How to Get Out of Debt Fast - What Are My Options?

How our program helps:

  • Significantly lower your monthly payment
  • Reduce your debt to a fraction of what you owe
  • Be debt free in as little as 24 to 48 months

Select Your Debt Amount:

$1,000

$100,000+

The Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt

See if You Qualify for a Debt Solution

You could save hundreds monthly.

Get a Free Consultation

This won't affect your credit score!

Accredited Debt Relief evaluates people in all 50 states for debt relief or consolidation loan options, with a minimum of $5,000 in unsecured debt to enroll, no upfront fees and 1:1 support from certified debt specialists. Our debt relief program is built around what you can afford each month — not your credit score — and rolls eligible balances into one lower monthly payment.

Get a Free Consultation — no pressure, no obligation, won't affect your credit score.

How Common Is Credit Card Debt Among Americans?

If you're working to get out of debt, you're far from alone. Recent government data shows how widespread household debt has become:

Interest rates — especially the high average rates credit cards charge — are what keep you constantly stuck in the same cycle of debt. The solve is to focus on your balance: The faster you reduce what you owe, the less of your money goes toward interest (instead of your goals).

Proven Ways to Speed Up Your Debt-Free Timeline

If you can cover your minimum payments and still set money aside, a do-it-yourself strategy can move you toward debt freedom — and speed up already-accelerated programs like Accredited Debt Relief's. Here are the methods that work.

These strategies reward consistency and breathing room in your budget. If your minimum payments are already more than you can comfortably afford, a structured debt consolidation program is worth considering.

Your Debt Consolidation Options

There are three common ways to consolidate debt, and only one of them is built around what you can afford rather than your credit score.

Balance Transfer Credit Card

This means moving balances onto a new card, often with a low introductory rate. Approval and the rate you get depend on your credit, and the low rate is usually temporary, so you'll want a clear plan to pay the balance off before it ends.

Debt Consolidation Loan

A new loan pays off your existing debts, and you repay the loan over time. Approval and the rate also depend on your credit. Accredited Debt Relief can evaluate clients for consolidation loan options as part of the same free consultation.

Debt Relief Program

A debt relief program rolls all your eligible accounts into one lower, monthly payment. Accredited Debt Relief looks at your finances and crafts a payment you can actually afford (most of our clients save 40% or more on their eligible monthly payments). A debt relief program doesn't hinge on your credit score, and checking your options doesn't affect your credit. And because our program targets your total balance, not your interest rate, you stand to save in the big picture, too. For many people with significant unsecured debt, this is the most accessible and affordable option.

Debt Relief Program vs. Debt Consolidation Loan

Debt Relief ProgramDebt Consolidation Loan
How it worksEligible balances are rolled into one lower monthly paymentNew loan pays off existing debts; you repay the loan over time
Credit check required?No — checking your options doesn't affect your creditYes — approval and rate depend on your credit
Reduces what you owe?Yes — your total debt owed is reducedNo — you owe the full loan amount plus interest
Typical timeline24 to 48 months4 to 84 months, depending on the loan
Typical monthly savings$480 a month on eligible enrolled debtsVaries by rate and term
Minimum to start$5,000 in unsecured debtLender-dependent
Best forPeople whose minimum payments are already unaffordablePeople with strong credit who can comfortably afford the new payment

Why a Debt Relief Program Works for People Struggling to Keep Up

Our debt relief program is designed to be an affordable and accessible way to resolve credit card, personal loan, medical debt and more.

Our approach targets your balance, not your interest, which is why our program is so effective. A debt relief program targets your balance, not your interest rate, which is what sets it apart from borrowing your way out of debt.

How the Program Works

Getting started takes four simple steps and begins with a free consultation.

1. Free Consultation — You'll speak with a certified debt specialist who reviews your debt, income and monthly obligations. This won't affect your credit score.

2. Personalized Program — Your specialist builds a customized program around what you can actually afford each month, with a target graduation date.

3. One Monthly Deposit — Instead of juggling multiple payments, you make a single payment into a dedicated account.

4. Debt-Free in 24 to 48 Months — Because the program targets your balance, not your interest rate, you can get free from debt faster and for less.

Which Debts Are Eligible?

The program is best for people with significant unsecured debts, like credit card, personal loan and medical debts.

Eligible Debts

  • Credit cards
  • Personal loans
  • Medical bills
  • Store credit cards
  • Some private student loans

Ineligible Debts

  • Mortgages and home equity loans
  • Auto loans
  • Federal student loans
  • Tax debt
  • Child support and alimony
  • Any secured debt

The minimum amount of debt required to enroll in the program is $5,000, and Accredited Debt Relief can evaluate people in all 50 states.

Signs It Might Be Time to Get Help

Do-it-yourself strategies work best when you have ample room in your budget. These signs suggest it may be worth exploring a debt relief program:

If any of these sound familiar, a free consultation can show you what your options look like — with no obligation and no impact to your credit.

Why People Choose Accredited Debt Relief

Accredited Debt Relief has helped people work toward becoming debt-free since 2011, with award-winning customer care at the center of the experience. The company has helped more than 1.3 million clients and resolved more than $15 billion in debt, backed by an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Our organization has been recognized multiple times over the years for exceptional client support, recently earning two 2026 Gold Stevie Awards, including Customer Service Department of the Year for the second straight year, plus Best in Biz honors, Business Intelligence Group recognition and three ConsumerAffairs Buyer's Choice Awards. Our clients also have access to financial wellness tools, group financial therapy sessions with Certified Financial Therapists and a private online community. Accredited Debt Relief holds a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot from more than 10,000 client reviews. Independent reviewers point to the same track record: a June 2026 Money roundup reported a 4.9 customer review score on the Better Business Bureau, 4.8 on Trustpilot and 4.8 on Google, and CBS News MoneyWatch named Accredited Debt Relief Best for Customer Satisfaction in May 2026, citing its strong satisfaction ratings and low complaint volume.

Every specialist is IAPDA-certified through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, and all staff benefit from guidance by AFCPE-trained trainers. We're also proud to be a member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR).

But what means most to us is that our clients leave in a better place than when they enrolled: In a survey of over 10,000 Accredited Debt Relief graduates, 92% said their program payments were affordable. Graduates also reported a 42% average improvement in their financial habits, with self-rated habits climbing from 5.7 to 8.1 out of 10 after graduation. In the same survey, 8 in 10 graduates said they would recommend Accredited Debt Relief to a friend struggling with debt.

How Do You Choose the Right Path for Your Debt?

The right path depends on the type of debt you have, your income and ability to pay, and how urgently you need to resolve it. Do-it-yourself strategies can be effective for people with enough monthly income to make a dent, but if your minimum payments are already unaffordable, a debt relief program may be the more accessible option. During your free consultation, an Accredited Debt Relief certified debt specialist will review your debt, income and monthly obligations and provide a personalized savings estimate. The consultation is free, no-judgment and won't affect your credit score.

Get a Free Consultation | Call 800-497-1965

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about getting out of debt — answered directly and without jargon.

The fastest do-it-yourself method is usually the debt avalanche: make minimum payments on everything, then put every extra dollar toward your highest-interest debt first. This minimizes the interest you pay over time. If making your minimum payments is already a stretch each month, Accredited Debt Relief's program lowers your monthly payment by 40% or more, and can even help you get debt-free faster. Our program rolls eligible balances into one lower monthly payment and targets your balance rather than your interest rate, helping eligible people become debt-free in as little as 24 to 48 months.

It's harder, but possible. Building a budget, putting any windfalls toward your balances and adding even a small amount of income can help. Combine those thrifty habits with the power of a debt relief program, and you could be debt free faster than you'd think. Accredited Debt Relief's program is designed around what you can actually afford each month — all you need is a minimum of $5,000 in eligible, unsecured debt to enroll.

With the debt snowball, you pay off your smallest balance first for quick motivation, then roll that payment into the next one. With the debt avalanche, you pay off your highest-interest debt first, which saves the most money over time. The snowball keeps you motivated; the avalanche is the most cost-efficient.

No. Checking your options with Accredited Debt Relief doesn't affect your credit. Your free consultation reviews your debt, income and monthly obligations so a specialist can build a program around what you can afford.

Eligible debts include credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, store credit cards and some private student loans. Mortgages, home equity loans, auto loans, federal student loans, tax debt and any secured debt aren't eligible.

Accredited Debt Relief has been operating since 2011, holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has helped more than 1.3 million clients. Its specialists are IAPDA-certified, the company is a member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief, and staff benefit from guidance by AFCPE-trained trainers. Independent reviewers reflect that standing: CBS News MoneyWatch named the company Best for Customer Satisfaction in May 2026, and a June 2026 Money roundup reported strong ratings across the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot and Google.

Ready to Make Real Progress Toward Debt-Free?

A free consultation with a certified debt specialist won't affect your credit score and will show you exactly what your monthly payment could look like — and how much faster you could be debt-free. No pressure, no obligation. Available in all 50 states.

Get a Free Consultation

No upfront fees  ·  100% success-based  ·  Free consultation.

About This Page