When someone is extremely deep in debt, and he or she has no other options to prevent bankruptcy, debt consolidation can be his or her savior. Debt consolidation can also be a very wise choice for someone who has many debts on high interest credit cards. Debt consolidation, quite simply, is the process of taking loans and debts and bringing them into one low-interest loan that can be paid off over varying periods. This is a very good choice for many people because it saves them from having to file bankruptcy. Debt consolidation merely requires collateral (such as a home or vehicle) for the interest rates to be lowered and the customer to be on his or her way to debt free living.
Most people understand the basics of debt consolidation, however there are several dos and don’ts in the world of consolidating debt. Most importantly, make sure you research the company before you choose to consolidate your debt with it. Some companies will take advantage of unassuming consumers. Here are a few underhanded tricks unfavorable companies will employ when you are trying to consolidate your debt:
1. Some companies will take advantage of high interest loans, and the benefit of consolidating those loans, by charging exceptionally high fees in the debt consolidation loan. These fees can sometimes even be near the state maximum for mortgage fees. Any company with fees that seem unnaturally high should not be your choice for debt consolidation.
2. Watch out for companies that wait until you are “backed into a corner.” Some companies will let a customer get further and further into debt until the customer is forced to refinance. Someone who has put his or her house will be willing to refinance in order to save his or her collateral (again, usually the home). The unscrupulous company will then charge an excessive refinancing fee.
3. Lastly, be wary of companies that employ “predatory lending.” Predatory lending is when a debt consolidation company allows a customer to be in such debt that they are unable to find another debt consolidator to help them with the debt. The person is forced to stay with their current company and sometimes even file bankruptcy anyway. The company that knowingly led the customer into the dregs of debt comes out on top. Most companies don’t use predatory lending, but it is always a good idea to be extra careful when choosing a debt consolidator.
Good debt consolidation companies naturally don’t do anything underhanded. On the contrary, a worthwhile company offers the customer all the information he or she will ever need about their loans and interest. The company is helpful and concerned for the financial safety of their customers. Companies that realize that the decision to consolidate one’s debt is a weighty one are usually the best companies to opt for. Approaching each case uniquely is the sign of a debt consolidator that understands the importance of every customer.
Debt consolidation can be a weighty decision for many people to make. If you keep in mind the dos and don’ts of choosing a debt consolidation company, you will have no worries. Some companies try underhanded methods to increase their profits, but if you know what to watch out for, those companies cannot swindle you. Debt consolidation is a wise choice for anyone who has high interest credit cards, and substantial loans. Follow my advice, and I’m sure that you’ll be debt free sooner than you can say, “Consolidate!”
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
What you need to know about debt consolidation. . .
Debt consolidation is often a last resort for people who are in extreme debt and trying to avoid bankruptcy. Many people who are not in danger of bankruptcy, but have debt on high interest credit cards may also choose to consolidate their debt. Debt consolidation is defined as the process of organizing loans and debts into one low-interest loan that can be paid off regularly. Consolidating debt can help someone avoid bankruptcy, and help them manage their money more wisely. Debt consolidation is also convenient because it becomes easier to keep track of debt and one is only required to pay off one loan rather than several debts. In order to consolidate one’s debt, collateral must be given. The collateral is usually the home, or a vehicle.
Central to debt consolidation is a debt consolidation company. It is important to choose the best company to fit your financial needs. As is common in any financial sphere, there are reputable companies, and companies that use underhanded methods to gain more money from the customer. Most debt consolidation companies do use honorable methods, but it is still important to know what some underhanded companies will do.
1. Some companies will wait until you are backed into a corner. If you know you are headed for financial trouble and wish to consolidate your debt, make sure your company starts working on it right away. Some companies will delay in debt consolidation so that the customer gets in more debt and therefore has to pay the company more money in the long run as well as short term. A customer who has to consolidate debt or else face bankruptcy can be forced to pay extremely high refinancing fees or debt consolidation fees.
2. Some companies will also charge exceptionally high debt consolidation fees to people who have high interest loans. Sometimes these fees can be extremely close to, or at the state maximum for mortgage fees. It is important to know how much companies are able to charge you, and compare that to what a company is offering. The lowest price is generally the best idea. Always be on the look out for unnaturally high fees because some companies will attempt to scam you.
3. Last, and certainly not least, you should be aware of companies practicing “predatory lending.” Predatory lending is a practice by some unscrupulous companies to allow their customers to become so in debt that no other company will help them. This is a way that a company can control you and make sure to make significant financial gains from your misfortune. Any debt consolidation service that attempts to control you is not a good service.
The decision to consolidate one’s debt is a very important decision. It is important to understand this fact when looking for a company. Knowing how companies will try to make extra money at your expense is imperative to having a successful debt consolidation experience. Choose the best company and you will notice a positive outcome. Debt consolidation is a wise option for people with nowhere else to turn, but it must be a well-thought-out, educated decision.
Central to debt consolidation is a debt consolidation company. It is important to choose the best company to fit your financial needs. As is common in any financial sphere, there are reputable companies, and companies that use underhanded methods to gain more money from the customer. Most debt consolidation companies do use honorable methods, but it is still important to know what some underhanded companies will do.
1. Some companies will wait until you are backed into a corner. If you know you are headed for financial trouble and wish to consolidate your debt, make sure your company starts working on it right away. Some companies will delay in debt consolidation so that the customer gets in more debt and therefore has to pay the company more money in the long run as well as short term. A customer who has to consolidate debt or else face bankruptcy can be forced to pay extremely high refinancing fees or debt consolidation fees.
2. Some companies will also charge exceptionally high debt consolidation fees to people who have high interest loans. Sometimes these fees can be extremely close to, or at the state maximum for mortgage fees. It is important to know how much companies are able to charge you, and compare that to what a company is offering. The lowest price is generally the best idea. Always be on the look out for unnaturally high fees because some companies will attempt to scam you.
3. Last, and certainly not least, you should be aware of companies practicing “predatory lending.” Predatory lending is a practice by some unscrupulous companies to allow their customers to become so in debt that no other company will help them. This is a way that a company can control you and make sure to make significant financial gains from your misfortune. Any debt consolidation service that attempts to control you is not a good service.
The decision to consolidate one’s debt is a very important decision. It is important to understand this fact when looking for a company. Knowing how companies will try to make extra money at your expense is imperative to having a successful debt consolidation experience. Choose the best company and you will notice a positive outcome. Debt consolidation is a wise option for people with nowhere else to turn, but it must be a well-thought-out, educated decision.
Tips for credit card debt management . . .
Debt management is a course every American needs to take simply because so many Americans are clueless when it comes to credit and debt management. This is unfortunate because many people do permanent damage to their credit record by not knowing how important managing their credit is. Also, frequently people get in trouble with debt and don’t know debt management tips, so they simply get further and further behind each month. This does not have to be the case and debt management is not difficult to do, as long as you have the desire to reduce your debt. Consider these debt management suggestions to get you out of debt quick.
Debt Management Tip #1 Make Your Payments on Time
One of the most important things you can do to help your credit score is to make your payments on time. This is also a great way to avoid late charges which not only negatively impact your credit, but also negatively impacts your wallet. Debt management means making on time payments means your account will never be late, will not go into default and will not never have late fees associated with it. If you have problems making your payment on time imagine how much worse it will be when an additional $30 - $50 is tacked onto that payment.
Debt Management Tip #2 Work with Your Creditor
Proper debt management requires working with your creditors. Many times creditors have debt management plans, as well as suspended payment options if you are having financial difficulty. Avoiding your creditors will make your credit problems worse and your debt management plan will not work. So talk with your creditor because frequently they can help you, or at least relieve the pressure for a little while.
Debt Management Tip #3 Pay of Credit Cards
An important part of debt management is paying off your credit cards. If you do not pay off your credit cards then you will pay an unbelievable amount of money in finance charges. Make paying off your credit cards one of the first goals in your debt management program. You will realize a relief in your debt within a few months and realize that a debt management plan is important for everyone with debt.
Debt Management Tip #1 Make Your Payments on Time
One of the most important things you can do to help your credit score is to make your payments on time. This is also a great way to avoid late charges which not only negatively impact your credit, but also negatively impacts your wallet. Debt management means making on time payments means your account will never be late, will not go into default and will not never have late fees associated with it. If you have problems making your payment on time imagine how much worse it will be when an additional $30 - $50 is tacked onto that payment.
Debt Management Tip #2 Work with Your Creditor
Proper debt management requires working with your creditors. Many times creditors have debt management plans, as well as suspended payment options if you are having financial difficulty. Avoiding your creditors will make your credit problems worse and your debt management plan will not work. So talk with your creditor because frequently they can help you, or at least relieve the pressure for a little while.
Debt Management Tip #3 Pay of Credit Cards
An important part of debt management is paying off your credit cards. If you do not pay off your credit cards then you will pay an unbelievable amount of money in finance charges. Make paying off your credit cards one of the first goals in your debt management program. You will realize a relief in your debt within a few months and realize that a debt management plan is important for everyone with debt.
So you wanna pay off debt eh?
Debt consolidation can be confusing, especially if you have never considered contacting a debt consolidation company before. A debt consolidation company can give you free advice on reducing your monthly payments and show you the path to becoming debt free. High interest rates and the various fees charged by creditors can leave the average consumer unable to meet their monthly financial obligations. If you have found yourself overwhelmed by credit card debt and unsecured loan payments, debt consolidation may be the answer you have been looking for.
The services offered by debt consolidation companies will not eliminate your debt overnight, but they will assist you in lowering your interest rates and monthly payment amounts. Debt consolidation is not an instant cure for your financial problems, but rather a tool that is available to consumers who can no longer afford the high payments and high interest rates charged by creditors. Instead of making high monthly payments to your creditors, you can drastically lower the interest rates on your accounts and lower your monthly payments.
If you are currently making the minimum payments on your credit cards and struggling to pay off loans, medical bills, and other unsecured debts, a debt consolidation company can give you a free evaluation of your financial situation and contact your creditors on your behalf to make new arrangements for the repayment of your debts. Debt consolidation is not a new loan; it is a re-negotiation of the terms of your original accounts. In utilizing the services of a debt consolidation company you can pay off your debts in a much shorter time and pay less money each month.
Protect your credit rating and start down the path to financial freedom. Debt consolidation services are often the best answer for millions of consumers who have become unable to pay more than the minimum amounts on their credit cards. If you continue to pay small monthly payments you could spend decades trying to become debt free. Contact a debt consolidation company now and begin dramatically reducing your debt today. Free consultations and friendly, professional service make consolidating your debts easy. You can start saving money each and every month and become debt free in a much shorter period of time.
The services offered by debt consolidation companies will not eliminate your debt overnight, but they will assist you in lowering your interest rates and monthly payment amounts. Debt consolidation is not an instant cure for your financial problems, but rather a tool that is available to consumers who can no longer afford the high payments and high interest rates charged by creditors. Instead of making high monthly payments to your creditors, you can drastically lower the interest rates on your accounts and lower your monthly payments.
If you are currently making the minimum payments on your credit cards and struggling to pay off loans, medical bills, and other unsecured debts, a debt consolidation company can give you a free evaluation of your financial situation and contact your creditors on your behalf to make new arrangements for the repayment of your debts. Debt consolidation is not a new loan; it is a re-negotiation of the terms of your original accounts. In utilizing the services of a debt consolidation company you can pay off your debts in a much shorter time and pay less money each month.
Protect your credit rating and start down the path to financial freedom. Debt consolidation services are often the best answer for millions of consumers who have become unable to pay more than the minimum amounts on their credit cards. If you continue to pay small monthly payments you could spend decades trying to become debt free. Contact a debt consolidation company now and begin dramatically reducing your debt today. Free consultations and friendly, professional service make consolidating your debts easy. You can start saving money each and every month and become debt free in a much shorter period of time.
Online debt consolidation
Consumers today are getting wiser by the day. They are educated and enlightened. They know what they want. A change in their needs and demands has led to a complete reworking of the market today. This changing trend has led to some innovations in the loan market itself. One of them is the online process of loan borrowing. This has made loan market extremely competitive and customer oriented.
One of the biggest financial drain – credit cards – led to huge debt problems for consumers. Average Credit card debt rose from £1879 to £2748 in the last two years. With such an increase in the debt – the only logical subsequent step will be online debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation consolidates all your pending bills like credit card bills, utility bills, medical bills, student loans or any other outstanding debt. This is the most reconstructive step towards getting debt free. Paying each month the interest rates on various loan types is an obvious stress on your budget. Online debt consolidation allows you to make one lower monthly payment for all the bills.
Debt consolidation loans available online are meant to be beneficial but a wrong debt consolidation decision pose great risk to your already precarious financial situation. It will neutralize the reason for which you opted for online debt consolidation. Subsequently, a correct debt consolidation decision can not only get you out of debt but save a fortune. Look beyond the lower interest rate if you want to know that you are actually making profit through online debt consolidation. The interest rates are definitely lower but add the total interest rates that you are currently paying with total interest rates you will be paying after debt consolidation.
A smaller loan term for online debt consolidation will fetch you more profits. Don’t go by the loans lender who encourages you with long term loans. The lower the monthly payments the longer the loan will last. They might have lower monthly payments but in the long run it will cost more. There is only one way that your online debt consolidation loans fetch you benefits – pay the loans fast. Do not let your online debt consolidation loan term go beyond 3-5 years. You can extend it maximum up to 10 years. Beyond that it won’t be that cost effective. Try taking small amounts as online debt consolidation. This will prove profitable because the compound interest on small amounts will be working for you than against you.
Online debt consolidation might make your debt situation more manageable than what it used to be. Instead of various loan lenders you will have only one loan lender to deal with. The online debt consolidation lender would be henceforth dealing with your previous loan lenders. All you do is make a monthly payment and it will be distributed to pay for various loans.
Online debt consolidation is for those who have ignored their financial limitations. Online debt consolidation can offer concrete solutions to those with medical bills and also those facing long term unemployment. If you intend to manage your online debt consolidation, you can take debt management services. They study your income and expenditure and deduce a monthly payment that fits into your monthly budget. Online debt consolidation can work for those who have committed themselves to correcting their spending habits. Online debt consolidation won’t work without your thorough commitment. It is basic to success with online debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation tries to deal with a problem that is your unreliable spending habits. It is a solution but it is not a cure in itself. It depends on how you make it a foundation for good, solid financial planning. Falling back on your old ways would lead you back to the place where you are standing right now i.e. in search on another online option for debt consolidation. It is not a very promising situation. If you are looking for debt consolidation online – take it as a cue that perhaps somewhere your economic policy is faulty. If you understand this one fact then online debt consolidation will prove success – you not only will be out of debt, you will not get into it again.
One of the biggest financial drain – credit cards – led to huge debt problems for consumers. Average Credit card debt rose from £1879 to £2748 in the last two years. With such an increase in the debt – the only logical subsequent step will be online debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation consolidates all your pending bills like credit card bills, utility bills, medical bills, student loans or any other outstanding debt. This is the most reconstructive step towards getting debt free. Paying each month the interest rates on various loan types is an obvious stress on your budget. Online debt consolidation allows you to make one lower monthly payment for all the bills.
Debt consolidation loans available online are meant to be beneficial but a wrong debt consolidation decision pose great risk to your already precarious financial situation. It will neutralize the reason for which you opted for online debt consolidation. Subsequently, a correct debt consolidation decision can not only get you out of debt but save a fortune. Look beyond the lower interest rate if you want to know that you are actually making profit through online debt consolidation. The interest rates are definitely lower but add the total interest rates that you are currently paying with total interest rates you will be paying after debt consolidation.
A smaller loan term for online debt consolidation will fetch you more profits. Don’t go by the loans lender who encourages you with long term loans. The lower the monthly payments the longer the loan will last. They might have lower monthly payments but in the long run it will cost more. There is only one way that your online debt consolidation loans fetch you benefits – pay the loans fast. Do not let your online debt consolidation loan term go beyond 3-5 years. You can extend it maximum up to 10 years. Beyond that it won’t be that cost effective. Try taking small amounts as online debt consolidation. This will prove profitable because the compound interest on small amounts will be working for you than against you.
Online debt consolidation might make your debt situation more manageable than what it used to be. Instead of various loan lenders you will have only one loan lender to deal with. The online debt consolidation lender would be henceforth dealing with your previous loan lenders. All you do is make a monthly payment and it will be distributed to pay for various loans.
Online debt consolidation is for those who have ignored their financial limitations. Online debt consolidation can offer concrete solutions to those with medical bills and also those facing long term unemployment. If you intend to manage your online debt consolidation, you can take debt management services. They study your income and expenditure and deduce a monthly payment that fits into your monthly budget. Online debt consolidation can work for those who have committed themselves to correcting their spending habits. Online debt consolidation won’t work without your thorough commitment. It is basic to success with online debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation tries to deal with a problem that is your unreliable spending habits. It is a solution but it is not a cure in itself. It depends on how you make it a foundation for good, solid financial planning. Falling back on your old ways would lead you back to the place where you are standing right now i.e. in search on another online option for debt consolidation. It is not a very promising situation. If you are looking for debt consolidation online – take it as a cue that perhaps somewhere your economic policy is faulty. If you understand this one fact then online debt consolidation will prove success – you not only will be out of debt, you will not get into it again.
Is debt consolidation for me?
People with large debts always assume they just can’t afford to get out from under their debts, so they let them pile up dollar-by-dollar, year-by-year. No one has to live with large debts, there is always a way out. Debt consolidation is for anyone who has debts and cannot currently afford to make their monthly payments. It’s so easy for multiple monthly payments to add up to the point where you just can’t do it anymore. So, you put it off for one month, and one month becomes three, three months become six, and before you know it you can’t possibly catch up. Debt consolidation can get you out of the debt trap that you’re in. Anyone who has debts that they cannot pay should at least consider debt consolidation before taking more drastic and permanent steps.
Only in very extreme cases is bankruptcy a good idea, most people can handle their debt through consolidation. Bankruptcy will leave a scar on your credit history for a long time, much longer than the seven years that people say it will. Unless a professional advises you that there really is no other way out of your debt, bankruptcy isn’t the answer! Debt consolidation is the perfect alternative to bankruptcy because with consolidation you can pay off your debts, and while it isn’t instant, it will improve your credit in the long run.
Debt consolidation works by gathering all of your debt, and working with the people you owe money to, to reduce interest and even take a small portion of the principal amount due off the bill. Doing this with each bill will lower your personal debt up to twenty percent, and when you are talking about large amounts of debt twenty percent can be a lot! Twenty percent can mean the difference between doable and bankruptcy. Twenty percent can mean keeping your home or having it foreclosed upon!
The first step after gathering all your debts and reducing them as much as possible is to do an income to debt comparison. This ratio will determine if debt consolidation really will work for you. For instance, if you make fifty thousand dollars a year and only have ten thousand dollars worth of debt, you’ll definitely be able to work out arrangements because your debt doesn’t greatly outweigh what you can bring in over a couple years time. But, if your income is only twenty five thousand dollars a year and you have a two million dollar debt, it may be difficult to ever get on top of that. Your debt needs to be something that you can realistically expect to pay off within a few years time. A debt consolidation professional can take a look at your specific debt to income ratio and let you know if you are a good candidate, of if you really need to consider bankruptcy as a last resort. Not paying on the debts isn’t an option, because bad credit robs you of your buying power, and you need that!
Even if you think that your debt is outrageously high, you should still consult with a debt coordinator. Even if your debts are high now, you should see what a debt consolidation company could do for you as far as reducing interest and debts. Don’t be discouraged until a qualified professional (or two!) can tell you that consolidation really isn’t an option for you. Don’t give up until you’ve tried everything, you can’t just roll over and taint your credit without being one hundred percent sure it’s your only option.
The majority of people do qualify for debt consolidation, which is great! Even though no one wants to pay a bill, many consolidators are able to get all of your debt into one monthly payment. One monthly payment takes the stress out of paying the bill, and also makes it fast and convenient. Your consolidator will work with you and your debt to determine what you can afford and what will make your debt collectors happy. Often, debt needs to be consolidated in two or three parts, to fit within your monthly payment. It would be ideal to do it all at once, but celebrate the fact that you are able to pay on your debts at all!
Debt consolidation isn’t easy, but it is the answer for all those bills and collection agencies that are calling you. Once the process is started, debt consolidation is easy, and relatively stress free. Be sure to be honest about what you can afford monthly, so as not to lapse on your consolidation payments. The last thing you want to do is take steps backward after you’ve come so far. Each time you make a payment on your debt you’ll feel the weight lifting, and you’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing you are making a dent in the debt you have.
No one tries to go into debt, but it’s easy to fall into a debt trap. Medical issues, financial strain, or job issues are common reasons for debt. Getting into debt isn’t fun, and getting out isn’t much fun either, but once you are there it’s worth the effort. And, living debt free is a lot more fun because you’ve regained your buying power. You’ll have a lot more respect for yourself and your ability to follow through, and other companies will be willing to give you a second chance when they realize you have righted your wrongs.
So, who is debt consolidation for? Everyone! Everyone should at least consider consolidating his or her debt. There is no easy way out of monthly payments that cannot be met, but this is the best way to get control back of your life and your finances. Even if you have huge debts, contact a debt consolidation company in your area for a free consultation! You’ll be so glad you did, because you’ll gain confidence, respect, and get some much needed guidance to succeed in the future!
Only in very extreme cases is bankruptcy a good idea, most people can handle their debt through consolidation. Bankruptcy will leave a scar on your credit history for a long time, much longer than the seven years that people say it will. Unless a professional advises you that there really is no other way out of your debt, bankruptcy isn’t the answer! Debt consolidation is the perfect alternative to bankruptcy because with consolidation you can pay off your debts, and while it isn’t instant, it will improve your credit in the long run.
Debt consolidation works by gathering all of your debt, and working with the people you owe money to, to reduce interest and even take a small portion of the principal amount due off the bill. Doing this with each bill will lower your personal debt up to twenty percent, and when you are talking about large amounts of debt twenty percent can be a lot! Twenty percent can mean the difference between doable and bankruptcy. Twenty percent can mean keeping your home or having it foreclosed upon!
The first step after gathering all your debts and reducing them as much as possible is to do an income to debt comparison. This ratio will determine if debt consolidation really will work for you. For instance, if you make fifty thousand dollars a year and only have ten thousand dollars worth of debt, you’ll definitely be able to work out arrangements because your debt doesn’t greatly outweigh what you can bring in over a couple years time. But, if your income is only twenty five thousand dollars a year and you have a two million dollar debt, it may be difficult to ever get on top of that. Your debt needs to be something that you can realistically expect to pay off within a few years time. A debt consolidation professional can take a look at your specific debt to income ratio and let you know if you are a good candidate, of if you really need to consider bankruptcy as a last resort. Not paying on the debts isn’t an option, because bad credit robs you of your buying power, and you need that!
Even if you think that your debt is outrageously high, you should still consult with a debt coordinator. Even if your debts are high now, you should see what a debt consolidation company could do for you as far as reducing interest and debts. Don’t be discouraged until a qualified professional (or two!) can tell you that consolidation really isn’t an option for you. Don’t give up until you’ve tried everything, you can’t just roll over and taint your credit without being one hundred percent sure it’s your only option.
The majority of people do qualify for debt consolidation, which is great! Even though no one wants to pay a bill, many consolidators are able to get all of your debt into one monthly payment. One monthly payment takes the stress out of paying the bill, and also makes it fast and convenient. Your consolidator will work with you and your debt to determine what you can afford and what will make your debt collectors happy. Often, debt needs to be consolidated in two or three parts, to fit within your monthly payment. It would be ideal to do it all at once, but celebrate the fact that you are able to pay on your debts at all!
Debt consolidation isn’t easy, but it is the answer for all those bills and collection agencies that are calling you. Once the process is started, debt consolidation is easy, and relatively stress free. Be sure to be honest about what you can afford monthly, so as not to lapse on your consolidation payments. The last thing you want to do is take steps backward after you’ve come so far. Each time you make a payment on your debt you’ll feel the weight lifting, and you’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing you are making a dent in the debt you have.
No one tries to go into debt, but it’s easy to fall into a debt trap. Medical issues, financial strain, or job issues are common reasons for debt. Getting into debt isn’t fun, and getting out isn’t much fun either, but once you are there it’s worth the effort. And, living debt free is a lot more fun because you’ve regained your buying power. You’ll have a lot more respect for yourself and your ability to follow through, and other companies will be willing to give you a second chance when they realize you have righted your wrongs.
So, who is debt consolidation for? Everyone! Everyone should at least consider consolidating his or her debt. There is no easy way out of monthly payments that cannot be met, but this is the best way to get control back of your life and your finances. Even if you have huge debts, contact a debt consolidation company in your area for a free consultation! You’ll be so glad you did, because you’ll gain confidence, respect, and get some much needed guidance to succeed in the future!
How to avoid pitfalls of increasing debt...
Reducing debt usually isn't a high priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you see when your debt load is getting into the danger zone.
Budgeting Guidelines
First off, creditors use budgeting guidelines when reviewing and approving credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guidelines, then you have a higher risk of credit applications being denied.
Getting, and keeping, your debt in line with recommended budgeting guidelines, is an important step in reducing debt. Use the following recommended budgeting guidelines (the same ones used by Financial Institutions) to review the items in your budget:
* Housing 35% - Mortgage or rent, taxes, repairs, improvements, insurance, and utilities;
* Transportation 20% - Monthly payments, gas, oil, repairs, insurance, parking & public transportation;
* Debt 15% - Credit cards, personal loans, student loans & other debt payments;
* All other expenses 20% - Food, insurance, prescriptions, doctor & dentist bills, clothing & personal;
* Investments & Savings 10% - Stocks, bonds, cash reserves, retirement, rental real estate, art, etc.
Debt Income Ratios
The second step is calculating your debt income ratio. Once you know what your ratio is, you will understand just how important debt load is to your overall financial picture. Your debt income ratio is the percent of your monthly take-home pay that goes to paying debts.
You calculate it by taking the amount needed to repay debts each month, including rent or mortgage, and divide by your take-home pay (your net pay after taxes). Remember, this is "Debt" ratio, so only include actual debt repayment in the calculation.
Credit To Debt Ratio
Just because you pay off a credit card is no reason to close your account. One little known fact about the Credit to Debt Ratio is the reverse effect it has on your credit score. If you pay off a credit card, and close the account, you are actually negatively impacting your credit score.
The reason for this negative effect is in the calculation of the Credit to Debt Ratio itself. This ratio is the relationship of your debt total vs. your credit limit.
You calculate it by dividing the total credit limit of all credit cards and loan accounts by the total of the actual debt (spent total). Now, if you pay off a credit card, you are reducing the actual debt, which is great, but, if you close the account, you are also dramatically reducing the credit limit you have, and usually by a higher percentage than you are reducing debt.
Pay Yourself First
Essential to long-term financial success, and protecting your future, is paying yourself first. While this may seem easy to do, it happens to be the last thing most people do, instead of first.
Debts and other financial obligations, money for entertainment, and other spending always seem to take a higher priority. All I can say is, STOP! Think about it, if you aren't worth being paid first, then who is? Always put something away in your savings, and leave it alone. It doesn't matter if it's only $5 a week, just do it!
Snowball The Credit Cards
Last, but not least, is making extra payments, not just the minimum payments, on your credit cards. You have probably already seen this method to reducing debt many times, but it just can't be stressed enough.
Paying just $10 extra a month on a credit card, above the minimum required payment, can cut your repayment term in half, if not more! So, squeeze out that extra payment, however small, every month, and take advantage of the compounding effect of snowballing your way to reducing debt.
The Power of Financial Knowledge
Remember, you don't have to be a financial whiz to understand what's going on with your credit and debt. Just a few simple calculations, and an eye on the future, will go a long way to help you succeed financially and keep your debt under control. Be safe, be smart, do the math!
Budgeting Guidelines
First off, creditors use budgeting guidelines when reviewing and approving credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guidelines, then you have a higher risk of credit applications being denied.
Getting, and keeping, your debt in line with recommended budgeting guidelines, is an important step in reducing debt. Use the following recommended budgeting guidelines (the same ones used by Financial Institutions) to review the items in your budget:
* Housing 35% - Mortgage or rent, taxes, repairs, improvements, insurance, and utilities;
* Transportation 20% - Monthly payments, gas, oil, repairs, insurance, parking & public transportation;
* Debt 15% - Credit cards, personal loans, student loans & other debt payments;
* All other expenses 20% - Food, insurance, prescriptions, doctor & dentist bills, clothing & personal;
* Investments & Savings 10% - Stocks, bonds, cash reserves, retirement, rental real estate, art, etc.
Debt Income Ratios
The second step is calculating your debt income ratio. Once you know what your ratio is, you will understand just how important debt load is to your overall financial picture. Your debt income ratio is the percent of your monthly take-home pay that goes to paying debts.
You calculate it by taking the amount needed to repay debts each month, including rent or mortgage, and divide by your take-home pay (your net pay after taxes). Remember, this is "Debt" ratio, so only include actual debt repayment in the calculation.
Credit To Debt Ratio
Just because you pay off a credit card is no reason to close your account. One little known fact about the Credit to Debt Ratio is the reverse effect it has on your credit score. If you pay off a credit card, and close the account, you are actually negatively impacting your credit score.
The reason for this negative effect is in the calculation of the Credit to Debt Ratio itself. This ratio is the relationship of your debt total vs. your credit limit.
You calculate it by dividing the total credit limit of all credit cards and loan accounts by the total of the actual debt (spent total). Now, if you pay off a credit card, you are reducing the actual debt, which is great, but, if you close the account, you are also dramatically reducing the credit limit you have, and usually by a higher percentage than you are reducing debt.
Pay Yourself First
Essential to long-term financial success, and protecting your future, is paying yourself first. While this may seem easy to do, it happens to be the last thing most people do, instead of first.
Debts and other financial obligations, money for entertainment, and other spending always seem to take a higher priority. All I can say is, STOP! Think about it, if you aren't worth being paid first, then who is? Always put something away in your savings, and leave it alone. It doesn't matter if it's only $5 a week, just do it!
Snowball The Credit Cards
Last, but not least, is making extra payments, not just the minimum payments, on your credit cards. You have probably already seen this method to reducing debt many times, but it just can't be stressed enough.
Paying just $10 extra a month on a credit card, above the minimum required payment, can cut your repayment term in half, if not more! So, squeeze out that extra payment, however small, every month, and take advantage of the compounding effect of snowballing your way to reducing debt.
The Power of Financial Knowledge
Remember, you don't have to be a financial whiz to understand what's going on with your credit and debt. Just a few simple calculations, and an eye on the future, will go a long way to help you succeed financially and keep your debt under control. Be safe, be smart, do the math!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)