Be Debt Free – You can make it if you follow these 7 tips.
More and more people everyday are finding out how easy it can be to slip into debt problems. Bankruptcies and IVA’s are on the increase and the debt problem is getting worse.
For those that don’t manage to avoid bankruptcy, the effects can stay with them for many years. The stigma that was once attached to it has lessened but it can and does still cause many difficulties for its victims. For example, It can cause you trouble when you apply for a job because employers can now credit check you.
Many people who have become trapped with large debts will find that bankruptcy is their only option and if that is the case, you should face it head on. For most though, options may still exist. If this is the case for you, it is important that you take action as soon as possible.
Consumers in general now carry a huge amount of revolving debt on credit cards and 47% of people who don’t pay off the full balance each month pay only the minimum balance, a terrible strategy for paying off your credit cards and a very expensive one.
It seems to be almost the norm in our culture to think that we are owed something and that we should be able to get the things that we want as soon as we want it. The banks and credit card companies have spent allot of money trying to convince us of this. That way, they can keep us owing them money and working for them forever!
It is time to take a stand and make a difference in your life and to help you do that, here are the 7 top tips to help you become debt free.
Tip 1. Put it all down on paper. Make a list off all of your debts. It sounds like an easy task and it is. You need to write down your creditors names, total amounts outstanding and monthly payments. Be prepared as it can be a bit scary especially if you haven’t listed them all before. But don’t worry; you’ll get on top of it.
Tip 2. Prioritize your debts. Which are the most pressing debts? If you stand to lose something (like your house) by not paying then that is the most important debt. Next, if you have already had trouble and have come to an arrangement with a creditor, you should try to stick to it. Next, list your debts by interest rate, highest to lowest.
Tip 3. Get rid of your credit cards. If you don’t have them then you can’t make it worse by using them. It may be scary at first but you will soon get used to managing without them.
Tip 4. Check out your credit report. It’s worth making sure that no companies have put black marks on your report. If they have and it’s a mistake then you should contact them and get it fixed. If it is not a mistake, you should still contact them, try to pay the debt off and see if they will remove the mark. It is worth it down the line to have a clean credit report.
Tip 5. Make a budget and stick to it. A budget can be the single most important step that you can take to not only get out of debt but also to ensure that you start to prosper financially, no matter where you are now. It is actually pretty easy to do. You can find easy, free instructions on my website on putting your budget together.
Tip 6. Think carefully before switching loans. More specifically, if you are thinking of switching from unsecured debt to secured debt (secured on your house for example) then think very carefully about it. You should only ever do this as a last resort as this will up the severity of the possible consequences for you.
Tip 7. Help is available, take advantage of it. Don’t face this problem alone. There are debt charities and non-profit organizations that can offer you advice and an understanding ear so before you take any drastic action or sign up for anything drastic, take the time to hear what they have to say. You may be surprised.
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