Debt Management Info Blog

posted by on Dec 26

Some people find themselves with way too much debt on their credit cards and not enough income to bring the balances down.  What can be done?  Here are some suggestions.

* Start bringing in more money.  You might need to get a second job, or search for a better paying one.  There are also some ways you can make extra money from home, such as babysitting or doing direct sales.  If it comes to this, putting as much of the additional funds as possible toward paying down your debt will help you get it down to a manageable level quickly.

*When you show a willingness to pay many creditors are ready to work with you.  Call your credit card companies and see if they will negotiate a lower monthly payment or bring down your interest a bit.  You could even try to negotiate a reduction in your overall balance, however you may find this difficult to accomplish without legal representation.

* Consolidate your debt.  Home equity loans, or second mortgages, are often used by people who are in an unmanageable amount of debt, or have too much debt, to consolidate the debt and reduce interest charges and monthly payments.  The trouble is that by doing this, you put your house on the line.

You may also pay more in interest than you realize, because even though the interest rate is lower, you will be paying for a longer time.  If you choose this route, paying more than the minimum payment each month will save you money.

If you do not want to put your home at risk you might try applying for a new credit card with a high limit and low rate.  Then you can transfer the balances of your cards to this one card and reduce your monthly expenditures.

Once you have consolidated your debt you have to be careful not to begin charging things again and run the credit card balances back up.  You will be in worse shape than you were in the beginning.

* File for Bankruptcy.  This should be your last resort.  Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes all of your debts clean, but you may lose some of your property depending on your individual circumstances.  Chapter 13, which is now more common because of changes in the law, sets up a court-ordered payment plan to pay off your debt.  Either type will stay on your credit report for 7 years, and on public record permanently.

posted by on Dec 15

If you’re faced with a great amount of debt, you likely want to get rid of it as quickly as you can. The cost of interest can really add up. As well, if you already have a lot of debt, it becomes difficult or even impossible to take on more debt for anything you really need. The important thing to remember is not to panic when you are in this situation.

It is in your best interest to try to get out of debt on your own if possible. Many people make the error of assuming they can pay off their debt really quick. They go ahead and set goals that aren’t realistic, and when they can’t reach them they get discouraged or give up. Many end up filing bankruptcy, because they feel there is no other hope for them.

You need to be realistic with your plans. Sit down and make a very thorough budget, including all of your monthly expenses. You then need to determine what you can live without, and take that money you save and put towards paying off your bills. The following are some things you can look at cutting out of your spending:

* Eating out.  Whether you pick up fast food for lunch when you’re working, or go out to eat with friends at a fancy restaurant once a week, you can cut costs here.  Take your lunch to work, and have dinner with your friends once a month instead of once a week.  Or better yet, suggest a less expensive activity that you can do together.

Vices- many of our bad habits also use up our precious money. If you smoke, you should quit- it is better for your health and for your wallet. Try making special coffees at home, rather than getting coffees out every day. These daily cut-backs really add up.

Entertainment- be sure to look at where to spend money on entertainment and cut back. Try to rent movies in, instead of going out to movies all the time. It is important to not completely deprive yourself and be bored, but to cut back within reason.

Travel- if you can cut back on the amount you drive your car, you will notice great savings. Try carpooling or taking the bus- you’ll save on gas, car repair, etc.

Depending on how much debt you have and what you can pay toward it, it may take many months or even years to pay off your debt. Keeping making more than the minimum payments each month, and you will find yourself making progress. Importantly, make your payments on time each month to keep your credit in good standing. With a little patience and hard work, you will find yourself someday to be free of debt.

posted by on Dec 11

Take a close look at your life. Do you see a sea of debts in front of you: credit card bills, education loans, loans for cars, loans for goods, medical bills? If you do then you need to enroll yourself in a debt management program. Because most of these are unsecured loans and if not managed well they could break upon you like a tidal wave.

Debt management is an essential skill that we should either learn or avail of, in order to juggle the various loans that we invariably end up taking. This is where debt management programs can prove helpful. They can help you clear your debts and regain your creditworthiness.

Most of these programs first try and get you to avoid filing for bankruptcy by chalking out a single repayment plan. This plan is based on lower interest rates that they wrangle from your creditors by negotiating directly with them. Interestingly, almost every creditor is flexible on the subject of interest rates; however, when it comes to the principal amount then it is a different story.

And since they deal directly with the creditors, they eliminate late fees and all unpleasant haggling. The process is simple: you pay them, they pay your creditors.

Debt management programs can help you get out of your short term debt in less than five years. They can also help you create financial goals and live within a sensible budget. More importantly they can counsel you on how to improve your credit habits and improve your finances. Most of these programs have counselors who can guide and advise you.

Debt management companies are usually sought after for help with credit card debt, although they can help you eliminate a variety of debts.

But even the best debt management programs can do little for you in terms of wiping away your past or improving your credit status overnight. But if you follow their advice closely enough, you should be able to improve your financial reputation.

Not all companies are reputable.  You need to do your research and try to make a wise choice when deciding which company to turn to.  Word of mouth is a good way to investigate.  Talk to others who have availed themselves of such companies in the past.  Once you have researched the different companies, their methods, fees, and payment options, your gut feeling will help you make a wise decision.

posted by on Dec 10

Student loans are a common debt for new graduates. The financial pressure can be daunting, especially when just starting out. Debt consolidation may be the key to financial freedom.

Qualifying for consolidation assistance will depend on a number of factors. The type of student loan you have is just one.

Government and private loans are 2 of the most common student loans. Offered by the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid program, government loans are the easier of the two when qualifying for consolidation aid.

If qualifying for government assistance doesn’t work out, a private loan may.  Private loans tend to be difficult to qualify for and higher interest rates and terms may be less than favorable.

Debt consolidation is the process of collecting outstanding debt into one loan. The money from the loan is used to pay off the debt with a single monthly payment at a lower interest rate. Through this, you will be able to get out of debt easier.

If you are looking to obtain a debt consolidation loan, you need to turn to a debt consolidation creditor.  Not all such creditors are the same.  They often differ in their fees as well as the services they offer.

Several options are available to locate a qualified and reliable debt consolidation specialist. One idea is to contact your school for a tried and true recommendation.

Another option is to contact your local government offices. They will also have dealt with many people who are looking for this type of service and should have some information on reliable services.

There is also a great deal of information available on the internet and many debt consolidation companies have websites where they outline their services. If you are researching them on the internet, be sure to do your due diligence. It’s much harder to separate the good from the not-so-good online - anyone can put up a nice looking website.

posted by on Dec 8

One of the fastest growing businesses in America right now is debt management. The idea is that millions of Americans struggle every month to pay their bills, and many have mounting debts that they have no idea how to overcome.

There are companies and nonprofit organizations that have dedicated themselves to helping people understand their options and find solutions to their debt problems. There are several ideas that they discuss with people, but some of the key concepts are as follows:

- Stop Spending and start budgeting:  The first step to managing your debt is to stop adding to your overall balance. There are several methods of budgeting that can be used, but the important thing is to understand your necessary expenses that must be paid monthly. Compare your monthly expenses to your monthly income and ensure that you’re prioritizing the way you spend your money. If you have trouble paying more than the minimum on your credit card bill, for instance, you probably shouldn’t be buying a new flat-screen TV.

- Get Organized: Create a spreadsheet that lists all of your debt obligations, your monthly payment amounts, when payments are due, and interest rates on the borrowed funds. Next, Sort that list to establish which debts have the highest overall balances and interest rates. Finally, create a plan that will allow you to pay off the most expensive debt first.

- Get a loan that makes more sense: Chances are that debt is a big problem for you; you’re paying multiple creditors and very high interest rates. If you have family members in a position to help, they are usually much more understanding lenders than most creditors or collectors. If you don’t have family members in a position to help, consider taking a loan from your 401K. Saving for the future is very important, but you’ll be in a much better position to save in the long run if you can get yourself out of debt now.

- Enter a Debt Counseling Program: There are good programs and bad programs that could help you in managing your debt, so choosing the right one is essential. But talking with a credit counselor who will take the time to understand your situation and recommend the best alternative for you could be very valuable. They will also be able to outline the pros and cons of different ideas you might have for getting yourself out of debt.

- Consolidate your Debt: Putting all your various debts under one umbrella with a lower overall interest rate can help you get out of debt more quickly and efficiently than many other debt management alternatives. A debt counselor can help you determine whether or not this is a good idea. As with other debt reduction strategies, there are drawbacks that need to be clearly understood with this method.

Debt is difficult to deal with, but the above steps can help to make it manageable, helping the borrower to develop a strategy to eliminate serious debt problems.

posted by on Dec 2

Over the past few years, new lending options have cropped up in banks all across the country. These days equity lines, and loans have become common household staples, and consumers have new and creative ways to borrow money, finance their homes, and consolidate their debt.

While it may seem like an easy quick fix, experts warn against automatically turning to equity lines and loans as a way to reduce debt.

What is an Equity Line or Loan?  An equity line offers a line of credit based on the equity that you have in your home, with a variable interest rate. An equity loan is basically the same thing, but instead of a line of credit, the consumer is given a lump sum payment with a fixed interest rate attached. Although the interest rates on equity lines are usually lower, in a fluctuating economy, an equity loan with a slightly higher fixed rate may be the safer option.

What can you use an equity line or loan for?  Banks advertise these options as a tax deductible way to pay off debt, renovate your home, pay for school, or even make purchases at a much lower interest rate.

Anything you would use a traditional consumer loan to pay for can be done using the equity in your home. Often, equity lines and loans are promoted as a safety net to retirees, who pay higher taxes without the tax deduction a mortgage provides.

Is an equity line or loan right for me?  While equity lines and loans do offer lower interest rates, and can be a fast and easy way to pay down debt, experts warn that they should be used with extreme caution. As a consumer, you must determine if you have the discipline that is required for an equity line or loan.

Although the loan will allow you to momentarily solve your debt problems, the debt doesnt disappear. You still need to make monthly payments on your equity line. If in the meantime, you continue to overspend and rack up even more credit card debt, you may find yourself worse off than before. Now you have no equity to tap into; and if you are unable to pay your bills, your home is on the line.

When it comes to debt consolidation, it may be tempting to seek out the quick fix. Equity lines and loans are great options, but they do require hard work and discipline. Use these tools carefully, and knowledgeably, and begin today to reduce your debt.

posted by on Nov 30

Too much debt can be a major cause of stress and anxiety. If you’re struggling to make the minimum payments on all your bills, a debt consolidation loan may be a good option but there are some things to take into consideration first.

A debt consolidation loan is basically a loan for the total amount of all your outstanding debt - car loans, credit cards, department store credit, etc. This money is used to repay all the high-interest debts and then you only have to make a single payment, usually at a much lower rate of interest.

Before looking into a consolidation loan, there are some other options that may help you as well in reducing or paying off your credit card debt.

1. Ask For A Lower Interest Rate

Credit cards generally have the highest interest rates of all debt. Often, a simple phone call to your creditor, asking for a lower rate or to match a competitor’s rate, may do the trick.

2. Learn How To Manage Debt More Effectively

Rather than getting a loan to consolidate your debt, you might simply need to learn how to effectively manage the debt. There is plenty of information available for free on the internet, and most cities have non-profit organizations that will help you with debt management.

3. Get A Bank Loan

If the bulk of your debt is on high-interest credit cards, you may be able to consolidate those with a loan from your bank. Rather than putting all your debt into a single loan, you might be able to simply consolidate your credit cards into a single, lower interest loan from your bank.

Consolidation of debts can efficiently save you money and decrease the monthly stress of locating money for multiple payments. If you’re dealing with unmanageable debt, this may be the solution for you.

posted by on Nov 29

Getting a loan from a student loan consolidation center has become a very easy process, and student loans are no exception.  The repayment process is substantially more difficult, however.  For that reason, you should understand some basic information about student loans before you get one yourself.

Student Loan Information: What You Should Know

Before you apply for any student loan, be sure to ask yourself some important questions that will help you to make a well thought out decision.  Start by asking, How much financial aid do I really need? and then What plan do I have to pay this loan back successfully?

You also need to have the requirements for eligibility of the loan you want clear in mind.  You should know where it would be best to apply (on what student loan consolidation center is the best), ways to earn money while you are still attending classes, and the time difference between the loan sanction and loan repayment.

The answers to such important questions will help you decide whether or not it would be wise in your case to apply for financial aid.  You can also determine how difficult the process of repaying your student loan could potentially be.  Be absolutely sure that you are well prepared to use the funds you would borrow wisely and to pay back everything you borrow plus interest payments.

Repayment Conditions: Dont Ignore This Important Aspect

About six out of every ten students in USA are heavily indebted when they graduate starting their adult life, as you would say, with the left foot. These debts would be often because of mismanagement of student loans, credit cards misuse and other such things. The point is that the pressure of a negative credit record can be exceptionally heavy when you newly start your career ??” and very often a family as well.

In order to avoid such unpleasant circumstances, you need to plan out how you will repay your student loan debt now.  Even though making good financial choices is not easy when you are young, it is worth putting forth the effort to do.  Contact your school for debt counseling instead of maxing out your credit cards if you find yourself in a financial bind.

posted by on Nov 24

Whether you are in college or have graduate from college you likely have a large financial burden that you are carrying as a result of your student loans. In addition to these expensive loans you likely also have to pay for rent, mortgages, care payments and maybe even support a family. With all this responsibility it is easy to see why many are looking for a way to ease their financial responsibilities. One place where you can start is with personal student loan consolidation.

What Is It?

The student loan consolidation process, regardless of whether you are consolidating private or federal loans, involves taking out a new loan.  That means that the process of personal student loan consolidation will require you to borrow a new loan whose funds will be used to pay off all of your previously existing debt related to your student loans.  Personal student loan consolidation is a great way to simplify your life financially.

Benefits of Consolidating

The simplicity of consolidation isn’t the only reason why you should consider personal student loan consolidation. There is the benefit that you can have a lower monthly payment if your consolidation interest rate is less than the average interest rate on your multiple loans. This way you can save and invest your money, possibly to help you make higher payments that allow you to pay off your loan a lot sooner.

Drawbacks of Consolidating

Remember that there are some negative aspects to consolidating your private student loans.  Even though you may be told that you will be paying less each month, it is important to understand that you might not end up saving any money.  Be sure to check the details of your loan agreement before you sign anything. Beware of student loan consolidation fraud.

If the term of your loan is exceptionally long, such as thirty years, you could wind up paying lots of extra money in interest charges.  A shorter loan term will save you money.

posted by on Nov 19

Each person possesses different types of debt. Therefore, looking for the method that will work in order to eliminate that debt may vary depending upon the type of liability that you have since you may either possess a secured or unsecured debt.

Basically, secured debt is a loan that is being “secured” by a property; therefore the bank can come and take the property from you in case you failed to pay your obligations. On the other hand, unsecured debt is the kind of debt which is usually available in a form of credit card debt. In this article, we’ll focus more on the latter kind of debt.

Getting Rid of Unsecured Debt

Here are some processes that you can do:

1.    bankruptcy
2.    paying as agreed
3.    going for a settlement with the creditor and paying lesser than the balance due. (this method is better known as debt settlement or debt negotiation)

Among the 3, bankruptcy is seldom a feasible alternative because of the alteration created on the Bankruptcy Law in 2004 wherein people are now asked to pay back the amount as stated on Chapter 13.

A better debt elimination progam than bankruptcy:

That said; the good method that one can choose is to go through a Credit Counseling and Debt Consolidation services which is done by settling for a lesser balance due hence one is no longer expected to pay the original amount but only a portion of it. Large banks and credit companies would normally offer these services although they would normally charge an additional fee for this.

Now, the best method that one can do in order to eliminate debt is though the process of leverage. During those months when you failed to make the necessary payment, banks and companies that you have a loan with will constantly attempt to contact you to discuss your options. The thing that you must do with them is to contact them in letter and ask if they can stop calling on your phone and merely settle in writing. It is also necessary that you are aware of all your rights which is written on the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act as well as Fair Credit Reporting Act specially these days when most collections representatives would normally behave in an unscrupulous manner just to get what they want. Knowing your rights can give you the chance to fight back.

The moment when you have an adequate leverage against the company, it is exactly the right time to opt for settlement. A sensible goal must be to settle the debt for about 35%-50%. So you will be entertained better, you can contact the bank or credit card company directly instead of sending them mails and phone calls. When you visit them personally, they will have to transfer you into their collection department that will help you plan on how to resolve the debt. Normally, they will make an offer; don’t be afraid to say that you wish to only pay about 15%-25%. They may often say ‘no’ at first, but if you are persistent enough they will ask you to talk with their manager. This is a sign that you’re wish can be granted.

These are some of the top debt elimination programs you can use to eliminate your credit card debt.  Learn more at Debt Cures