How to Pay Off Debt Faster – Wells Fargo (2024)

Paying down your debt faster may help you get a head start on your goals, whether it’s applying for new credit, saving on the cost of borrowing, or just reducing your debt. Here are some strategies to think about when considering repayment plans that could help you pay your debt off faster.

Tips for paying off debt

Pay more than the minimum.

Pay off your debt and save on interest by paying more than the minimum every month. The key is to make extra payments consistently so you can pay off your loan more quickly. Some lenders allow you to make an extra payment each month specifying that each extra payment goes toward the principal. Before you begin, check the terms of your loan to determine whether additional fees or prepayment penalties may apply.

Pay more than once a month.

Pay your credit card bills more than the required once per month. This may make it easier to stay on track of how much you owe. Paying your credit card bill regularly may also lower your balance/utilization ratio. The credit utilization ratio is the percentage of your total available credit that is currently being used. The utilization ratio is one of the components used by credit reporting agencies to calculate your credit score.

Pay off your most expensive loan first.

Your most expensive loan is the loan with the highest interest rate. By paying it off first, you’re reducing the overall amount of interest you pay and decreasing your overall debt. Then, continue paying down debts with the next highest interest rates to save on your overall cost. This is sometimes referred to as the “avalanche method” of paying down debt.

Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.

This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off. Understand the pros and cons of this debt pay down strategy by reviewing the Snowball versus Avalanche methods of paying down debt.

Keep track of bills and pay them in less time.

Stay on top of your debt by using bill reminders and Online Bill Pay. Simply schedule the amounts you want to pay and when you want to pay them. You can also set up payment reminders and receive eBills from payees offering electronic billing.

Wells Fargo Online — Bill Pay

Options for paying off debt

Shorten the length of your loan.

Refinancing your debt to a shorter term may help you pay it off faster and save on the total cost of borrowing.You may be able to qualify for a lower rate, or a shorter or longer loan term, depending on your situation. Remember, shortening the term of your loan could increase your monthly payments.

Consider Refinancing

Consolidate multiple debts.

Loan consolidation may help you repay debt faster by combining several high-interest rate loans or credit card balances into one new loan ideally with a lower interest rate.

Credit score tip

Trying to eliminate all of your debt? Keeping credit accounts open, and paying the balances in full every month, may help you maintain or increase your credit score.

Next Step:
Understand the total cost of borrowing

When considering a new loan or restructuring your current debts, remember to consider your borrowing costs. Extending the term of your loan may lower your monthly payment, but you may pay more in interest over the life of the loan, increasing your total payments.

Learn more

Before you apply, we encourage you to carefully consider whether consolidating your existing debt is the right choice for you. Consolidating multiple debts means you will have a single payment monthly, but it may not reduce or pay your debt off sooner. The payment reduction may come from a lower interest rate, a longer loan term, or a combination of both. By extending the loan term, you may pay more in interest over the life of the loan. By understanding how consolidating your debt benefits you, you will be in a better position to decide if it is the right option for you.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

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As a financial expert with a deep understanding of debt management and personal finance, I can confidently discuss the strategies mentioned in the article to help individuals pay down their debt more efficiently.

Firstly, the article suggests paying more than the minimum monthly payment on loans, emphasizing the importance of consistent extra payments to expedite the debt payoff process. This approach aligns with the fundamental principle of reducing the outstanding principal amount, ultimately saving on interest payments.

The advice to pay credit card bills more than once a month is rooted in sound financial practice. By doing so, individuals can better track their outstanding balances and potentially lower their credit utilization ratio. This ratio, a key component in credit score calculations, can positively impact one's creditworthiness when kept low.

The article introduces the concept of paying off the most expensive loan first, known as the "avalanche method." This method strategically targets high-interest loans, minimizing the overall interest paid and accelerating the debt repayment journey. This aligns with the financial wisdom of minimizing interest costs to save money in the long run.

On the other hand, the article also mentions the "snowball method," where individuals start by paying off the smallest balance first and then rolling the payment to the next smallest balance. While this method may not be the most cost-effective in terms of interest savings, it provides psychological benefits by building momentum as smaller debts are eliminated.

Furthermore, the article recommends shortening the length of loans through refinancing, potentially qualifying for lower interest rates and reducing the total cost of borrowing. However, it cautions that this may result in higher monthly payments.

Debt consolidation is presented as another strategy, involving combining multiple debts into a single loan, ideally with a lower interest rate. This can simplify repayment and save on interest, but individuals are advised to carefully evaluate the terms and implications.

The importance of maintaining credit accounts, even when aiming to eliminate debt, is highlighted as a credit score tip. Keeping accounts open and paying balances in full can positively impact credit scores.

Lastly, the article emphasizes the need to understand the total cost of borrowing when considering new loans or restructuring existing debts. While extending the loan term may lower monthly payments, it could increase the total interest paid over the life of the loan.

In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of strategies for effective debt repayment, considering both financial and psychological aspects. Individuals are encouraged to assess their specific situations and financial goals before choosing a strategy that aligns with their needs.

How to Pay Off Debt Faster – Wells Fargo (2024)

FAQs

How can I accelerate my debt payoff? ›

Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.

This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off.

Does Wells Fargo penalize for early payoff? ›

Our personal loans require no prepayment penalty. You are welcome to pay off the loan at any time or pay more than the amount due. Any payment made greater than the amount due will be applied first to any outstanding interest or fees and then to your principal balance.

How to pay $5,000 off debt fast? ›

Debt avalanche: Make minimum payments on all but your credit card with the highest interest rate. Send all excess payments to that card account. Once you pay that account off, send all excess payments to your next highest rate. Repeat until all of your debts are paid off.

How can I pay off my debt quicker? ›

Pay more than your minimum balance

To positively impact your debt, it's a good idea to pay more than the minimum payment requirements. If you find that you are financially able to do so, paying more off each month could mean that you pay off your debts faster, and you'll pay less interest.

What happens if I pay an extra $200 a month on my mortgage? ›

If you pay $200 extra a month towards principal, you can cut your loan term by more than 8 years and reduce the interest paid by more than $44,000. Another way to pay down your mortgage in less time is to make half-monthly payments every 2 weeks, instead of 1 full monthly payment.

What happens if I pay an extra $1000 a month on my mortgage? ›

Throwing in an extra $500 or $1,000 every month won't necessarily help you pay off your mortgage more quickly. Unless you specify that the additional money you're paying is meant to be applied to your principal balance, the lender may use it to pay down interest for the next scheduled payment.

Can I work for Wells Fargo if I owe them money? ›

Yes, it reflects poorly on Wells Fargo as a company. There is a policy for employees that if you have a negative balance on any account, you are subject to termination.

How long will it take to pay off $20,000 in credit card debt? ›

It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.

How do I pay off debt aggressively? ›

Make debt payments beyond the minimum.

Making more than your required minimum payment can help you pay off debts more quickly and save money in interest charges. Earmark unanticipated funds, such as your tax return or a bonus, for debt payments.

Is 10k debt a lot? ›

What's considered too much debt is relative and varies by person based on the financial situation. There's no specific definition of “a lot of debt” — $10,000 might be a high amount of debt to one person, for example, but a very manageable debt for someone else.

How to accelerate a loan payoff? ›

Making extra payments or picking up a side job are just two of several different ways you can pay off a personal loan more quickly. You could save hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars' worth of interest over the life of a personal loan, especially if you're stuck with a bad credit personal loan rate.

How to quickly get out of debt? ›

List your debts from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate. Make minimum payments on each debt, except the one with the highest interest rate. Use all extra money to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate. Repeat process after paying off each debt with the highest interest rate.

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