Saturday, September 21, 2002

Help for Personal Debt

It's not uncommon for adults to have some measure of personal debt. However, when debts become a problem and you're unable to make minimum payments, or you notice a decrease in your score due to high credit card balances, perhaps now is the time to take charge. Debt elimination can increase extra income, wherein you're able to save more and improve finances.

Make Lifestyle Changes

    Lifestyle can play a role in excessive debts. If you're accustomed to eating out daily with friends, going on regular shopping sprees or enjoying lavish vacations, you may discover that your present income and cash flow can't accommodate such enjoyments. This forces you to rely on credit cards and loans to maintain a certain type of life. Rather than live beyond your means and acquire excessive personal debt, think smarter and make changes to improve your finances. There's nothing wrong with having fun and going on vacation. The problem lies when you can't afford certain choices. Eliminating personal debt requires a measure of sacrifice. This may involve moving into a cheaper apartment or house, trading in your car for something less expensive and reducing the amount you spend on entertainment.

Learn Discipline

    Make cash your friend to eliminate personal debt. Credit cards allow you to buy whatever you want now. Since you're allowed to carry balances from month to month, there's no rush to pay down the charge. Keeping debts to a minimum involves paying off credit card balances each month. Not only does this habit help you avoid personal debt, it also improves your FICO credit score. Before pulling out a credit card, ask yourself the following: can I pay off this item within a month? If your answer is no, leave the item in the store and wait until you can afford it.

Inventory Debts

    Estimating how much you owe doesn't work with debt elimination. You have to know your exact balances and how much you have in disposable income each month. Start by looking at your personal budget. How much do you make a month after taxes? What are your recurring, necessary expenses? Write down your expenses and subtract this figure from your income after taxes. Place your debt statements on a table and calculate how much you owe. With $300 in extra money each month, you can pay off your $3,000 balance in 10 months.

Create Extra Money

    Some people remain in debt because they legitimately don't have the extra money to pay off balances. In fact, some people don't have enough to meet their monthly obligations and they compensate with credit cards. Getting out of debt in this situation typically involves creating extra household income. Finding a better paying job, starting a home-based business or working part-time can help you become debt-free.

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