We have come a long way in the last few emails. If you have followed my steps, you are now either moving quickly on paying down your debt or wishing you had never come into contact with me. I hope it is the first one and you are making significant progress in your quest to get out of debt.
I know, first hand, that it is tough. You see, I was right where you are. I was a slave to the debt master until I finally decided that I was finished. Once I learned that I was losing at the game, I decided to make the change.
It would be nice to tell you it was a simple process and it will not take you any time to get to where you want to be. If I said that, I would be lying. Lying – just like the commercials you see on TV promising to eliminate your debt. They can not do anything like that without really putting you into a very bad position.
There is only one sure way to get out of debt and, hopefully, you started doing it four emails ago. That one sure way is to stick with it. Using all the previous steps and just sticking with it will make sure that you are successful. This final step is, simply, sticking with the plan and task.
Some people will ignore the four previous steps and will be exactly where they were, or worse, in five years, in ten years and beyond.
Those that will be successful are those who stick with it. It eats at them and they must attack and never get up.
If I told you it is going away in six months to a year, you would know I would be lying again. It takes time and time will turn into success.
There are only three ways that will get you out of the debt mess you are in. All are available, but only one will work for you.
First, increase your income. Second, reduce your expenses. Or third and preferred – a combination of one and two.
By finding ways to increase your income and decreasing your expenses you will find it will help you stay with the plan and watch it working for you.
I am not talking about working two jobs for the rest of your life, but what if you put a goal in place to earn a specific amount of money to jump start your attack or to pay off one, some or all your debts – could you do that? Maybe work some overtime or even start a small business. There are many avenues to generate income and even more to reduce expenses.
One of the tougher areas is finding where to cut expenses. Here is a clue to help you decide – put everything on the table. Nothing should be too sacred as to not cut when your goal is getting out of debt.
When my wife and I started our path, we did not take a vacation for almost five years. Yes, we took time off and got away, but it was typically to a family members for a “visit” not a “vacation”.
Guess what? It helped us get out of debt faster. Going to Disney World – not us, we were getting out of debt once and for good.
Our closets were full of clothes. We did not need new clothes.
The amounts we spent on clothes were only spent because we HAD TO.
No new clothes….
Cable TV, phone extras, etc. there are many ways to cut you just need to find them.
The difference in those who succeed and those who did not is – sticking with it. Those that continue to hammer away out their debt will eliminate it. Those who chip away will have it forever.
Finally, look at the calendar. What is the date today? What will your debt balance be in one year? In five years? In ten years?
If you are aggressive in getting rid of this stuff in ten years the question would change to be – what do your assets look like?
Debt makes you give up money and things in your future. What are you giving up?
Why not call me on 1(866)369-5086 and benefit from a free 15 minutes consultation with me, you can ask any questions you have, and I’ll do my best to help you. NO charge.
Parkey Thompson
