Step 1
Gather all your bills

Step 2
Put your bills in order, from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate (if the amount you owe is close in range). If the amount you owe varies then put your bills in order from highest amount owed to the lowest amount owed.

Step 3
Pay 4 times the amount you owe. If your bill is $25 a month, pay $100 if you can afford to, this will lower the amount of interest paid each month.

Step 4
Pay your debt on time to avoid late payment fees, this damages your credit report. If you cannot pay 4 times your monthly bill, than only pay what you can but no late payments

Step 5
When you are finish paying off one bill, transfer that money to the next bill plus any additional money you would have used to pay the second bill (ex. If you pay $100 a month on one bill and you allocated $25 dollars on another bill, once you are finished paying off your $100 a month bill, add that $100 to your other bill, which is $25 dollars, and pay $125 on your second bill etc.)

Tip 1- See where you can cut cost (for example, if you have cable television then switch to basic cable and put that money towards your bill or if you use a cell phone and a landline-cancel your cell phone membership and use your landline). Alternatively, if you have a new cell phone contract, then cancel your landline and only pay for your cell phone.

Tip 2-If you need an emergency phone get a prepaid phone and only use that for emergencies

Tip 3-Consider using online banking to avoid late payment.

Tip 4-Use Quicken free software for personal finance management

Step 1
Get your credit report. You can go to freecreditreport.com (tip-After you get a copy of your credit report, contact customer service at freecreditreport.com and have them cancel your account, if you forget to do this they will bill you every month. It is only free for the first month)

Step 2
Go over your credit report and make sure that everything is correct. Write down the name of the companies you still owe money.

Step 3
Contact these companies and find out if they still have your account. If your account is with a collection agency, contact them and find out how much they will settle for. You can also tell them how much money you have or how much you can afford to pay per month and work out a deal of how you will settle your debt.

Step 4
After you pay off your debt, write to the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion- you can find these reporting agencies address on your credit report), and send them a copy of your receipt showing that your debt is paid in full and your credit score will improve. (Tip-For faster results, request that your “paid in full” receipt is faxed or emailed to you).

Tip 1
Consider writing down your salary and your expenses (this is a good way to see what you can put away in a savings account or with the economy and banks situation you may opt for mattress savings inc).

Tip 2
Give yourself an allowance and leave the credit cards at home

Tip 3
Take a bag lunch to work and skip going to lunch with co-workers or go to lunch with co-workers once a week instead of everyday

Tip 4
When getting gas, only use the self-serve this way you can manage how much money you use on gas. When you use full service, you will pay more

Tip 5
When food shopping always have a list to keep you from impulse buying and never food shop on an empty stomach. Make sure you only clip coupons for things you already use and do not get coupons for something just because it is on sale.

Tip 6
Find out if the company you owe will debit your account each month-this is a good way to ensure you do not get late fees ***you only have to set it up once***

Tip 7
Do not use checks to pay for your bills, unless your checks are free. Contact the company you owe and pay over the phone using any free service they offer for payments (not all payments over the phone are free)

Tip 8
Set up a triple pay for your phone, cable and internet. Look for bundles in your area. Cablevision and Verizon offers bundles (contact your cable provider to find out if they have any discounts or bundles)

Tip 9
Periodically check your bills to make sure you are not being billed for a service you did not ask for because sometimes the Phone Company or Cable Company will charge you for things without your permission.

Tip 10
Consider quitting an expensive habit like smoking, excessive drinking, or excessive caffeine consumption

Tip 11
In the fall try using your lawn mower, instead of raking, it will save you time, aches and pain and money on trash bags. When you mow over the leaves they turn into mulch for your lawn.