How to Take the Debt Free Pledge

The U.S. Federal Reserve reported that the average American household carried nearly $6,500 in credit card debt in 2010. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, when people are in debt, they are 95 times more likely to meet their goal of becoming debt-free when they write it down. The NFCC is helping people do this by offering them the Debt Free Pledge, encouraging people to get themselves out of debt by committing to certain lifestyle changes and goals.

Instructions

1

Visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website. Read the information provided about becoming debt-free. Once you have read and understand the Debt Free Pledge, click the box next to "Yes, I Want to Become Debt Free. Count Me In!"

2

Click on the "Take the Pledge -- Certificate," a PDF document that you can print and fill out indicating that you are making a pledge to yourself to eliminate your debt, and acknowledging that you are the only one who can take control of your finances.

3

On the certificate, fill out the steps for how you plan to take to make a your debt-free dreams a reality. These sections include your reasons for taking the pledge, specific steps you will take to make your commitment a reality, short-term goal that being debt free will help you attain, and long-term goals that you will accomplish living a debt-free life.

4

Begin taking the steps you indicated on your certificate to take control of your finances and eliminate your debt.