Deal with Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bill$ and Pay Off What You Owe

Review Your Priorities

Any financial plan is a juggling act of conflicting priorities and limited resources. You make only so much money (even if you add a second or third job), and your wants can be almost endless.

In earlier chapters, you read that debt repayment needs to be part of your larger financial strategy. Specifically, you need to make sure that you're taking appropriate advantage of retirement savings opportunities and that you can access sufficient funds in an emergency. You'll also want to think about your other important goals—the things you want to do, accomplish, or create for your family. As you work with your budget, you'll want to make sure that these important areas are adequately addressed and funded. If you need a refresher ...