One of Americans' top financial resolutions this year is to pay off debt -- along with saving more and spending less, according to the "2015 New Year Financial Resolutions Study" by Fidelity Investments. In fact, paying off debt has been one of the top three financial resolutions for the past four years.
It's not surprising that debt is on people's minds at the start of each new year because bills from holiday spending are rolling in. Consumers were expected to spend more than $800 this past holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. And a study by NerdWallet found that it will take Americans two to three months, on average, to pay off holiday debt.
If you're saddled with debt -- from the holidays or otherwise -- start by taking our Get Out of Debt quiz for strategies to pay it off. Then follow the tips below from some of our favorite personal finance bloggers.
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3 Ways to Recover From a Blown Budget After the Holidays [MoneyNing]
"Recovering from a high spending month like the holiday season can be tough, but with these steps you can overcome a blown budget in a short period of time."
3 Ways to Deal With Your Holiday Debt Before It Gets Out of Control [Credit.com]
"If the debt you’ve accumulated resides on a credit card with a high interest rate, you may want to explore 0% financing offers on balance transfer credit cards."
11 Signs You Have Too Much Credit Card Debt [Money Talks News]
"Does the thought of being in credit card debt frequently cross your mind, but you tend to push it out of your brain? This may be the first sign that you are in over your head."
7 Debt Repayment Tips From Someone Who’s Been There [ReadyForZero]
"The first step to take is to stop digging the hole. Don’t put together a debt repayment plan until after you have your spending under control."