Debt is something that can be easily compared to weight loss. You see, when you have a massive weight loss goal, you want to get rid of it all at once. However, that’s just not the way weight loss works. You have to focus on the small victories in order to see the large victory take shape. You have to step back and think about all of the things that you actually want. You have to realize that it’s really all about getting to that end goal — by any means that you can think of. You don’t want to sit there thinking that you’ll never get the weight goal accomplished, and you definitely don’t want to think that you’re never going to become debt-free. A lot of people scoff at the concept of “debt freedom”, but the truth is that debt can be like a weight dragging you down deeper and deeper until you can’t even see the light. If you step back and make smart debt reduction choices, you’ll eventually get what you really crave.

Here’s the best way to go — the debt reduction snowball. Think about it — if you’re like most people, you’re going to be thinking about debt in terms of the biggest, baldest monster out there. That process can work for some people, but the truth is that if you’re like other people, your confidence might not be the best. Think about it — you’ve probably had this debt for years and years and it never seems to really go away. If you’re tracking your net worth, it means that you don’t seem to ever get out of the negatives, even by a bit. Yet now is the best time to start thinking in a new direction. You should actually focus on the smallest bills you have and then make plans to take care of them. It could seem silly at first, but it just might be the gateway to getting the confidence that you desperately need. It’s tempting to think that you’re in control… and then you flip out when you see exactly how much you owe. Instead of panicking, it’s time to remind yourself that this is just something that you have to do is you really want to make sure that you’re going to be okay in the end. It can be hard to face that debt and realize that some of it might be out of your control, but much of it is the spending habits that you have in your life. In order to get out of debt and stay that way, you are going to have to realize that you cannot spend your money on frivolous things that have no value at all. That’s only going to make it harder and harder to actually get anywhere in life. It’s a lot smarter in the long run to make sure that you truly stay focused on your main goal.

So let’s talk about that snowball more, shall we? It’s all about paying the lowest bill first. Yu can take extra money from raises, birthdays, Christmases, or even tax refund money and apply it to the smallest bill. The next month when you get the statement that says you have a zero balance, you need to post it on your fridge. Circle the “zero” amount. Realize that you accomplished something.

As you move through the ladder of debts, you’ll realize that you really do have the power to achieve much in your life. You really do have the power to get out of debt. Above all, that’s the lesson that you need to learn. You should also try to join a support group where people like you are all trying to do the same thing. It’s just something that you will need to think about in the long run — if you’re not careful you’re going to end up being unable to get anywhere with respect to your goals.

You have the power to do so much, but the question is whether or not you’ll actually step up and seize the life that you want. It can be hard to see life after debt if you’ve had it for so long. But trust us — a debt-free life isn’t an illusion, but a reality that you can claim for yourself!