Today, it is simple to apply for credit cards and loans. Plenty of people own more than one credit card. As long as you can maintain a good credit rating, you are able to borrow money to help support the lifestyle you want to live. Because it is so easy to get money, people tend to spend more money. Oftentimes, it is more than a person can afford. This results in a lot of debt problems for people, especially with credit cards. Some people consider themselves sinking in a whirlpool of debt.

If you have a lot of debt and want to make your financial situation better, below are four easy ways you can do it.

1. Learn More About Your Expenses

We all have a rough idea about how much we spend each month. We get bill statements, receipts, grocery lists that remind us of all we have to spend monthly. If you want to gain better control of your expenses and pay off debt, study your costs. Sit down and list out all of your monthly bills including your cell phone, credit card, electric bill, water bill, insurance…everything!  Add in your gas, haircuts and food budget as well. Don’t forget all those little expenses like magazine subscriptions, those cute little Disney checks and even those daily runs to Starbucks!  Think of everything, and write it all down.

2. Learn to Live Within Your Means

Compare your expenses to your monthly income and understand how much you can live with. Make a budget for everything, and decide how much of your income you can afford to spend. Review where all your money is going so that you can make wise choices about the purchases that are necessary and the ones that are not. If some of your expenses are not necessary, like that $2.50 cup of coffee on the way to work, cut it out. If you have to cut out that gym membership, so what? It is your money and your business. Use that extra money to pay down your debt.

3. Earn Extra Income

Oftentimes, the best way to get extra money is by working an extra job. Extra money is used to pay off your debt. Try to get a job selling, freelancing or waiting tables. Look around the house for things you no longer use to sell online. Market any skills you have, and bid on projects you can do for extra money.

4. Minimize Using Credit Cards

It is far too easy to hand the cashier your credit card to pay for something. Try using just one card or no cards at all. Put the rest away so that they are not with you when you leave the house. Pay cash for the things you need, and your credit cards and debt will begin to get paid off.

Any extra money you make should be put towards your debt. Controlling finances is a tedious job, but you will begin to see how good it feels when you are on your way to becoming debt free.

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written by:  Hannah Whittenly

Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer from Sacramento, California. A mother of two, Hannah enjoys writing on blogs of all niches.