5 Proven Strategies from Experts to Pay Off $30,000 in Credit Card Debt

In recent years, persistent inflationary issues have led to rising prices for many necessities, including gasoline, food, and housing. As a result, many households struggle to pay for these necessities and turn to credit cards to make up the shortfall. In fact, one in five credit card accounts is currently maxed out.

While credit cards can be used to cover basic household expenses, this type of borrowing usually comes with high interest rates. For example, the average interest rate on a credit card is currently 22.63% (as of July 9, 2024), but depending on the credit card and the borrower’s profile, card interest rates can be even higher.

As a result, paying off credit card debt can be difficult, especially if you have a large balance, such as $30,000 in credit card debt. With that much debt, it could take decades to pay off due to the effects of compound interest. But the good news is, experts say there are several strategies you can use to pay off $30,000 in credit card debt.

5 Expert Tips to Pay Off $30,000 in Credit Card Debt

Here are some expert strategies to help you pay off $30,000 in credit card debt.

Choosing a Debt Payoff Strategy

If you have additional funds beyond the minimum balance on your credit cards, consider a debt payoff strategy like the debt avalanche or snowball method.

The debt avalanche method focuses on making additional payments on the cards with the highest interest rates first, while making minimal payments on other balances.

The debt snowball method focuses on making additional payments on the credit cards with the lowest balances, while making minimal payments on other cards.

“Mathematically the debt avalanche method is better [because you can save the most on interest],” says Edward Zhexu Ai, assistant professor of finance at Wagner College.

But realistically, Ai says people need more motivation to cut spending and pay off debt on an ongoing basis. So if you’re motivated to keep paying off your debt quickly, the debt snowball method could be the perfect solution.

Leverage your home equity

If you’re a homeowner, you can leverage your home equity through a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) and use the funds to pay off some or all of your $30,000 in credit card debt. It could be a viable option, experts say.

For example, if you have good credit and are financially stable, Ai recommends taking out a home equity loan. These loans typically have lower interest rates [than credit cards] because they use your home as collateral.

But one of the biggest risks is that a home equity loan or HELOC uses your home as collateral. So if you can’t pay off your mortgage as promised, the lender could foreclose on your home.

Get a Debt Consolidation Loan

Another way to pay off your debt that can help you pay off the $30,000 is to get a debt consolidation loan. It is a type of loan that you can take out to pay off credit card and other debts. The main advantage of a debt consolidation loan is that it usually has a lower average interest rate than a credit card, reducing the interest you pay. You can also streamline your payments by consolidating multiple credit card balances into one loan.

Debt consolidation loans are usually available through banks, online lenders, or credit unions. Additionally, many debt assistance companies offer debt consolidation loans through their affiliated financial institutions.

If your credit is good enough and you can get a favorable interest rate on a new loan, Ai says this option may be worth considering.

Take advantage of credit card debt settlement

Many debt assistance companies offer credit card debt settlement, also known as credit card debt relief, as a service to their customers. With this option, the debt relief company negotiates with your creditors to reach an agreement for a lump sum payment that is less than the amount you owe.

If these negotiations are successful, your overall credit card debt payments could be significantly reduced. Although debt consolidation can significantly reduce your debt, it does have some drawbacks.

For example, settling your debt can leave a negative mark on your credit report, which is often worse than bankruptcy, says Glenn Downing, CFP at investment firm Cameron Downing. For this reason, his company doesn’t recommend taking this approach to get out of credit card debt.

Another downside is that canceling credit card debt often has tax implications.

“The forgiven amount would be considered taxable income. So having credit card debt forgiven could lead to a higher tax bill,” says Ai.

Use a stability switch credit score card

Another choice is to switch a few or all your credit score card debt to a stability switch credit score card. If you could qualify for the proper stability switch card, you may shop hundreds of bucks in hobby. After all, a few credit score card issuers have 0% promotional APR durations so long as 21 months — permitting you to aggressively pay down your stability with out extra interest.

According to Francisco Ayala, CFA and CFP at The Coleridge Group, a monetary making plans company, that is regularly the nice manner to lessen your hobby costs. That said, this feature does have a few ability downsides.

For example, credit score card issuers generally rate a stability switch price that degrees from 3% to 5% of the transferred amount. So, in case you transferred $15,000 of your credit score card debt to every other card, you may pay a stability switch price ranging from $450 to $750, relying at the price the cardboard charges.

Another downside is that when the promotional window closes, you`ll must pay any ultimate stability at the cardboard’s widespread rate, that is regularly high. So, in case you’re going to take this route, it is critical to have a plan in region to repay what you owe earlier than the promotional duration ends.

The backside line

Paying off $30,000 in credit score card debt isn’t anyt any smooth feat, mainly in today`s financial environment. But there are alternatives to gain debt remedy. For example, you can consolidate debt in your personal with a domestic fairness mortgage or non-public mortgage. Or, if you are having hassle making minimal bills in your cards, it would make experience to are searching for assist from a debt remedy company.

Whatever method you operate to pay down credit score card debt, it is important to check your price range to decide what were given you into debt withinside the first place. If the motive became horrific spending conduct or a loss of income, you may want to regulate your conduct or discover methods to reinforce your income. If the conduct isn’t always changed and coins flows are not improved, consolidation loans, stability transfers and different debt remedy alternatives are transient bandages which might be going to fall off at a few point, Edward Silversmith, CFP at monetary making plans company Wealth Enhancement Group, says.