Owing money is one of the most burdening feelings for a responsible person. Some of us even lose sleep over the idea that we are not in complete control of our finances and a portion of what we earn belongs to somebody else. Thoughts like this can lead to depression or even suicide. You need a proper management strategy to keep motivated and keep going until you are debt free. Here are a few ways you can make it through.

Create SMART goals

SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bounded. If you work with projects, you are familiar with this, if not it’s easy to understand. To get from point A (debt) to point B (debt-free) you need to know which road you will take, how long it is, if you can pass through there, if it really connects the two points and when you expect to be there.

For example, you could say: “I want to save (S) 50 dollars (M) per week (A) to reach my goal of being debt-free (R) in 7 years (T).

This kind of planning helps you know if you are still on the right track. When you feel you are not doing enough just check if you are on schedule.

Be accountable

Just like weight-loss paying debt is all about sticking to your word to yourself. If you find it too hard to be responsible on your own, you can always ask for help. Countless other people are struggling with the same problem. Join groups on social media, talk about the issues you encounter on a daily basis and find the strength you need even through others.

Keeping a diary is also an excellent way to see how far you’ve come and to keep yourself motivated in the long run.

Gamify the situation

Another little trick to keep your eyes on the prize is to make a game out of it. After setting your SMART goals, be sure to put some milestones along the way. Pick something that you really enjoy as a way to celebrate. For instance, every time you pay 5% of your initial debt, go to a fancy dinner or buy yourself something nice. We need small victories along the way to keep up our motivation. Be sure to save some money in advance for these self-spoil sessions, so you don’t accumulate more debt.

See the big picture

Last but not least don’t forget the reason for doing all these. You want to be out of debt, and you want to position yourself as trustworthy for future creditors. The good news is that a diligent financial behavior can get you more than peace of mind. You can even join a select club of trustworthy people to whom banks are ready to give not only money but perks. Look through this list of credit cards if you have good credit to get an idea what is in store once you switch your status.