Paying off and becoming debt free take time and patience in order to achieve success. Although making monthly payments is one step in the debt elimination process, making extra payments will allow you to become debt free much quicker and easier.

The following are five tips to help you make extra payments to your debt each month, using money that you did not even know existed:

1. Rebates - When you receive a rebate from the purchase of a product, put the newly found money on one of your bills. Since you were not expecting the money anyway, you will not miss it when it is gone.

2. Refunds - Insurance refunds for good driving records, utility company refunds, and income tax refunds are all great opportunities to apply money to your debt, without compromising your current standard of living.

3.Gifts from holidays - If your loved ones give monetary gifts on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, use their donations as a way to apply a payment on an outstanding debt of your choice. The debt with the highest interest rate should be the first concern.

4. Extra Change - Collect your spare change, cash it in, and send it on its way. It makes for a nice extra payment at the end of the month.

5. Sell any unused belongings - Most people have way too many belongings. If you have things in your home or basement that have been collecting dust for years, consider selling them on eBay. This can make you a nice amount of money, and it will add up.

Do not be tempted to hold onto things just because you think you might need them somewhere down the line. If you haven't used something for a while, sell it to someone who might actually need it. Then put the revenue where you can definitely use it and pay off one of your bills.

With some time and effort you will be on your way to financial freedom by becoming debt free, You can come up with your own ways to save money and pay off debts. Use your imagination, you will be handsomely rewarded in the future.