5 Ways to Reduce Your Personal Debt in Your 20s

Being in debt can leave anyone with a sinking feeling in their stomach. Struggling to go from day to day without a clue how to make ends meet can be devastating. However, there are ways in which you can reduce your personal debt while you are in your 20s to make life easier as you get older.

• Plan ahead

We have all been there before. You get in from college or work and simply cannot be bothered to cook. Looking in the refrigerator, you see a handful of ingredients, but no meal jumps out at you. Phoning for takeout is the easiest option for you. While it requires minimal effort, the impact on your bank balance can be significant. Before going out to do your food shop, write a meal plan for the coming week. Buy only what you need and don’t be tempted to get any extras just because they are on offer.

• Take things down a notch or two

While it can be liberating to go out on a regular basis and spend lots of money, both eating and drinking out, it can also start to take its toll on your bank balance very quickly if you are not careful. No one is saying to deprive yourself of taking part in activities you enjoy with your friends and family members. However, it is vital to seek moderation. The amount of money you would spend going out clubbing every weekend could be used to save and put towards the deposit on a house, for example. Think Save Retire also offers a wealth of advice with some particularly aimed at young people.

• Consolidate credit card and loan debts

If you have several credit cards or loans, it may be sensible to seek advice on whether you can consolidate these debts. Finding another credit card which has 0% interest and zero transfer fee could help you to reduce the amount you are paying each month. At the end of the free term, you could then transfer to another card.

• Use coupons

You do not have to be like the obsessed women on the TV shows to use coupons successfully to reduce your outgoings. Flick through the leaflets delivered to your house and cut out those which appeal. You could also ask your friends and family members to look out for certain deals for you too. Although you may not save hundreds, every little helps.

• Swap providers

Most people in their 20s do not own their own homes. However, renters or owners alike still need to fork out each month on bills. You may be paying out more money than you should be on your utilities. We highly recommend that you compare different providers when it comes to your gas and electricity, for example. Other things such as your cell phone contract could be reduced significantly while getting the same or an even better deal. There are a variety of comparison sites you can use to help you to do this.

Originally published at Trending Us.