Take just a few minutes to think about your debt—really think about it—and you’ll no doubt begin to feel overwhelmed.

It’s weird, isn’t it? You might spend years swiping credit cards and signing for loans without a moment’s hesitation. And then one day you wake up with a gasp and a realization:

I have to get rid of all this debt!

But like most things that take time to build up, paying off debt doesn’t happen overnight. Thankfully, you’re not alone. Plenty of folks in the EveryDollar community have been right where you are.

And we’re here to offer you the best method for getting rid of debt faster and easier than you ever thought possible: the debt snowball.

Valerie and Gary were the typical American couple.

“We had credit cards, car loans and orthodontic loans,” Valerie said. “We made the mistake of refinancing the house and rolling our credit card debt in there. We swore we would never use those cards again. But we did. And then we took out a second mortgage.”

Fun fact: You can pay off a $10,000 student loan five years earlier just by throwing $100 on top of your minimum monthly payment.

That’s great, but where do you find the extra $100 in your budget to throw toward debt? Give one of these ways a try:

Paying off your debt is a lot like scoring a game-winning touchdown. You start with a solid plan and end with an over-the-top victory dance.

Whether you’re a beginning budgeter or you’ve been budgeting for years, everyone tackles debt the same way: one yard at a time. So get out there and start running!

Here are three straightforward steps to help you pay off your debt once and for all.

The average person will spend $463 on gifts for family members this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Between presents, decorations, food and travel expenses, your money gets pulled in more directions than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.

If you wonder where extra payments on your debt fit into this festive season, here’s a quick four-step guide that shows you how to handle it.