I, like many Americans, was fed the promise of going to school, taking out loans, and landing a successful job. But when the reality is long-term debt, am I really winning? The unfortunate reality for so many Americans is the weight of debt. Like a shadow you can’t shake, it follows you everywhere. For those like myself, the misstep was chasing the dream of higher education, hoping it would open the door to a career they’d imagined for years. For others, it was a health scare at the worst possible time. And for plenty of people, it’s the classic story of opening credit cards, treating them like free money, then maxing them out while trying to live above their means. No matter how it starts, it’s soul crushing to watch your hard earned money get swallowed by predatory interest. You can spend years paying on a credit card or student loan and still see the balance stay the same, or even climb higher. That kind of pressure doesn’t just hurt your wallet, it messes with your quality of life and blocks you from reaching your goals. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Your three digit score doesn’t have to define you, and this stage of your life doesn’t have to be your finish line.
According to Experian, the average total consumer household debt in 2024 is $105,056. That’s a 13% increase from 2020, and it shows how many Americans are still carrying more than they can comfortably handle. Rising costs of living, tuition that keeps climbing, and medical emergencies that can throw anyone underwater all play a major role. But for some people, debt grows for a different reason. Keeping up with the Joneses has gone from a phrase to a lifestyle, and social media makes it worse. Apps like TikTok and Instagram warp our sense of what’s normal, making constant spending on non essentials feel like self care. Eventually reality hits, and people recognize the pattern, but not before that mountain of debt has already formed. By then, it feels like a marathon with no end in sight.
For many, the hardest part is watching that three digit credit score drop into the red zone. It’s hard to work toward any goal when bad credit keeps shutting doors. You try to apply for a card, rent an apartment, finance a car, or take the next financial step, and the rejection keeps adding miles to your marathon. Debt and credit struggles can make you feel stuck at the starting line while everyone else is moving forward.
There’s no way around it, only through it. And like training for a marathon, the path out of debt isn’t about one heroic sprint. It’s about pacing yourself, building habits, and staying consistent even when progress feels slow. With enough practice, you can absolutely get through this. Here are 8 tips to help you move from surviving to finishing strong.
1. Write down everything you owe
Start by getting it all out of your head and onto paper. It’s far more overwhelming when debt lives as a jumbled mess in your mind. List every debt you have, including credit cards, student loans, car notes, medical bills, and anything else. Write down the balance, minimum payment, due date, and interest rate for each. Seeing the full picture can be daunting, but it’s like checking your route before a long race. You can’t train for what you refuse to look at.
- How high is your interest
Interest is the quiet thief that keeps people stuck, so it’s important to know exactly what you’re dealing with. Look at each APR and note which debts are costing you the most each month. High interest doesn’t just slow progress, it can make your balance grow even while you’re paying. Knowing your rates helps you prioritize where to put your energy first for a smooth and consistent path.
2. Figure out a plan
Debt doesn’t disappear just because you don’t want to deal with it. You need a strategy that fits your real life. Decide how much extra you can realistically put toward debt each month, even if it’s small. Then choose a payoff method and commit to it for a while before switching. Consistency beats perfection every time. Remember this is a marathon, not a race, and finishing depends on sticking to your plan long enough for it to work.
- Avalanche method
With the avalanche method, you pay minimums on everything, then throw your extra money at the highest interest debt first. This saves the most money over time because you’re cutting down the most expensive balances at the source. It can feel slower at the start if your highest interest balance is large, but mathematically it gets you to the finish line faster. If your goal is efficiency and you want to move quicker through the race, this method is for you. - Snowball method
The snowball method has you pay minimums on everything, but focus extra money on your smallest balance first. Those quick wins build momentum and confidence, and motivation matters more than people admit. Once that smallest debt is gone, you roll that payment into the next smallest, and so on. If motivation is the hardest part, snowball can be the boost you need. - Debt consolidation
Consolidation means combining multiple debts into one payment, ideally with a lower interest rate. It can simplify your life and make the payoff process feel less chaotic. Options include balance transfer cards, personal loans, or refinancing. Just make sure it’s realistic for you. Consolidation only works if it reduces cost or stress, not if it gives you room to rack up more debt.
3. Set up a budget
Budgets aren’t punishment. They’re permission slips for your priorities. Map out your essentials like housing, food, and bills, then decide what’s left for debt, saving, and living. Even a loose budget helps you stop leaking money in places you don’t notice. A budget is your training schedule. It gives every dollar a job and keeps you steady when the week gets tough.
4. Keep utilization low and keep balances low
Credit utilization is a big factor in your score. It’s how much credit you’re using compared to your limit. Try to keep each card below about 30% utilization, and lower if possible. High balances signal risk to lenders, even when you’re paying on time. Small, steady reductions here the consistent training runs, tedious but necessary. They build your credit strength faster than you’d expect.
5. Add positive payment history
Your payment history is the loudest part of your credit story. Set autopay for at least the minimum if you can, so you never miss a due date. Even one late payment can drag your score down hard, while consistent on time payments build trust over time. Think of it as stacking miles. Every payment is another step toward proving you can go the distance.
6. Weekly check ins
Make your credit journey something you touch regularly, not something you avoid until it’s “bad enough.” A weekly check in can be simple. Look at balances, confirm payments posted, and review where your spending went. This keeps surprises from piling up and helps you adjust early. Progress happens in the small check ins, the same way a marathon is won mile by mile.
7. Be patient
Credit repair and debt payoff aren’t overnight transformations. Your score might dip before it rises, and some months will feel like nothing changed even when you’re doing everything right. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re in the middle miles, where real endurance is built. Stay consistent long enough and the numbers will catch up to your effort.
8. Don’t stop living your life
You’re paying off debt to get your freedom back, not to put life on pause forever. Leave room for joy, even if it’s small. After each milestone, celebrate in a way that doesn’t sabotage your progress. A dinner out, time with friends, a hobby, a day trip. Something that reminds you why you started. If the process feels like constant suffering, it becomes harder to sustain, and no one finishes a marathon by hating every mile.
The hardest part is getting started. Once you build some momentum and it becomes a habit, it won’t seem so scary. It may also be scary thinking about the large chunk of time it will take to pay off your debt. But remember that the years will go by anyway, so why not make a dent in your debt in the process? It’s a marathon after all, slow and steady wins the race.
Sources
- Experian, Consumer Debt Study (2024)
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), The Burden of Medical Debt in the United States (2024)
- myFICO, What’s in Your Credit Score? (2024)
