Tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Falling behind on your bills is stressful, and it could be hard to catch up. Late fees, interest, and overdraft fees drain your accounts. It is a vicious cycle, but don’t despair. With some clever techniques, you can climb out of debt and get back on track. Here are three easy ways to catch up on your bills.

Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Create a Budget

A budget is an easy way to reach all of your financial targets and will made a realistic plan of how much time it will take to get back on track. There are various kinds of systems that you can use. Prioritize all of your expenses with the most pressing at the top of the list. An envelope system is also a tangible budgeting system that lets you see exactly where your money is going.

Label each envelope with a specific spending category and determine how much will go inside each one. Some example categories include groceries, gas, entertainment, and medication. Only bring as much money with you as you plan to need on a daily basis. After you’ve gotten into the habit of keeping to your budget, you can go back to keeping all your money in your bank accounts. Alternatively, some financial software programs have been built to mimic the envelope system and you can use those.

Cut up Credit Cards

If you’re in debt already, get rid of your credit cards, because they will only help you accumulate more debt. It’s simple to spend money when you don’t see it disappearing from your wallet, so it may feel like using a credit card is less painful than using cash. However, when you get your monthly statement, everything you were avoiding will catch up to you and you’ll realize the hole you’ve dug yourself. You don’t need to close your credit accounts, but cutting or hiding your card will help you avoid the temptation of overspending.

Always make the minimum payment on the cards to prevent late fees, even when you’re not using the card. After you’ve paid off the card, you can begin using it to pay for reoccurring charges you’ve already budgeted for. This will help build your credit score. Credit cards aren’t the evil they’re sometimes made out to be, but they’re very easy to misuse, so always be aware of your credit balance and your budget.

Payday Loans and Advances

Payday loans and advances are short-term loans that are typically paid back within a few weeks. These loans allow you to have a little bit of extra cash to pay for daily expenses or emergencies. While this is a useful way to get caught up when you’ve fallen behind for one reason or another, be responsible. Setting up a workable budget and minimizing debt are your best long-term options.

To get a payday loan, you will generally need proof of identification, a valid social security number, checking account, and source of income to qualify. Make sure to look for reputable companies, and ensure that you are on secure websites prior to proceeding with any transaction.

Getting caught up on your bills is a process, but it will be well worth the effort. Don’t get discouraged when there are bumps in the road. Stay dedicated to a realistic plan, and put every effort to remain consistent. Once you are caught up, you can begin to live a life of financial freedom.