How to pay off $15,000 in debt by the end of 2026

Paying off $15,000 by the end of the year is a goal that's likely within reach, even in this tough economic landscape. Getty Images/iStockphoto Debt balances have been climbing rapidly over the last year, and so have the costs of carrying them. Not only are credit card balances clocking in at over $1.23 trillion , a record high, but the rates attached to them remain stubbornly elevated, too — even after multiple Federal Reserve cuts late last year. …