According to statistics, today the average American faces a higher debt load than ever before. As debt loads continue to spiral, people will find it more and more difficult to get themselves out of debt — an important goal for anyone who wants to retire safely, to make a major purchase of a house or car, or be financially secure. Following are some simple tips that can help you live the debt-free lifestyle you have always dreamed of.
1. Destroy the cards: this tip may seem simplistic, but for people facing heavy debt loads, the first step to the road to recovery is to stop incurring new debts. This can only be done by making sure you have no means to do so. An alternate strategy is to entrust a single credit card to a close friend or family member in case of an emergency, and to destroy the rest of your credit cards.
2. See a financial counselor: a financial counselor is a person specifically trained to help people with debt problems like yourself. They can help provide you with a step-by-step plan to recovery, as well as to provide some emotional support during the recovery process. In many cases, it can be free to see a debt counselor through a government...