Following and sticking to a debt relief plan for the long haul can be a daunting thought and one that discourages some people from even getting started. Getting out of debt does indeed take a lifestyle change with careful planning and discipline to accomplish, but there are some mental tricks to help you along.
Get Excited About Becoming Debt Free
It’s important to invoke excitement and even passion about paying off your debt. If that emotion isn’t present, chances are the debt relief plan will fail. It’s like exercising….it gets boring after awhile, so you must keep the interest alive no matter what.
Read Dave Ramsey’s ‘Total Money Makeover’ for inspiration. There are plenty of other good books regarding the nuts and bolts of debt relief, but Ramsey’s book will light a fire within you to anchor your resolve.
Another excellent read is ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill. Even though it was first published in 1937, it is still the best book around regarding the mental game of dealing with money. The text is now public domain and can be downloaded on the internet for free. This book is a mind shifting experience for many people.
If these two books don’t get you motivated, then try to find something that will.
Create Incentives to Maintain Interest
Not only should you keep a strict budget while on a debt relief plan, it is helpful to be a little obsessive about tracking your progress. This maintains focus so you don’t find yourself drifting back to old habits.
Charts: Excel power users can create any number of charts to track pay-off progress. Print them out and tack them to the wall or refrigerator for all to see. You can also hand draw a thermometer chart with tick marks representing dollars. Color the areas red as they are paid off until you hit zero – debt free at last!
Blogging: Sign up for a free blog on HubPages or Squidoo and blog about your debt relief plan journey. You can write under another name if you wish to remain anonymous. Keeping track of paying off debts in the public eye is enjoyable and you’ll get support from others in the community.
Online Forums: Free online forums dedicated to debt relief can be found just by doing a search. Join one that appeals to you and check in regularly to share good tips on budgeting and saving money. Reaching out to others goes a long way in keeping motivated enough to finish the journey.
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