Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Everyone’s financial situation is unique, so be sure to do your own research and consider consulting with a financial professional before making any financial decisions.
Being a blogger is like being your own boss! You get to write about what you love and share it with the world. But sometimes, grown-up stuff like money can get tricky. Did you know that lots of blogs don’t last very long?
A big reason for this is debt. That’s when you owe money that you need to pay back. Some bloggers spend a lot of money on things like making their blog look cool or link-building, without a plan for how to pay it all back.
This article will help you be a super smart blogger by showing you how to take care of your money and avoid debt!
Understanding Your Debt
Uh oh! Looks like some money monsters snuck into your piggy bank! Don’t worry, we’ll scare them away together. First, let’s find out exactly how many monsters we’re dealing with.
Here’s what we need to do:
- Find your money papers! These are like detective clues that show where your money went. Look for things like credit card bills, school loan papers, or any other papers that show you owe money.
- Make a list of all the money you owe! Pretend you’re making a grocery list, but instead of food, write down all the money you owe to different people or places. Write down how much money you owe in total (balance), and the smallest amount you have to pay each month (minimum payment).
- Decide which monster to scare away first! There are two ways to pick your target: big monster or small monster. We’ll talk more about that in a bit!
Picking Your Debt Payoff Plan
Now that you’ve listed all your debts, it’s time to decide how to pay them off! There are two main ways of paying off the debt:
- Pay off the biggest amount you owe first. This means focusing on the debt with the highest total number.
- Pay off the smallest debt you owe first. This means focusing on the debt with the least total number.
The best way for you depends on what keeps you motivated.
- Do you like seeing quick wins? Pay off the smallest debt first to feel good about making progress quickly.
- Do you not mind waiting a bit to finish if it means saving more money in the long run? Pay off the biggest debt first to save money on interest (we won’t discuss and promote interest in this article, but it’s like a fee for borrowing money).
We’ll talk about ways to find extra money to pay off your debts even faster in the next section!
Building a Budget to Beat Your Debts
Now that you’ve got a plan to fight your debts, let’s build a super tool to help you win: a budget! Think of it like a treasure map that shows you where your money goes.
Here’s what we need to do:
- Track your money in and out! This means keeping a record of how much money you earn (income) and how much you spend (expenses). You can use a special app on your phone or a simple piece of paper, whatever works best for you.
- Needs before wants! Make a list of all the things you absolutely need, like food, rent, and clothes. These are your needs, and they come first! Then, make a list of things you’d like to have, but don’t necessarily need, like new games or going out to eat. These are your wants.
- Find more money to fight with! Think about ways you can earn extra cash to put towards your debts. This could be doing chores for someone, selling things you don’t use anymore, or even finding a part-time job.
By tracking your money, prioritizing needs, and finding extra cash, you’ll be well on your way to becoming debt-free!
Building a Bright Financial Future
Congratulations! You’ve conquered your debts and become debt-free! Now it’s time to celebrate and build a strong financial future for yourself.
Here’s how to keep your finances healthy:
- Party Time! Pat yourself on the back for your hard work! Becoming debt-free is a huge accomplishment, so take some time to celebrate and reward yourself.
- Build a Safety Net: It’s smart to have a safety net in case of unexpected expenses. Aim to save 3-6 months of your living costs in an emergency fund. This could be a separate savings account you don’t touch unless absolutely necessary.
- Dream Big! Now that you’re debt-free, you can start planning for your future goals. Maybe you want to buy a house or travel the world! Explore ways to make extra money that fit your life, like continuing your side hustle, finding ways to make money from your blog, or even starting to invest (we won’t go into details about investment planning here, but it’s a way to grow your money over time). And yeah, also consider working on passive income sources.
- Set Up Autopilot: Make managing your money easier by automating things. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account and schedule your debt payments to happen automatically each month. Invoicing services like Eemel can help with automating your invoicing and financial management, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting or falling behind.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a secure and bright financial future!
Conclusion
Being a blogger is awesome, but debt can make things tricky. This article showed you how to fight those debt blues by:
- Figuring out how much money you owe on different things.
- Picking a plan to pay it all back, either focusing on the biggest piles of money first or the smallest.
- Building a budget to track your money coming in and going out, so you can make sure your needs are met before your wants.
- Finding extra money to throw at your debts and become debt-free faster.
Remember, becoming debt-free is a big win! Celebrate your accomplishments and keep your finances strong by building an emergency fund, exploring ways to make more money, and setting up automatic payments.
By following these steps, you’ll be a financially healthy blogger ready to take on the world!
