How I Paid Off $9K of Credit Card Debt in 9 Weeks

When I realized I had $9,000 worth of credit card debt a few years ago, my first instinct was to cut expenses. I shaved a few hundred dollars off my monthly budget by canceling a few streaming services and subscriptions and cutting back on restaurant spending.

But overall, I wasn't a big spender. I simply didn't have heaps of money leftover in my paycheck after I covered my big expenses -- like my rent, car payment, utilities, and healthcare costs.

I quickly grew frustrated because I wasn't making fast progress on my debt. So I decided to double down, work as many freelance jobs and side hustles as humanly possible, and pay off my debt as quickly as possible. In all, I paid off $9,000 of credit card debt in about nine weeks. Then for good measure, I kept going and paid off my car in the next few weeks, bringing my debt payoff total to $12,000.

Here are the strategies I used to get out of credit card debt quickly -- and keep myself motivated while working 70 to 80 hours a week.

1. I used the debt snowball method

I had about half of my credit card debt on one card with a temporary 0% interest rate, but the 0% APR window's expiration was rapidly approaching. Still, I was going to take advantage of 0% interest for as long as possible, so I only made minimum payments on that card while focusing on my other three cards that were charging interest.

While paying off those three cards, I used the debt snowball method, which is where you focus all your efforts on paying off the card with the smallest balance while making minimum payments on the rest. Once that one's paid off, you put all the money you were paying on that card toward the smallest remaining balance.

Maybe I could have saved a small amount had I used the debt avalanche instead, where you knock out the highest-interest balance first. But the cards had relatively similar interest rates. Knowing I had one fewer bill to pay when I paid off the first card was way more motivating than saving a few bucks on interest.

2. I redeemed my credit card rewards

I didn't have a ton of credit card rewards points -- 45,000 at most between four different cards. But I used those points to pay down my credit card balances by about $400 total, by either getting a statement credit or cash back for each card. Perhaps I could have squeezed more value out of those points had I saved them for travel later on.

But when you're paying credit card interest, the interest amounts to far more money than your points are worth. So I used my points to lower my balances and save on interest.

3. I mostly used my debit card

Paying with a debit card instead of a credit card is often frowned upon in personal finance because you rarely earn rewards, plus you have fewer fraud and purchase protections than you'd get with a credit card. But keeping track of your progress on paying down credit card debt is extraordinarily difficult when you're still making purchases on the card. So I stuck mostly with my debit card, knowing I could focus on credit card rewards later. When I didn't feel comfortable using a debit card -- for example, buying gas at the pump -- I used a credit card but paid off the amount I'd charged that same day.

Note that I did keep one small bill, like Netflix or my gym membership, on each card to make sure I had activity every month. After prolonged inactivity, credit card issuers sometimes close your accounts, which can lower your credit score in the short term.

4. I spent money on things that bought me time

Spending extra money when you're trying to get out of debt may seem counterintuitive. But when you're working long hours to pay off debt fast, it sometimes makes sense to spend money if it buys you more time to work. For example, I paid extra to get my groceries delivered through Instacart. I hired someone to clean my house every few weeks. The money was well worth it because it gave me more time to work.

How to pay off debt faster

Working 70 or 80 hours a week isn't going to be possible for everyone. For me, it was doable because I'm a writer and editor. My job isn't physically taxing, and no one will get hurt if I fall asleep with my laptop on my couch. I'm also not a parent, which makes working long hours easier.

But no matter what your situation, be honest with yourself about whether you have a spending problem or, like me, an income problem. If you spend lots of money on purchases like takeout, clothes, or entertainment, it may be possible to get out of debt by cutting expenses. But if most of your paycheck is eaten up by necessities, you may need to look at your options for earning more money, like I did.

One thing that's helpful when you're trying to get out of debt quickly is remembering that what you're doing is only temporary. Working long hours or making extreme budget cuts usually isn't fun. But you're making short-term sacrifices to buy yourself long-term financial security.