“Debt is the biggest thief of your financial future.”

It’s impossible to build wealth when you’re in a cycle of never-ending debt. Find out how to manage your money the right way and get started on the life you were meant to live.

Debt is the biggest thief of your financial future.

It’s impossible to build wealth when you’re in a cycle of never-ending debt. Find out how to manage your money the right way and get started on the life you were meant to live.

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General Debt

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Articles

Your Debt Guide

Find out how to crush your debt fast, just like a snowball rolling downhill.

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The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

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Articles

Your Debt Guide

Discover the truth about credit cards and how you’re better off without them. 

Articles

The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

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Articles

Your Debt Guide

Getting rid of a car loan that’s strangling your budget is possible.

Articles

The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

Truck full of cash being hauled away

Articles

Your Debt Guide

Getting rid of a car loan that’s strangling your budget is possible.

Articles

The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

Articles

Your Debt Guide

Paying off your student loan may feel impossible. But you can do it—and fast!

Articles

The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

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Articles

Your Debt Guide

Receiving your medical bill can be as painful as the hospital stay. See what options will help ease your worry.

Articles

The Budget Calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay and boom—the calculator will use your income to fill out all the expense categories automatically.

No matter what type of debt you have, the journey to paying it off starts with a budget. Here are three steps that’ll put you in driver’s seat of your finances and future.

Step 1: Learn Why Budgeting Is Key to Getting Out of Debt

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Like a gas pedal to a car, a budget helps you get moving toward a debt-free life. And once you start budgeting, you’ll find more money you can use to pay off debt faster while keeping you on track with your other expenses. You’ll shift from wondering where your money went to having full control of your finances!

Common myths about budgeting are that it’s hard and it’s time-consuming. Not here! Check out how easy it is to build your budget. You really can do this!

Budget Calculator

Enter your income and the calculator will show the national averages for most budget categories as a starting point. A few of these are recommendations (like giving). Most just reflect average spending (like debt). Don't have debt? Yay! Move that money to your current money goal.

Income

Expenses

Difference

$0.00

Total Expenses

$0.00

Great start! What’s next?

Jump in and start playing with your budget. Everyone’s monthly budget is unique, and yours will be too (maybe you’ve got vet expenses or school supplies to buy). Making it 100% your own is key to helping you go from where you are right now to where you want to be.

Start Building Your Free Budget
EveryDollar App

Budgeting might feel a little out of your comfort zone. But don’t worry—the EveryDollar budget app makes it easy to build your budget and edit anytime, anywhere. And the best part? The app does all the math for you while you keep crushing your debt!

Need more guidance? We’ve got you covered. Choose how you like to learn, and we’ll point you to the right tools that’ll help you with budgeting and paying off debt. Or take our free money quiz to find out where you are with your finances and how to get where you want to be.

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Take the 3-Minute Money Quiz

Want to pay off debt but don’t know where to start? Answer a few questions to get a customized financial plan, along with free tools and resources.

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Listening Recommendation

The Ramsey Show serves up expert advice for life’s tough questions. Its caller-driven format inspires real-time discussions about managing money, work and relationships for people in all walks of life. You can tune in to The Ramsey Show daily to listen or watch. 

Viewing Recommendation

Break the Cycle is a free livestream that uncovers what’s really keeping you stuck in the same place financially. It has nothing to do with math and everything to do with your money habits. Learn how to break the cycle of never-ending debt and start building wealth.

Reading Recommendation

The Total Money Makeover is Dave Ramsey’s all-time bestselling book. It has helped millions of families pay off debt and change their lives forever. With its simple, practical step-by-step plan, it helps you change unhealthy money behaviors and win with money.

Ask a Ramsey Preferred Coach

While it’s great to have digital resources, sometimes you want to connect with an expert face-to-face. And after talking with a financial coach, you won’t just be dreaming about financial peace—you’ll take the first step to start living it. Schedule your free consultation.

How to Get Out of Debt With the Debt Snowball Method

The debt snowball method is a debt reduction strategy where you pay off your debts in order of smallest to largest, regardless of the interest rates.

Once the smallest debt is gone, take its payment and apply it to the next-smallest debt (while continuing to make minimum payments on your other debts).

The more you pay off, the more money you can throw at your next payment—like a snowball rolling downhill.

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

First things first. Just like any toxic relationship in your life, you’ve got to break up with your credit cards—aka cut them up! Your next step after that is to pay off one debt at a time using the debt snowball method.

Once the smallest debt is gone, take its payment and apply it to the next-smallest debt (while continuing to make minimum payments on your other debts).

Remember, with each balance you pay off, you'll have more money to throw at the next debt—like a snowball rolling downhill.

How to Get Out of a Car Loan

Cars are the most expensive thing we buy that goes down in value. It’s like lighting a pile of money on fire every time you drive down the road!

So, how do you get rid of a giant car payment? One option is to pay off your loan faster. Start by getting on a budget, cutting back your spending, and picking up a side hustle.

Throw as much money as you can toward your car loan. It’ll take some discipline and determination, but you can do it.

How to Pay Off Student Loans Fast

Get on a budget and stick to it every month. It’s a total game changer.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a special magic trick or life hack to help you get rid of your student loans in 30 days flat. But if you follow the proven method of budgeting, you can and will ditch your student loans for good.

A zero-based monthly budget will show you exactly where your money is going and where you can cut back. And you might find “extra” money you didn’t know you had. Throwing a little bit (or a whole lot) extra at your loans each month makes a huge difference. Keep fighting the good fight (and the bad debt!).

How to Get Help With Medical Bills

We know how it feels to get that pit in your stomach when you see a bill and have no clue how you’re going to pay. But there are things you can do to get rid of your medical bills.

Most medical providers are willing to work with you on a payment plan. Rather than having to pay your bill in one lump sum, this allows you to break it down into manageable, bite-sized chunks.

Whether you’re trying to pay down a medical bill or save up for health expenses, a budget is your best tool. It helps you take something that feels way out of your control and turn it into a plan that you can control.