290. Study Hall: Credit Card Debt

In this edition of Study Hall, I'm compiling all of our best credit card debt advice into one place so you can stop Googling in a shame spiral at 2 a.m. and actually understand what's going on with your debt. I'm breaking down how interest really works (and why credit card debt is uniquely expensive), walking you through step-by-step payoff strategies,  including the avalanche method, the Debt Free Guys' lasso method, and using personal loans to consolidate, and I'm finishing with some real talk about why shame is the worst debt payoff strategy on the planet. If you're carrying credit card debt and you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like it's somehow your fault: this episode is your starting line. Pay off credit card debt fast. Check your eligibility without it affecting your credit score. Go to ⁠herfirst100k.com/payoff⁠  to see if you qualify. Terms apply. 00:00 What makes up debt?  01:00 How credit card interest actually works 04:00 Why credit card debt compounds into a "slippery slope" 05:30 Paying down the principal to reduce total cost 06:30 Getting your debt payoff plan together 07:00 Step-by-step: list debts, calculate payments, find extra 08:30 The avalanche method explained 09:30 Tori's Toyota story: paying toward principal 12:00 The Debt Lasso Method with the Debt Free Guys 16:00 Why balance transfers only work with a real plan 18:30 Personal loans: what they are and why they work 22:00 Simple interest vs. compound interest for debt 23:00 Things to consider before getting a personal loan 25:00 When personal loans are NOT the right move 28:00 What personal loans should NOT be used for 29:00 Debt settlement and your rights as a consumer with Leslie Tayne, Esq. 31:00 The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 33:00 Tori's closing pep talk: debt is not a personal failing 35:00 Goal-setting hack: specific, timely, and mission-driven 37:00 Writing goals in past tense — the visualization hack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices