Debt Snowball Gets Debt Reduction Rolling

Portland Blogger Explains How To Get Rich Slowly

A local blogger has tips to help get anyone on the path to financial freedom by eliminating debt with some simple solutions.

The advice comes from a southeast Portland blogger named J.D. Roth, who started his blog Get Rich Slowly about two and a half years ago when he was drowning in debt.

It started out as an online journal, but now thousands of people check in for tips and advice every day.

He said there is no "silver bullet" for getting rich or eliminating debt but by setting financial goals and planning, living debt free is a reality.

On Monday night, Roth presented his first and second steps: First, set financial goals and second, start an emergency fund before trying to pay off debt.

Step No. 3 is something he learned from another financial expert, Dave Ramsey. It's called the Debt Snowball and involves paying off your smallest debts first.

"Now the mathematically correct way to start paying off your debts is to start with your high interest rates first. But for me, my high interest rate debt was also my highest balance, so it was going to take years for me to pay that debt off," Roth said.

"So what I did instead was start with small debts first. So I was able to pay off something like three or four of the debts in like two or three months, and that was an amazing psychological boost. I thought, 'Wow, if I can pay off these debts, I can pay off the rest.'"

Roth was able to pay off $35,000 in debt in just about two years.

For more information about how to eliminate debt, tune in to FOX 12 as Roth presents financial tips all week or visit Roth's blog Get Rich Slowly.