From debt to direction
Debt can feel like a shadow that follows you everywhere. It weighs on decisions, limits choices and steals peace of mind. Yet many people underestimate how quickly momentum can build once a plan is in place. There are two practical methods that consistently help people take back control: the debt snowball and the debt stacking method. Both work for a simple reason: they turn a vague intention into a clear journey with visible progress.
The snowball method focuses on behaviour. You start by paying off the smallest balance first while maintaining minimum payments on the rest. Clearing a small account gives you a quick win, and that win builds momentum. Human beings respond to progress. Each account you close proves that the path is working, and the confidence pushes you forward. Once one debt is gone, the payment that freed up rolls into the next. The snowball grows.
The stacking method focuses on maths. Instead of targeting the smallest amount, you target the highest interest rate. This saves you the most money over time. Once the highest‑rate debt is cleared, you roll that payment into the next highest. It is slower to celebrate early wins, but financially efficient. The long‑term savings can be significant because interest is the real opponent in the debt journey.
Which method is best? The honest answer is the one you will stay committed to. If quick wins keep you motivated, start with the snowball. If you prefer optimisation and precision, choose stacking. Some people blend the two: starting with one small, quick victory, then switching to the highest‑interest first. What matters is consistency. A plan only works when you work the plan.
Protection is the secret ingredient. Do not take on new debt while clearing the old. Set your debit orders for the day after payday so you never negotiate with yourself. Use any windfalls, refunds, bonuses, or small extra income to accelerate the process. Track balances monthly. Watching the numbers fall is empowering and reinforces the habit. Debt reduction is more emotional than mathematical. Small victories keep the mind steady.
Debt does not define character. It is a season, not a sentence. With discipline and structure, you can shorten that season dramatically. The goal is not just to reach zero. The goal is to free your future income so it can build the life you imagine instead of repaying the past. Choose your path, stay with it for six months, and watch how quickly the shadow begins to lift.
*Ingrith Tjivela is the Sales and Distribution Manager, Old Mutual Finance.
