Tuesday, June 15, 2010

General Debt Issues

Debt is a problem that millions of people have to deal with on a daily basis. When you feel like you are trapped under a mountain of bills, it can be a particularly intimidating experience. There are several areas of your life that debt can affect in one way or another.

Credit Impact of Debt

    When you have a large amount of debt, it can negatively affect your credit score. If you apply for a loan, your lender will look at the total amount of debt you have in relation to how much credit you have available. This is known as your credit utilization ratio, and it makes up a big percentage of your credit score. The more credit you have available, the more it helps your credit score.

Impact on Financing

    When you try to get financing, it may be difficult to do so if you have significant debt. Your lender will use your debt-to-income ratio to determine if you can qualify for a loan. This will apply when you try to get a mortgage, a car loan or any other type of loan. Even if you are approved for financing, you may have to pay a higher interest rate for the money.

Eliminating the Debt

    When you have a large amount of debt, you may be focused on trying to get rid of it as quickly as possible. In this situation, paying more than the minimum payment required can help you get out of debt quicker. You may also choose to enter a debt-management plan which involves negotiating lower interest rates with your creditors and paying your debts off quicker. Some also turn to debt settlement which involves settling your debts for less than what you owe. If you choose this option, you need to be careful, because it will hurt your credit score.

Consolidating Debt

    Many people who are in debt consolidate their loans into a single loan to make things easier. This approach can work because it could save you money on interest. It also allows you to focus on a single payment instead of making several debt payments every month. On the other hand, this is not a solution to your debt, but only a tool to help you pay it off. If you accumulate more debt after consolidating, it can hurt you in the long run.

0 comments:

Post a Comment