Getting out of debt opens up a new way of living, with less stress and more opportunities to reach your goals. And in times of economic uncertainty, zeroing out consumer debt helps protect you from financial shocks like income loss.

Becoming debt-free can be a slow and steady process, or you may decide to go all-in and make big sacrifices to get there quicker. Visualizing an end goal will get you started — whether it’s buying a home, going on a guilt-free vacation or simply living without balances hanging over your head.

Start with three basic strategies and then discover tools, motivations and resources on this page to help you live a debt-free life.

Strategies to live a debt-free life

Resources for debt-free living