes with a lower interest rate than you're currently paying. These loans also typically offer fixed payment plans and a clear path to debt payoff.

What is the 20 10 debt rule? ›

However, one of the most important benefits of this rule is that you can keep more of your income and save. The 20/10 rule follows the logic that no more than 20% of your annual net income should be spent on consumer debt and no more than 10% of your monthly net income should be used to pay debt repayments.

How to pay off $18,000 in debt fast? ›

7 ways to pay off debt fast
  1. Pay more than the minimum payment every month. ...
  2. Tackle high-interest debts with the avalanche method. ...
  3. Set up a payment plan. ...
  4. Put extra money toward paying off your debts. ...
  5. Start a side hustle. ...
  6. Limit unnecessary spending. ...
  7. Don't let your debt hit collections.
May 9, 2023

How long does it take to pay off $40,000 debt? ›

It will take 47 months to pay off $40,000 with payments of $1,200 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.

How to get out of $40,000 debt? ›

Options For Paying Off Substantial Credit Card Debt. There are a number of strategies to pay off large amounts of credit card debt. They include personal loans, 0% APR balance transfer cards, debt settlement, bankruptcy, credit counseling and debt management plans. You may be able to use more than one of these options.

How to pay off 50k in debt fast? ›

Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.

This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off.

How to pay off a $50,000 loan fast? ›

How to pay off a loan early
  1. Check if you have a prepayment penalty. ...
  2. Consider switching to biweekly payments. ...
  3. Make extra payments whenever possible. ...
  4. Adjust your budget to cut expenses. ...
  5. Bring in extra income. ...
  6. Think about refinancing your loan. ...
  7. Pros of paying off a loan early. ...
  8. Cons of paying off a loan early.
Sep 27, 2023

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