Holiday Debt Got You Down? 12 Painless Ways To Cope

Are you down because of your debt?

Join the club. Being in debt blows. The past 12 months I’ve been learning to cope and deal with the on-going pressure that debt brings into your day to day life. So far I’ve found a few things that seem to lighten the burden. These are actually techniques I’ve been using that are cheap and effective in handling the stress and emotion of being in debt.

12 Ways I Deal With Debt (all 300K+ of it)

1. Burn Stuff - I’m not talking about burning down your bank. That would get you jail, not relief (well, it might give you some satisfaction). Try a 3-hour firelog, or real firewood. Add in a movie and you’ve got a nice relaxing few hours. There is just something soothing about flames. Also, for bonus points, burn all those credit card offers you still get (just don’t burn the plastic. it’s not safe).
2. Give away your sweat - Do you have a charity or cause that you wish you could give money too, but you just can’t spare a penny? Why not volunteer there? Give them a call and see if you can work a few hours each week. You may not be able to contribute with your pocketbook right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help out. Volunteering can also put your life and blessings into perspective.
3. Walk it out - Go for a walk. It clears the mind, and gets you some fresh air
4. Read a fiction book from way back - Find an old favorite fiction book from your childhood and re-read it. My favorites? The Mossflower series, Harry Potter, and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (a fantastic escape book).
5. Pray - Just don’t pray for money. Pray for strength and guidance. Praying for money isn’t cool.
6. Pay Someone - Got a bill lying around. Got some money? Pay the bill. You’ll feel better. Trust me
7. Watch a funny movie - Rent a comedy and totally let yourself get sucked into the movie. Some movies lately I’ve gotten hearty chuckles from: Hot Fuzz, About A Boy, Little Miss Sunshine, Lars and the Real Girl (not out on DVD yet…)
8. Talk to someone - You need to have at least one person outside your immediate family that you can talk with about your financial issues. Maybe it’s a co-worker, or a good friend. Share with them your situation, it might be hard at first, but it’s worth it to have that someone. If they are a true friend, it won’t matter how much debt you have, they will still love you.
9. Work at a coffee shop for a day - I don’t mean go get a job at starbucks. But if you work from home like many people, you need a change of scenery. Spend a day working at a coffee shop. Order a drink or two, pack a lunch, and get a change of scenery.
10. Blog about it - Got debt? Why not blog about your progress? Deciding to blog about my debt journey has been one of the most therapeutic and best deicions I’ve made in the past 12 months. You can setup a blog in no time at wordpress.com or blogger.com. If you stick to it, you’ll find that writing (and having readers) will keep you accountable, motivate you, and maybe you’ll be the next Trent at Simple Dollar or JD at Get Rich Slowly.
11. Meet other peeps in debt - There are a number of good forums out there where you can lurk for tips or meet other people dealing with debt issues. DCC (payday loan issues dominate here), the new WiseBread forums, and the Get Rich Slowly forums are all great resources to meet people in debt just like you and me!
12. Treat yourself - Don’t go overboard here, but find something under $10 that is a treat for you when you hit a goal, or even when you’re feeling overwhelmed. I’m a fan of a large frosty and large fry at Wendy’s, but that’s just me. Find your own treat and don’t feel guilty about treating yourself now and again.

Lastly, remember that your debt doesn’t have to define your life!

How do you cope with your debt?

I’m always looking for more ways to deal with my debt load. Please share a tip or two about how you deal with debt (or other stressors)