2024 is a big year for my family, and not in a good way. My partner lost his job, our dog was diagnosed with cancer and a member of my family had a stroke.

As a personal finance expert, I pride myself on taking risk into account. I have a high yield savings account and I know better than most the dangers of credit card debt trap. So how did I find myself in this situation?

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes we don’t have the resources to handle what comes our way. That said, 45% of American households have credit card debt, according to new data from the Survey of Consumer Financeswhich showed me that I am not alone in my struggles.

I used to flirt credit cardsbut through my work and lived experiences, now I recognize them as a tool. Although debt is morally neutral, having more of it than you want can dig you into a financial hole. By removing the common vitriol associated with debt and creating a clear plan, we can get our balances to zero more quickly.

Here’s what I did to pay off $10,602.27 in credit card debt in six months.

One important thing to note is that some of your credit cards may have advance payments. My Care Credit credit card, for example, 0% interest until March. Then, the interest rate increased to 32.99%.

Have an emergency fund

One of the reasons I got into debt was because my emergency fund wasn’t as big as I wanted it to be. Right now I can pay off my Care Credit card with the amount of money I have saved up in my savings account. I choose not to because that amount of savings is my only defense between myself and debt.

This is why having an emergency fund is so important. If you don’t have any money saved, you can get yourself into more debt that will be harder to get out of.

Pro tip: If you’re paying off debt and don’t have an emergency fund, prioritize saving at least a month’s worth of expenses as a safety cushion. This will help you avoid further debt on your own and allow flexibility when faced with unforeseen circumstances.

Create a debt repayment plan (and stick to it)

There are many loan repayment plans out there. The best is the one you keep.

I will use the debt snowball method. The debt snowball method prioritizes paying off the debt with the least amount owed. By paying the minimum on every other debt, you free up more money to devote to the smallest balance. Once the loan with the lowest total amount is paid off, you apply the amount you paid towards that loan to the next lowest loan on your list.

The reason I chose this method is because of the introduction rate of Care Credit. While the 0% interest rate is helpful during my dog’s cancer treatment, I don’t want to be charged a 33% interest rate when I can easily pay off the remaining balance before that happens. After I pay off the Care Credit credit card, I switch to the Discover card, then finally the Amex card.

Budget more money towards debt

I sat down and ran the numbers over the last few months. I put the spending averages into categories and create a realistic monthly budget. While that budget is tight, I am committed to following it so that I can pay off the debt as much as I can every month.

I also put any “extra” money, including commission, side hustle income, gifted money and tax returns to debt. (I’d rather use that money to fix my constantly broken hot tub, but I’ve committed myself to paying off the debt first.)

Create a budget you can stick to with Rocket Money, CNET’s editor’s choice winner and pick for best budgeting app.

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Remember to have fun

Paying off high interest credit card debt was an important part of my financial journey, but it wasn’t the only important step. A few years ago I told you to only focus on debt payments if you were in any kind of debt. Now I know that sustainable debt payments are more important.

I encourage myself to have fun while I pay off credit card debt. I’m still on vacation this fall, I’m still ordering from DoorDash and I’m still buying drugs here and there. It may seem counter-intuitive, but spending money on yourself and practicing financial balance is the key to staying motivated when it comes to paying off debt.

Your debt repayment journey doesn’t have to be all or nothing

It may take you longer to pay off debt, but you won’t hate your life in the process and you’ll avoid relapse or giving up altogether. Continuity and longevity should be your goal in your money journey.