9 Clever Ways To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

Paying off credit card debt is easier than you think if you have the right plan.

Last updated Sept. 8, 2026 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

A recent study shows that over 80% of Americans are in debt. High interest credit cards, hospital bills, or student loans, car payments — everyone knows the challenge.

Below, you'll find clever ways to help you crush your credit card debt.

See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of debt, getting rid of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get rid of unsecured debt?

Freedom Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their certified debt specialists may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one affordable monthly deposit.

Best of all? There are zero upfront settlement fees, and you could reduce debt in as little as 24-48 months1. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a Certified Debt Consultant. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify, and the consultation is completely free!

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for Freedom Debt Relief


Did You Know?
On average, debt settlement saves clients around 32% of their enrolled debt after fees, according to a 2023 study by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief. The consultation costs nothing. People who enroll and complete the program could be debt-free in 24 to 48 months.
Sources: Association for Consumer Debt Relief (2023)

Pay no interest on balance transfers until 2028

Imagine getting 18 months with 0% intro APR on a balance transfer (APR then 18.24% - 28.49% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading card - the Citi Double Cash® Card.

If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After the intro period for balance transfers, the APR is 18.24% - 28.49% (Variable). Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!

It doesn't stop with balance transfers though. Cardholders can also earn double cash back — 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. Even better, you can redeem your cash back as direct deposit, a statement credit, or even a mailed check! You can turn your everyday purchases into cash back and make a dent in your debt, regular bills, or save for the future.

The best part? There's no annual fee with the Citi Double Cash® Card (Rates and fees).

Click here to apply now for the Citi Double Cash® Card

Get out of $25,000+ in high interest credit card debt

If you have $25,000+ in credit card debt, paying the bill each month is anxiety-inducing, and sometimes close to impossible.

The problem is the interest you pay: $25,000 in credit card debt at 25% APR might cost you $520.83 every single month in interest alone. But if that rate was just 6.74% APR (possible through this lender network we found), you’d only pay $140.42 in interest.

That’s over $350 a month you’d get to keep for yourself in this scenario! This company can match you with options just like this that could help you pay off high interest debt quickly. You don’t even need a perfect credit score and checking options won’t affect your credit.

They have a 4.5/5 rating on TrustPilot with 15,000+ reviews, and you can see your options in minutes. If you’re feeling suffocated by debt, click below and find a match today.

See if your $25,000+ credit card debt is eligible for options with LendingTree

Pay no interest into 2027 with this no annual fee card

If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt (or you're planning a major purchase this year), this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to pause credit card interest into 2027 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees) is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 17.49% - 26.49% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies.) That's right — you can now finance large purchases you've been sitting on without paying massive interest. Or, transfer crippling high interest debt to this card and let your payments go directly to paying down your balance, without piling on additional interest charges — all with no annual fee.

But it doesn't end there. The Discover it® Cash Back card also lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card

Ask this company to help you pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming.

It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Even worse when the IRS starts sending letters threatening wage garnishment and huge fines.

Alleviate Tax is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could reduce some of the debt you owe.

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Alleviate Tax talks to the IRS directly. They can help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.

Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes.

Answer a few questions to get started

Borrow cash from your home (without touching your mortgage)

If you need cash, you do not need a cash-out refinance or home equity loan — get a HELOC instead. The Fed just cut interest rates, and a HELOC could help you take advantage of it without touching your mortgage.

Use LendingTree’s simple HELOC matching tool2to compare rates and see what works for you.

How a home equity line of credit is different: Your line of credit acts similar to a credit card during what’s called the “draw period,” which is usually 10 years. You can withdraw funds when you need them, and you’re only responsible for monthly payments toward the outstanding balance. After the draw period ends, you pay off the outstanding balance during the remaining term or “repayment period,” which can be up to 20 years.

The best part? HELOCs usually have variable interest rates, meaning you could access cash now at newly lowered rates and have the opportunity to access more down the road at potentially even lower rates.

To get started:

  1. Check out LendingTree’s HELOC matching tool.
  2. Answer a few questions.
  3. Be matched with personalized offers for you.

See how much cash you could get

Get $15,000-$500,000 from your home (no monthly payments)

This is really cool. If you own a home and want to take equity out (to pay down debt or fund home renovations, for example) you can — but usually, you have to make payments each month. This company gets rid of that.

It sounds crazy, but it's called Unlock, and it lets you take money out of your home right now without making monthly payments. It's called a Home Equity Agreement (HEA), which is a partnership between you and Unlock where you get money now in return for a portion of your home's future appreciation in value.

Unlock can give you access to $15,000–$500,000, but you can take what you need based on what you qualify for.3You can also leave the partnership at any time by buying them out or selling your home. To get started, go to their website, enter your address, and see how much you could qualify for in two minutes. It's incredible.

Complete the form here and get your instant cash estimate

National Debt Relief
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National Debt Relief Benefits
  • No upfront fees4
  • One-on-one evaluation with a Certified Debt Specialist
  • For people with $30,000 in unsecured debts and up
Visit National Debt Relief