Getting out of debt faster has been this nagging thing in my head lately, like, seriously, with all the crap going on in 2025 – inflation still biting, credit card rates through the roof, and me staring at my bank app at 2 a.m. wondering where it all went wrong. I’m sitting here in my cramped apartment in Chicago right now, snow piling up outside (it’s January, duh), nursing a lukewarm coffee that’s gone cold because I forgot about it again, and yeah, my own debt story is kinda embarrassing. Back in 2023, I racked up like $18,000 on cards alone – dumb stuff, like takeout every night during a rough breakup, that “emergency” vet bill for my dog that turned out to be way more than expected, and honestly, just not paying attention. Felt like I was drowning, y’know? But lately, I’ve been getting out of debt faster than I ever thought possible, down to about $6,000 now, and it’s messy but real.
Why Getting Out of Debt Faster Feels Possible Right Now (Even in This Economy)
Look, American debt is nuts – we’re talking over $18 trillion total household debt in late 2025, with credit cards hitting $1.23 trillion. Average person’s carrying around $105,000 in total debt, and credit card balances averaging $6,500 or so. Me? I was right there, feeling like a total failure. But trends show folks are prioritizing getting out of debt faster this year – paying down high-interest stuff first because rates are brutal, like 22% on cards. I remember last winter, scraping ice off my car in the freezing wind, thinking “this sucks, but those minimum payments suck more.” Anyway, I started small, cutting dumb subscriptions (bye, three streaming services I never watched), and it snowballed from there – pun intended.
My Take on the Debt Snowball Method for Getting Out of Debt Faster
Okay, confession: I tried the debt snowball first because I needed those quick wins, bad. List your debts smallest to largest, pay minimums on everything else, throw everything extra at the tiniest one. Mine started with a $500 medical bill that was haunting me – paid it off in two months with side gigs driving Uber on weekends (exhausting, but hey, podcasts kept me sane). Then rolled that payment into the next, a $1,200 card. Felt amazing, like, “holy crap, I’m actually getting out of debt faster.” But yeah, it wasn’t perfect – I ignored higher interest at first, paid a bit more overall. Still, for a flaky person like me, the motivation was everything. Dave Ramsey swears by it, and honestly, it worked better than staring at the big ones forever.
- Paid off three small cards in under a year
- Built momentum, stopped impulse buys (mostly)
- But yeah, interest added up on the big ones – lesson learned
Switching to Debt Avalanche When I Wanted to Get Out of Debt Faster (and Cheaper)
After those wins, I got greedy – switched to avalanche, targeting highest interest first. My one card at 24% was killing me, so I attacked that beast. Mathematically smarter, saves on interest long-term. Paid it down aggressively, and wow, the numbers dropped quicker than expected. But it took longer for that “paid off” rush – months before a full zero balance. Kinda contradictory, right? I love the snowball psychology but hate extra interest. Now I hybrid it: small wins first, then avalanche the rest. Getting out of debt faster means mixing what keeps you going.
How Debt Consolidation Helped Me Get Out of Debt Faster (No BS)
This was a game-changer, seriously. I consolidated a chunk into a personal loan at like 10% instead of 22% – one payment, lower rate, breathing room. Shops like National Debt Relief or nonprofit counselors helped negotiate (check CFPB for legit ones). Also snagged a 0% balance transfer card for 18 months – paid principal only, no interest eating me alive. But fees sucked, and I had to qualify with decent credit. Embarrassing story: I almost messed it up by charging new stuff – learned the hard way, froze the cards in ice (literally, old trick). Now? Way further along in getting out of debt faster.
Side Hustles and Cuts That Accelerated Getting Out of Debt Faster
No sugarcoating: I hustled. Freelance writing gigs (ironic, huh?), selling junk on Facebook Marketplace – that old bike gathered dust forever, gone for $200 straight to debt. Cut eating out – now it’s sad PB&J lunches, but whatever. Budgeted like a maniac, tracked every penny (apps help). Surprising reaction? I kinda like the simplicity now, less stress shopping. But contradictions: I splurged on concert tickets once, set me back – human, y’all.
Wrapping This Up – My Flawed Path to Getting Out of Debt Faster
Anyway, rambling over – getting out of faster isn’t linear for me, full of slips and wins. But down huge, feeling cautiously free. If you’re buried like I was, start somewhere – list debts tonight, pick snowball or avalanche, maybe consolidate. Talk to a nonprofit counselor (free often), or just attack one bill. You got this, even if it’s messy. Hit me in comments with your stories – what’s working for getting out of faster? Let’s chat.