3 Ways to Pay Off Holiday Credit Card Debt Fast
- Sell unused items online to raise cash fast for debt.
- Apply bonuses or refunds to wipe out debt quickly.
- Pause subscriptions for a month to save for payments.
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We’re always looking for fresh ways to pay off holiday credit card debt fast. From selling gifts and possessions to pressing pause on subscriptions, here are three of our favorite ways to slash your holiday credit card debt before you can say, “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
1. Sell Items to Pay off Holiday Credit Card Debt Fast
Raise cash in a matter of days by selling your unused or unwanted items, garage-sale style. Holiday gifts are prime candidates for resale. Yet another Stanley thermos? Sell it online.
You can sell from anywhere. The modern garage sale takes place on online marketplaces like eBay, Poshmark, and Facebook Marketplace. You can sell online fast to a potentially huge market. Clothes, collectibles, unwanted gift cards, or appliances—almost everything sells.
Get familiar with the platform’s fees before you sell. By the time you pay the fees and ship the item, you’ll end up with less than the full purchase price that your customer paid.
Tip: Order free shipping supplies from USPS.
You don’t have to worry about shipping if you set up shop on Facebook Marketplace and have buyers come to you. Buyers will bring cash (and trucks) to haul heavy furniture you’re ready to say goodbye to.
2. Use Any Windfalls to Pay off Credit Card Debt Fast
If you were lucky enough to snag an end-of-year bonus, funnel at least some of it directly toward your holiday debt. Maybe you’re expecting a tax refund or have a loving aunt who likes to give cash. If you find yourself with extra funds, put some toward your holiday credit card debt.
If the idea of spending it all on debt is too painful, use a portion for debt and treat yourself with the rest. You get the best of both worlds—post-holiday splurging and less debt.
Whenever unexpected cash comes your way, make it a habit to keep a slice of that cash pie for yourself. Stick a percentage in a savings account for covering holiday expenses next year.
3. Save on Subscriptions to Pay off Holiday Credit Card Debt Fast
You can quickly save a bit of cash by turning off auto renewals. Try a month or two. Could you survive unsubscribing from your entertainment apps for a month? How about just one or two? It’s one of the fastest ways to save money in 30 days.
One hidden bonus of ditching streaming services or apps is realizing how easily you can live without them. Another bonus is discovering subscriptions you didn’t know you were paying for. Getting rid of those is extremely satisfying.
The best part of subscription cleansing is that you can always renew, any time. Don’t be afraid to hit that cancel button. Your service might even offer you discounts before you go, begging you to stick around.
Holiday Credit Card Debt: New Solutions for an Old Problem
Paying for the holidays using credit cards isn’t new. But the internet makes it possible to pay off that holiday credit card debt using innovative methods.
If you don’t want to sell things or give up subscriptions, consider a classic debt pay-off strategy like the snowball or avalanche method. Debt consolidation could streamline your payments.
You’ve got options when it comes to credit card debt relief. Working with a professional company gives you the advantage of professional debt experts who have helped thousands of others in your situation.
Read more: Now’s the Time to Deal with Holiday Debt—Here’s How
Insights into debt relief demographics
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during June 2025. The data provides insights about key characteristics of debt relief seekers.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In June 2025, people seeking debt relief had an average of 75% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Student loan debt – average debt by selected states.
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) the average student debt for those with a balance was $46,980. The percentage of families with student debt was 22%. (Note: It used 2022 data).
Student loan debt among those seeking debt relief is prevalent. In June 2025, 27% of the debt relief seekers had student debt. The average student debt balance (for those with student debt) was $48,703.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average student debt balance.
| State | Percent with student loans | Average Balance for those with student loans | Average monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 34 | $71,987 | $203 |
| Georgia | 29 | $59,907 | $183 |
| Mississippi | 28 | $55,347 | $145 |
| Alaska | 22 | $54,555 | $104 |
| Maryland | 31 | $54,495 | $142 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a student loan balance over $0.
Student debt is an important part of many households' financial picture. When you examine your finances, consider your total debt and your monthly payments.
Manage Your Finances Better
Understanding your debt situation is crucial. It could be high credit use, many tradelines, or a low FICO score. The right debt relief can help you manage your money. Begin your journey to financial stability by taking the first step.
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Author Information
Written by
Cole Tretheway
Cole is a freelance writer. He’s written hundreds of useful articles on money for personal finance publications like The Motley Fool Money. He breaks down complicated topics, like how credit cards work and which brokerage apps are the best, so that they’re easy to understand.
Reviewed by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.
Is there a credit card debt forgiveness program?
Only Chapter 7 bankruptcy can erase a credit card debt. A debt resolution program won’t entirely forgive a debt, but it’s a way to negotiate with creditors so that they agree to accept less than the full amount you owe.
How much credit card debt is normal?
What’s normal for one person might be troubling for another. The best amount of credit card debt is the amount that you can afford to pay off when you get the bill.
How long does it take to pay off credit card debt?
It depends on how much credit card debt you have and how much you can afford to pay each month. Most payoff strategies, including bankruptcy, debt management plans, and debt resolution, can take 3–5 years to complete.
No matter what, the more you pay each month, the faster you’ll be out of credit card debt.
Debt Relief
