In Debt Over Your Head? These 5 Simple Steps Will Help
The next 5 steps are not difficult. They only take commitment. You can do it. The feeling of freedom and success when the bills are not hanging over your head will make this all worthwhile.
Ready to get stated? Let’s go.
Step #1. Work out where you are now
You may not have looked at your financial position for a while. Maybe that’s why you are suffering under a load of debt presently. But you need to take stock of your financial position now. Unless you know where you are now, it’s hard to work out how to fix things.
Just get a pen and paper and all your credit card bills and look at the situation honestly. List out all your debts and their interest rates and the minimum monthly repayments.
Don’t get worried about how much you owe. It’s been said that anyone can get rid of all their debt within 5-7 years, including their mortgage. That means you too.
Step #2 Stop spending more than you earn NOW
This is the first thing that must be done to start the ball rolling for your financial success. This is most probably the reason you need to take action now. Look at your living expenses and cut out those things you can’t afford.
Also cut up all the credit cards except one for emergencies and commit yourself to only spending what you can afford from your own income.
Step #3. Find some cash to pay down those debts
Once you have come to grips with Step #2, the next step is to work out ways to put some money aside every week or month to start paying down those debts, preferably faster than the minimum monthly requirement. Pay as much as you can. It’s better to pay down these debts than to put the money in the bank. This is because the credit card interest is a lot more than you can receive from the bank for funds on deposit. The aim is pay down the highest interest debt first.
If you have 2 credit cards with the same interest rate, pay off the one with the smallest balance first. That will give you a boost and the resolve to keep on going.
Step #4. Build a Savings Fund
Once you have those credit cards under control it’s time to think about putting some funds aside to start building some savings. You’ll be surprised how fast your money grows if you religiously keep adding to the balance and don’t touch it. If you really need to purchase an expensive item like furniture or car it is better to save for it than to borrow, if at all possible.
Step #5. Pay Down That Mortgage.
Since the interest rate on your mortgage is usually a lot less than credit card and store debt you can leave this item till last. Also it is increasing in value over time – unlike your car, TV, Video, furniture and boat. You will be surprised how many years you can cut off your mortgage repayments by just adding a few extra dollars each month to the payment.
These a just a few basic rules to help you get back on your feet financially. The main principle here is to work on reducing your credit card debt. Once that is done use those freed up funds to build your nest egg and pay off the mortgage. That’s the plan that works.
Now get those documents out, do the sums and start on your road to financial freedom.
Tags: 5 Steps, Aim, Credit Card Bills, Credit Card Interest, Credit Cards, Debts, Emergencies, Financial Position, Financial Success, Interest Debt, Interest Rate, Interest Rates, Living Expenses, Money In The Bank, Mortgage, Pen And Paper, Repayments, Simple Steps, Step 1, Step 2Debt consolidation Can it really help those in debts?
Debt consolidation is the act and process of taking out one loan to pay off many other loans and bills like credit card bills or student loans.
The main aim of debt consolidation is to basically reduce the total amount of loan repayment through interest rate reduction.
Many debt consolidation companies, programs and services have argued the benefits and advantages of debt consolidation when one is in cycle of debts. But the question is:
Is debt consolidation really useful in helping people get out of their debt problems?
While I agree that debt consolidation can help debtors solve their debt problems, many debtors really have much difficulty to get out of their debt problems even after they consolidate their debts.
Why is that so??
Think about it – Most of these debt consolidators are in debt problems because they spend on credit and are used to spending more than they can afford to. As such, they eventually run into debts in the long run since they are always spending more than they earn every month.
After debt consolidation these debt consolidators will have their credit card balance clear and a single monthly loan payment (with extended repayment period).
With a lighter loan repayment amount, most of these people will begin to relax and usually over spend on their monthly budget again in the near future.
By doing so, they will eventually run into debts again. Thus, it is not surprising to see many people who have had consolidate their debts before to run into debt problems again.
How does one get out of debts?
Debt consolidation is a tool to help debtors get out of debt problems. Unfortunately, many have used it to increase their debt problems as mention above.
The only surefire way to get out of debts is really to adjust your spending habit and commit to a discipline lifestyle. If you ask me, the get out of debt formula is really simple:
Its either to earn more money or spent less money.
Tags: Act, Aim, Consolidate Debts, Consolidation Debt, Credit Card Balance, Credit Card Bills, Debt Consolidation Companies, Debt Consolidators, Debt Problems, Debtors, Discipline, Habit, Interest Rate Reduction, Lifestyle, Loan Payment, Loan Repayment, Monthly Budget, Repayment Period, Student Loans, Tool