I’m a visual person. I love numbers too, but sometimes I just need to be able to see things visually through agraph or chart. Maybe you’re the same way?
Getting out of debt is going to require a lot of motivation and persistence and the more debt that you have, the more you will need of both. If you’ve gone through the previous two debt courses on the blog (Debt Management 101 and Debt Management 102), then you have a good plan for paying off that debt and hopefully you’re really excited about it!
Getting out of debt is going to seem like a never-ending job that you have to face day after day. That’s why housework is so painful for me. I can do ten loads of laundry, but then there are already several more loads that needto be done before that’s even completely finished. It’s the same with dishes, cleaning the floors and bathrooms and keeping the kids bathed (the most short-lived task of them all!).
However, the thing about getting rid of your debt is that while it’s going to take continuous effort, it’s a task with a quantifiable ending amount and date. That is, this is true if you have already totally committed to paying off your debt and you’re no longer putting any of your expenses on credit cards.
I created these goals sheets so that you can keep track of your progress and stay motivated to pay off your debt. Hang them somewhere that you will see them when you’re getting discouraged and keep updating them so that you have a visual representation of your progress.
There are 4 different sheets that cover the largest, mostcommon debts. Click on each picture to download the PDF version.
HOME MORTGAGE PAYOFF(also can be used for Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit)
AUTO LOAN PAYOFF
STUDENT LOANS
CREDIT CARDS
Whether you want to use a schedule for each individual debt or just one for each type of debt (for example all credit cards in total) is up to you. You also should decide whether you want to start with your original loan balance and shade in your progress to date or use your current balance as the starting point.
This is where I will admit that I am the type of person that put things I’ve already done on my to-do list just to be able to check them off and feel like I accomplished something. So yes, I would start from the beginning balance of the debt and shade in what I’ve already paid to date. Decide on whatever will motivate you the most and helps you to pay off your debt!
EXAMPLE: THE SMITH FAMILY
Here’s the Smith family’s example auto loan payoff schedule (the Smith family is a comprehensive example used in all the Making Your Money Matter classes), starting from the January 1st, 2016 balance of one of their credit cards to their current mid-year progress.
Good luck with paying down your debt!
If you want more great resources, spreadsheets and tips for helping you reach the next level with your personal finances in 2018, subscribe to the blog here!
What is your favorite way to track your debt payoff progress?
10 Responses
LOVE the goal sheets!
This is a great idea for those of us who are visual people. We have a written graph that we use and “X” out when we pay something. We are very old school, but I love this idea.
Whatever works, right?! Any way to be able to see progress is great and I’m also a very visual person.
Great idea with the goal sheet, my wife and I have an agreement that if we get the credit cards completely paid off than we can get a new car (which we are going to need anyway but thinking ahead means we can have the cards paid off too). We should download a goal sheet like this to have on our wall… My wheels are turning now
I’m a very visual person, so I love charts like this. I hope you can get your new car soon 🙂
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Can I buy the goal sheets the car and credit cards
They are free-the link is above. Hope it helps!
Love it! Thanks! I’m on a mission to pay off our car ASAP. I actually took the car sheet, and divided those lines into the number of payments we have left, so every time we make a payment (or an extra payment) I can colour in one box, instead of waiting to fill up a while line worth! I can’t wait to colour my first box!!!
Great idea Cait, thanks for sharing!
