When you graduate, after getting an education and racking up debt, it all can feel pretty overwhelming. You have a degree, but you likely don’t have a job that will be able to pay off your debts. While you probably need a well-paying full time job, it is unlikely that you will be able to jump into a high-paying job of your dreams.

Like many things in life, mindset is everything. If you are prepared for what comes next, you will have a better chance of paying off your debts, giving you the ability to actually use the money you start making. It is key to learn from people who have already gone through this, and do your research to find the best methods of paying off student loans. Below are some tips that will help you get in the right mindset and do the work of paying back loans.

Using an App

The modern world provides many methods to keep track of your finances. There are also ways to not only encourage yourself to pay off the debt but to help you do it in the most efficient way. With so many options, you can choose the method that works best for your situation. There are all kinds of apps to facilitate the process of paying back debt.

For example, ChangED is available for iPhone and Android and is free to download. After the app is on your phone, it only costs a dollar per month. A lot like the app Acorns, you sync ChangEd to your bank account and it analyzes your spending, rounding purchases to the dollar. Then it deposits the difference to an insured bank account. Once you have reached 100 dollars, the money is applied to your student loan debt.

Another option that will help you manage loan debt is to use the credit card payoff app. It’s free for Android and gives you the ability to analyze the numbers and figure out the best way to pay the money back. With the average American household debt hovering around $15,482, the app allows you to set a time-based goal to paying off your debt. It also shows how much you need to pay to stay on track.

Debt Payoff Assistant is an app that focuses on the debt snowball method, which is one of a few different strategies embedded in the app. It can target the highest balances and interest rates and provide a customized plan that is created just for you. There are also an unlimited amount of debt inputs, which includes students in addition to credit cards and auto loans.

An app that focuses solely on the snowball strategy, or targeting the smallest balances, is Debt Free. Once you pay off your debt by targeting specific charges, you can take the money applied to that debt and roll it onto the next one.

Mint is a budgeting app that is free and available for both Android and iPhone. It provides detailed spending breakdowns, customizable budgets, the ability to make goals, and to stay on track.

Change your Mindset

The specialists at the site MoneyPug, which is used to find personal loans, say that while apps are just one of many tools you can use to mitigate debt, changing your mindset is integral to pay back loans. You should be ready for a long period of repayments, and you should have realistic goals about how fast you can pay it back. Sticking to a set plan that is feasible will make all the difference in the world.

When you have a plan, a way to enact that plan, and tools to help you stay on track, your mindset will slowly begin to change. Use the tools of the modern that are at your disposal. With apps that calculate your debt and the best way to pay it back, you can leave the intense calculations to computers and do the work in order to bring in the money you need to become debt free. It’s within your grasp, you can do this. Keep calm, be frugal, and have a plan. Your mindset will evolve with your planning.