Young and Dumb, Advice Needed
Throwaway account because Im embarrassed on this getting to anyone I know.
I’m in my early 20s and honestly just trying to figure out how to get out of debt before it completely buries me. I make ~$50,000 at my main job and I’m ~$14,000 in debt. I work full time (40-50 hours a week) and I do delivery driving after work and on my off days for extra money, so I’m trying. That’s the part that’s frustrating. I’m not ignoring it or blowing money nonstop, I just feel like I can’t get ahead no matter what I do.
I’ve been trying to get a debt consolidation loan so I can stop getting killed by interest rates and just have one payment, but I keep getting denied everywhere I apply. My credit has dropped because my balances are high, even though I’ve still been making payments. At this point most of my paycheck goes straight to minimum payments/bills and then I’m using side gig money just to stay afloat. I know I messed up and I’m trying to fix it while I’m still young.
I guess I’m posting because I want to know what people actually did that helped.
I don’t really have anyone in real life I can ask about this stuff, so any advice is appreciated.