| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Debt Free and Carefree
Are you still clearing a mountain of debt amassed last Christmas or even during last year's summer holiday? For those of you who make financial plans, who budget and save, you can skip this article. For those who get a little carried away, who regularly spend more than they can afford, this article is for you. Money worries affect us to the core of our beings - especially when such worries are generated by a lack of this resource. (Yes, having money also brings worries albeit of a different kind). It is so very easy to spend more than we have, indeed it has become a way of life to many. Each month Peter is robbed to pay Paul. Our salary cheques are spoken for as soon as they hit our banks. People find themselves unable to clear their credit cards each month and then are forever playing catch up with high interest payments. What can be done? The first thing is to face the situation. A full financial inventory is required listing everything you own of value, savings, bank accounts and other assets and matching that against everything you owe. Make sure you know what your monthly income is against your monthly outgoings. It is essential that you have the full picture before planning your next move. The severity of your financial situation will dictate your next move. If your assets exceed your liabilities it may be as simple as arranging a loan from a responsible lender, such as your regular bank, and using this to settle the high interest credit card debt leaving you with one manageable monthly payment. We'll talk about the way forward after you have taken this step in just a moment. If it is not possible for you to obtain a consolidation loan you will need to manage your existing debts responsibly. The first thing to do here is check the interest rates being charged and shop around for better deals. It will be possible to transfer balances across to new lenders - provided your credit record has not been blemished by irregular and late payments or defaults. At all costs it is important to take advice from a qualified person before entering into any arrangements with "alternative" lenders. And, of course, there is the worse case scenario that when you do your financial audit you find that you have insufficient assets and insufficient income to meet your debts. The important thing to remember is that your problem will not go away. Ignoring bills and reminders will only make your situation worse. If your position is such that you are going to struggle to make the minimum payment, let your lender know. Contact them before they contact you and, on the whole, you will find them to be understanding and helpful. Put together a repayment plan that you can meet and send this to your creditors for agreement. When you have done all you can to improve the immediate situation you must begin to repay the debt. The debt bearing the highest interest rate is to be repaid first, (this is your number one priority debt) with minimum payments only being made on other outstanding accounts. To protect your credit rating it is essential that at least minimum payments are made, on time, each month. Once your number one priority debt is cleared you focus on making the same additional monthly repayments to the next most expensive account and continue with this until all debt is cleared. Smart individuals will retain at least one credit card and use this each month, leaving their salaries on a high interest earning deposit account, only withdrawing funds when the card balance is due to be cleared. They live on borrowed funds for up to six weeks at a time whilst earning interest on their own funds. Clever. However, you may find it easier at first to put all credit cards away until such time as you have mastered a new way of being around money. Getting yourself clear of debt could take months or years depending on the level of indebtedness and the amount of disposable income you have to make repayments each month. Once you are debt-free the secret is not to find yourself in this situation again. It is important to understand how the debt amassed. Do you not earn enough to sustain your current lifestyle? Are you spending more money than you need on mortgages, rent, utilities, groceries? Do you take the time to look at prices and shop around? What can you cut out of your life which has a cost and which is not essential? When you go on a spending spree, what need is this meeting? How else can you get this need met? It may be that your cost of living is high because of your working hours e.g. when working long hours it is easier to pick up a take away than to prepare a meal. It may be that you will want to consider seeking qualified help if over-spending is a behavioural problem or addiction. Just making the effort to get out of debt is rarely enough. Real work is required to change your relationship with money to prevent the same situation recurring in the future. Building a new relationship with money and "things" is part of a personal growth and development path which we are each ready to follow at different stages in our lives. Some learn to handle money very young - others never do. Donnie Harrison is a personal coach and professional mentor who works with individuals building professional practices, especially in the healthcare sector. Further information from http://donnieharrison.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Group advocates tax increases and non-user fees for sewer debt relief - The Birmingham News - al.com
Debt-Relief - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Debt and Financial Optimism in the UK Continue With £1.3 trillion pounds worth of debt in the UK, Scotland's Citizens Advice Bureau has welcomed a new Bill to regulate lenders and protect borrowers from creating un-repayable levels of personal debt. A History of Money and Banking Secrets That Banks Dont Want Published A History of Money and TradeTo start with a history of money and debt, we must go back many years ago when people used to trade their wares for the things they wanted and needed.In place of money or Federal Reserve Notes, you could trade a well made pistol for a cow, which you could eat or trade a remainder of for other items like clothing. Bouncing Back from a CCJ Should you be unfortunate enough to face a CCJ - but subsequently succeed in having it either set aside or reversed - the court will automatically remove the entry from the Register of County Court Judgments.The court must send notification of cancellation to the Registry Trust within three days of the date of the order. How to Choose a Debt Settlement Company As consumer debt continues to spiral out of control, debt relief is fast becoming a major concern for many American's. In 1999, American's made $1. New Bankruptcy Law - Five Essential Things to Know Last April, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, the most sweeping reform of our nation's bankruptcy laws in more than twenty-five years. Proponents of the bill argue that most consumers who file for bankruptcy do so simply because they do not wish to pay their bills. Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know Personal bankruptcy is a legal way to give people with overwhelming debt a fresh financial start. Many people do not realize that there are five types of bankruptcy options available under the U. Reduce Your Debt Do you want to reduce your debt? Having trouble paying your bills? Getting dunning notices from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or your car?You're not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives. Debt Settlement -- Why the Critics Are Wrong After October 17, 2005, a lot of people are going to become interested in debt settlement as an alternative to bankruptcy. That's the date the new bankruptcy law goes into effect, and it means a rude awakening for many consumers seeking a fresh start in bankruptcy court. Credit Card Debt Freedom is Possible Credit card debt have you drowning financially? You're not alone. The average American household carries $9,205 in credit card debt, according to CardWeb, an online industry tracker. Free Quick and Easy Money Saving Tips - Part 2 Although many consumers would argue differently saving money doesn't have to be difficult. In fact by making just a few changes in your normal lifestyle you can find ways to free up extra cash that can be put to better use in a savings account or an investment account. Debt and Your Dreams You may not realize what that credit card bill is doing to you?Bob is a 27 year old truck driver. He dropped out of college after one year and got a job. Debt Handling Solutions Sometimes debt can seem overwhelming. In those instances, or even before things get that far out of hand, get back to basics and try some of these debt handling solutions. Why You Should Get Out of Debt Today? The main reason for getting out of debt today, is because people with little or not debt have more control over their future:1. They have more discretionary income, meaning that you won't be living pay check after pay check as you probably are right now. 4 Simple Ways to Solve Your Debt Burden Getting Behind Getting behind on your debts owed can be a very frustrating and trying time for you and your family. Depending on how far behind you are, there are other repercussions, such as your credit rating, that will affect you further down the road. Think for a Change I'm not sure where it originated, but I've heard it repeated time and time again: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. As much sense as that statement makes, we often find ourselves addressing the same issue with solutions that are little more than rearranged expressions of previously failed solutions. Do It Yourself Debt Relief With mounting bills and unforeseen hardships, you may be considering some form of debt relief. There are many options to help you, but the best may actually be you helping yourself. Corporate Debt Management - Perspective on the Why Entrepreneurs have a tough time in their formative years. They try too many things to get a foothold on this competitive business climate, and that too they try them too soon. Bankruptcy Abuse Bankruptcy is little more than a smack on the hand these days. Creditors are certainly not going to look at you as a wise credit risk after bankruptcy, but that will probably not stop them from extending credit to you anyways. Bank Like a Banker The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last decade. Because the cost of doing business the old-fashioned way is no longer effective, banks are interested in changing their customers' behavior by encouraging electronic banking alternatives whenever possible. Debt Problems? You Can Negotiate With Your Creditors It is always possible to negotiate with creditors - even if they have already taken you to court to get a judgment or to garnish your wages.Getting a creditor to reduce your monthly payment helps and does provide short-term relief.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |
