Understanding Debt and How to Pay it Off Strategically [VIDEO]

If you’re a first-time homebuyer and you have debt, you need to understand the type of debt you have and how to pay it off strategically to be able to afford a house. 

Our Financial Coaching Coordinator, Pa Lor, explains in this video how to pay off your debt strategically so you can qualify for a mortgage:

Types of Debt

Here is a shortlist of types of debt:

• Collateral Debt. You have physical property that can be sold to pay off the debt.
• Non-Collateral Debt. You’ve borrowed money and you have to pay it back (there’s no physical property involved in the debt).
• Tax-Deductible Debt. With certain types of debt, like student loans or mortgages, you can deduct any interest you pay in a year from your taxes. 

Depending on the type of debt you have, you can prioritize what to pay off immediately or what to pay diligently over time. 

Good Debt vs. Bad Debt

All debt can be categorized as either “Good” or “Bad” debt. Good debt is any debt towards an asset that appreciates over time, like a home. On the contrary, bad debt is for an asset that depreciates over time, like a car.

How to Pay Off Debt You Already Have

There are two popular methods for paying off debt: The Snowball Method and the Interest Method. Pa breaks them down like this:

Snowball Method

You pay off the smallest balance account first and apply whatever payment you were making there to the next largest indebted account. For example, let’s say you have two credit card accounts:

• Account A with a $1,000 balance 
• Account B with a $500 balance

With the Snowball Method, focus on paying off the lower balance account first (in this case, that’s Account B). If you’re paying $100 per month towards Account B and have paid off that balance, then put that $100 towards Account A. If you were previously paying $100 towards Account A per month, now you’re paying $200 per month with the additional $100 that you are no longer using to pay Account A.

This method is a great way to build confidence early on because you start seeing the number of indebted accounts decrease over time. You’re also maximizing and strategically applying your income towards debts.

Interest Method

For those that are more mathematically-driven, the Interest Method might be the right choice. Basically, the Interest Method suggests paying off the account with the highest interest rate first. By doing so, you reduce the amount of interest paid and can apply any savings towards additional debt with the next highest interest rate.

“It really comes down to knowing yourself, knowing what will work for you, knowing what will motivate you, and using that to figure out a game plan to tackle your debt,” says Pa.

Paying off your debt is the first step towards financial soundness, regardless of whether or not you’re buying a new home. Following these tips should get you started towards a debt-free life!

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