Almost three out of four Americans say they’re burdened with debt.1 Whether or not you’re part of the majority here, it’s clear debt is quite common. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Besides, who wants to be common? Who wants to feel burdened?

That’s what debt does. It holds you back from excellence, from achieving your dreams, and from feeling peace.

But again: It doesn’t have to be this way. (Yes, we said it twice so it hits home.)

Not only do you not have to feel burdened by your bills, you also don’t have to spend your life owing money. You can pay off your debt. You can be the one in control of your money—not the lenders you’re borrowing from at a price that’s holding you back.

With these six tips, you can get rid of debt faster than ever. So here we go.

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.

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.