"Debt Diet"
Even though we’re spending less and saving more than we used to, new statistics show we still owe an average of $16,000 per person in credit cards and loans! That’s why a growing number of people are going on a so-called “debt diet.” Want to try it? Follow these tips from Yahoo Finance money expert Laura Rowley:
1.Debt Diet tip #1: Make a list of all the things you truly VALUE in life. For most of us, the list will include things like our family, house, job, and our health. What it probably won’t include is a fancy new smart phone, or 20-inch rims for the car! Rowley says once you start thinking in terms of what’s really valuable, then you’ll be less likely to spend money on what’s not.
2.Which brings us to Debt Diet tip #2: Scrutinize every dollar you spend. As an example, consider what happened to a single Mom named Leah West. She recently went through a stack of receipts she’d saved from a local convenience store – where she often stopped to pick up last-minute snacks for her kids or bottled water to take to the gym. She discovered she’d been spending over $4,000 a year on stuff she really didn’t need. That’s money she could have used to remodel her home, or start a college fund.
3.The next Debt Diet tip: Have a plan. Rowley says a lot of people overwhelm themselves with long lists of money goals, but all you really need are three manageable goals – like paying off your credit cards, building an emergency fund, or saving up for a new car. She says credit card debt should absolutely be your top priority, because of all the money you pay in interest.
4.One more Debt Diet tip: Keep a gratitude journal. Rowley says writing down the things you’re grateful for each day will remind you that you’re richer than you think. Plus, it’ll show you that you probably already have everything you need, so you won’t be tempted to splurge on all those things that put you in debt in the first place.
