Tips to Be Debt Free, Part 2

This post is a continuation from the one that began yesterday.

2) Make a very detailed budget for all your monthly expenses. Be sure to have enough so you are able to make at least the minimum payments on all of your debt.

3) From the lists above pick the smallest debt as your target. Pay as much towards this debt as you can without cutting payments on your other debts.

Once you manage to pay off this debt completely, take that money and apply it to the next smallest debt. Keep doing this again and again until your debt is all paid off. Doing this will allow you to pay off all your debt, even if you can’t get extra money coming in.

This method works, it just takes discipline. You’ll have to make sacrifices if you want to be debt free. That means making a reasonable budget and sticking to it.

But if you stay disciplined, and keep at it, you will eventually find yourself out of debt, which will bring you peace of mind and will make all the sacrifices seem worthwhile.

Yours in working to keep debt free,

P.S. You can read more tips on debt consolidation and keeping debt free here

Tips to Be Debt Free, Part 1

It seems like Debt is something many of us, including those all around the world, struggle with.

As a result, we often want to know how to be debt free.

Nowadays, you can’t afford to just buy things will nilly, and sometimes you may have to use a credit card or get a loan. But if the unexpected happens and you’re not able to pay back those debts, you can find yourself in an out of control, downward spiral.

Many’s the time you might find yourself in more debt than you can handle because of an unexpected illness, or time away from work or even an unexpected household repair or a water heater than just expired two seconds before you were to take your shower.

Such calamities might require you to use your credit card and as a result put you in a position with more debt than you can reasonably handle.

There are many options available to you such as debt counseling services, debt consolidation and even bankruptcy. But before you do anything that drastic, take some time to try to fix your debt situation on your own.

It is possible, even without adding income, to pay off your debt.

It will take time, though, and it will take discipline but if you are committed to living a life without any debt you can do it.

Now, and tomorrow, I’ll discuss some tips to help you become debt free.

Here are a few tips to help you get rid of

1) Make yourself a detailed list of all your debt. Add everything; even the smallest of debts should be added to this list. Your list should include your monthly household bills (such as house payments, insurance, utility bills, etc etc etc) in one column and your debt in another column.

Come back tomorrow to pick up the remaining two tips. In the meantime, you can start making your list now, as mentioned above.

Yours in working to keep debt free,

P.S. You can read more tips on debt consolidation and keeping debt free here

Reasons to Refinance

There are many great reasons to refinance.

With lower cost, adjustable rate, and 0-down options, traditional loan programs like 30-year or 15-year fixed rate mortgages don’t always allow you to meet your financial goals. Today, even reducing your mortgage interest rate a little can save you big over the life of your home loan.

Here are five reasons to consider refinancing:

1. Lower Your Monthly Payment
If you plan to live in your home for a few years, it may make sense to pay a point or two to decrease your interest rate and overall payment.

Over the long run, you will have paid for the cost of the mortgage refinance with the monthly savings. On the other hand, if you plan on moving in the near future, you may not be in your home long enough to recover the refinancing costs. Calculating the break-even point before you decide to refinance can help determine whether it makes sense.

2. Switch From an Adjustable Rate to a Fixed Rate Mortgage
Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) can provide lower initial monthly payments for those who are willing to risk upward market adjustments. They’re also ideal if you don’t plan to own your property for more than a few years. However, if you have made your house a permanent home, you may want to swap your adjustable rate for a 15-, 20- or 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Your interest may be higher than with an ARM, but you have the confidence of knowing what your payment will be every month for the rest of your loan term.

3. Escape Balloon Payment Programs
Like adjustable rate mortgage programs, balloon programs are great when you want lower rates and lower initial monthly payments. However, if you still own the property at the end of the fixed rate term (usually 5 or 7 years), the entire balance of your mortgage is due to the lender. If you are in a balloon program, you can easily switch over into a new adjustable rate mortgage or fixed rate mortgage.

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Eliminating Credit Card Debt

Overcoming Credit Card Debt

Any kind of debt such as credit card debt needs to be quickly addressed if one wishes to establish a healthier financial situation.

You can begin with a basic technique such as budget planning or other saving methods, but the truth is it is more difficult than it seems.

This is even more true with making financial transactions using your credit card since it basically offers you lots of convenience to purchase items you normally would be unable to afford if you had to rely on actual cash to make the purchase.

Improving your credit card debt is of essential when you are trying to improve your credit rating since it also affects your overall financial stability.

Below are suggested steps to help you achieve a more stable personal finance system and eventually become debt free.

Stop Spending

When you already have thousands in debt, stop causing more financial troubles by adding up to your existing debts. Refrain from using your credit card to make any more purchases, especially major ones, for things will only get worse.

With access to a credit card, it is relatively convenient (the point, actually) for an individual to splurge today without realizing the financial burdens that he or she will have to face in the coming days. Thus, if you used this behavior you ought to at least practice some financial responsibility by learning to cope with your credit card debt before adding any more to your debts.
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Closing Your Credit Accounts

Some days when the credit card bills come in fast and heavy, it might seem like the best thing to do would be to close those accounts. Or to maybe consolidate the cards.

Before you get to either of those points, consider these tips:

Don’t make the mistake of closing lots of credit accounts just to improve your score.

This seems like a contradiction, but it really is not. Many people think that to improve their credit score, they just have to pay off some debts and close their accounts. This is not exactly accurate. There are several reasons to think carefully before closing your accounts.

First, if you close an account you need (for example, if you close all your credit card accounts) then you will have to reapply for credit, and all those inquiries from lenders will cause your credit score to actually drop.

Secondly, most credit bureaus give high favorable points to those who have a good long-term credit history.

That means that closing the credit card account you have had since college may actually hurt you in the long run. If you have credit accounts that you don’t use or if you have too many credit lines, then by all means pay off some and close them. Doing so may help your credit score – but only if you don’t close long-term accounts you need. In general, close the most recent accounts first and only when you are sure you will not need that credit in the near future.

Closing your accounts is a bad idea if:

1) You will be applying for a loan soon. The closing of your accounts will make your credit score drop in the short term and will not allow you to qualify for good loan rates.

2) Closing your accounts will make your overall debt balance too high. If you owe $10, 000 now and closing some accounts would leave you with only $1,000 of possible credit, you are close to maxing out your credit–which gives you a bad credit rating.

In the short term, closing accounts will lower your credit score, but in the long run it can be beneficial.

Yours in deciding what to do with credit cards,

Sudden Debt…Now What?

Unfortunately, sudden debt can crash unexpectedly into the lives of almost any of us at any time. We can be going along through life quite happily and then bang! Without warning we find ourselves in debt and it’s well… so sudden! Debt is also something that many of us have heard often since childhood is a bad thing. And so that just adds to our woes.

Here you are, unexpectedly in a traumatic situation and you get hit by the double whammy of sudden debt and guilt!

If you think it will never happen to you don’t be too sure.

Think of something as simple as an accident; it doesn’t even have to be your fault, and you get hospitalized for a couple of months. Do you think while you’re laid up there in your hospital bed it’s just possible that making the payment for your credit card bill might get forgotten?

And what happens when you forget your monthly credit payments? Those nice friendly guys at the loan company who wanted to increase your credit card limit only last month now turn into Don Corleone and the boys from Mob! They start to slap on late charges, and the exorbitant interest now starts to attract interest on itself and, and… Well you get the picture.

So what do you do when you find yourself facing sudden debt?

The first thing is..Don’t panic! I know that’s easy enough to say but it really isn’t going to help. Just stop and think of a plan of action.

Before you do anything else, contact the companies you owe the money to. Explain the situation you’ve found yourself in and ask what they can do to help. They may be willing to freeze the interest, especially if you’ve always had a triple A credit rating in the past.

Now, lets take a worst case scenario here and just assume your creditors aren’t helpful. If you find this is the case, then start to look at some of the options.

*Do you have a family member that can lend you the cash to pay off what you owe?
*If not, what about your bank?
*Ask them for a loan that you can repay over a period of time you feel comfortable with.
*That way you begin to take control over the situation and you will soon begin to whittle away at that sudden debt.

Yours in dealing with debt,

P.S. Take a few minutes to stop by Konceptuality to sign up for our ezine, On the Bright Side. You’ll also find a few more tips and tricks and helpful articles on managing your debt here

3 In 1 Credit Report

- Getting A Copy Of Your Credit Report And Seeing What Needs To Be Improved

If you are concerned about identify theft or regular credit monitoring, you likely understand the importance of obtaining a copy of your free personal credit report.

And if not, come to our house; my husband regularly monitors his numbers and his report!

So, heed this! Neglecting to monitor your credit may prove damaging in the long run. It does not take long for a person to access your information and begin opening accounts in your name. For this matter, consumers are advised to obtain a 3 in 1 credit report every six months.

Benefits of a Credit Report

Aside from protecting yourself against identify theft, credit monitoring is essential for improving your credit rating. Although lenders use credit reports to judge a loan applicant’s creditworthiness, credit reports are also beneficial because they keep us informed of our credit standing. Thus, we can know our odds of obtaining a home loan, auto loan, etc.

Further, in recent years, employers are also using credit reports to determine an applicant’s “suitability” for employment.

How to Get a Copy of Your Credit Report

Getting a copy of your 3 in 1 credit report is simple. Furthermore, because reports are viewable online, there is no valid reason not to check your report at least once annually. Every city across the country has a local credit agency that will issue copies of your credit report from all three bureaus. However, if you prefer the convenience of the internet, there are various Web sites that offer 3 in 1 reports for a small fee.

But even better, one of the local credit unions to which I belong included in this month’s newsletter that we are able to obtain our credit report from them for free once a year. So, if you belong to one, you might want to check with your local credit union to see if they also provide that service.

In the meantime, to obtain a copy of your personal reports, you must provide information such as name, address, social security number, etc. Once your information is verified, credit reports are either sent via email, or viewable from the Web site. Your entire credit history will show before your eyes.

Why Obtain Copies of a 3 in 1 Credit Report?

If you are hoping to improve your credit rating, obtaining a 3 in 1 credit report should be the first step you take. This way, you know exactly what needs improving. The report will list all creditors, current balances, and you account standing. Moreover, you should review your report for errors. If inaccuracies are present, contact the bureau and discuss how to correct the matter.

In addition, credit reports include a credit score. This 3 digit number carries a lot of weight. Low scores indicate bad credit, whereas high scores equal good credit. If the goal is to improve credit score, it may be wise to improve in certain areas. For example, avoid late or skipped payments, reduce debt to income ratio, settle collection accounts, and limit your number of credit inquiries.

Yours in getting your credit report,

Sudden Debt…What to do, what to do

If you read the “public record” in your daily/weekly newspaper as frequently as I do, you’ve probably seen how more and more of your friends, neighbors and local residents are having to resort to “bankruptcy” proceedings. Perhaps you’re in that group, too. Such a time, causes food for thought…

Sudden debt can crash unexpectedly into the lives of almost any of us at any time.

We can be going along through life quite happily–and then bang! Without warning we find ourselves in debt and it’s well… so sudden!

Debt is also something that many of us have been told since childhood is a bad thing! In fact, there was quite a stigma attached to it-it was almost like having a “Scarlet Letter” carved into your forehead.

And that just adds to your woes.

Here you are, unexpectedly in a traumatic situation and you get hit by the double whammy of sudden debt; not to mention the guilt!

If you think it will never happen to you don’t be too sure.

For instance, think of something as simple as an accident. It doesn’t even have to be your fault; you are unexpectedly hospitalized for a couple of months. Do you think while you’re laid up there in your hospital bed it’s just possible that making the payment for your credit card bill might be forgotten?

And what happens when you forget to make one or two of your monthly credit payments?

Those nice friendly guys at the loan company who so recently as last month wanted to increase your credit card limit now turn into Don Corleone and the boys from Mob! They start to slap on late charges and the horrendous interest now starts to attract interest on itself and, and…

Well, you get the picture.

So what do you do when you find yourself facing sudden debt?

The first thing is not to panic. Easy enough to say, I know, but panic really isn’t going to help. Just stop and think of a plan of action.

Before you do anything else at all, contact the companies to whom you owe the money. Explain the situation you’ve found yourself in and ask what they can do to help. Some, not all, but some companies will freeze the interest, especially if you’ve always had a triple A credit rating in the past.

And a worst case scenario? Assume your creditors aren’t helpful. If you find that is the case then start to look at some options.

Although not the most ideal consideration, do you have a family member that can lend you the cash to pay off what you owe? With payback of interest included, of course! If not, what about your bank? Ask them for a loan that you can repay over a period of time with which you feel comfortable. That way you can begin to gradually get back some control which will allow you to begin to chip away at that sudden debt. And you’ll be able to feel a lot better about the situation and yourself, as well.

Yours in deciding the best ways to handle sudden debt,

Beat the Credit Card Blues: 5 Super Strategies For Breaking Dangerous Spending Habits

Since we’re coming into the last quarter of the year and Christmas buying is just around the corner, it may be time to review our credit standing. Particularly, since we know that many of us consumers continue to struggle to get out from under our credit debt.

In fact, the average American is carrying almost $2,500 in credit debt each month. These financial consequences can be critical, and long lasting.

But think about this for a minute. For a consumer paying only the minimum payment of $50 a month on a $2,500 credit card bill, (at the average 16-percent interest,) they are paying off a mere $10 of principal. There’s another $40 being added on in interest EVERY MONTH. So in only one year of paying minimums, they still owe $2,380. Now imagine if the credit bill is $15,000 or more…the word dangerous is certainly appropriate.

Want to do things differently?

Want to put your debt on a diet? Try these five super strategies and break your dangerous spending habits today:

1. Step away from the counter. Give yourself a time-out when you feel the temptation to make a purchase. For an item over $100, put it on hold, and leave the store. Let the idea sit for 24 hours, and then ask yourself whether you really need the item: the answer is likely “no.” For clothing and other purchases, put the item on the 10-minute hold rack. Walk away, get a drink or a snack and decide if you really need it or just impulsively like it.

2. Set goals. Decide how quickly you want to reduce your debt, and how much you can afford to pay down each month–but don’t stop there. Set financial goals that involve “positive” incentives, too, such as savings and vacations.

3. Start canceling cards. How many credit cards do you really need?
Most people need at least one to handle payments that can’t be made easily any other way–and you may need two, depending on where you usually shop or travel and which card is accepted.

4. Lower your limits. Save yourself the grief of overspending and not being able to afford it. Most people don’t know that you don’t have to accept the maximum credit limit that your issuer is willing to provide. Choose the limit that you’re comfortable with, and tell your credit card issuer – in writing – that you don’t want any automatic increases. That way you stay within your budget.

5. Consolidate. If you’re dealing with several cards with debt, look for a financial institution and apply for a consolidation loan. A loan such as this, at a competitive lower rate, will allow you to make one convenient monthly payment that is far lower than your various cards and will give you a fresh start.

While the inclination might be to cancel all of your credit cards once and for all, the credit card, managed sensibly, is a opportunity to show establish good credit.

And when in good hands, they aren’t all bad!

Yours in consolidating,”

Tips To Help Reduce Your Debt, Part 2

In yesterday’s post, I provided several “tips for reducing debt” and said I’d be back today with a few more. Well, it’s “today”, so here they are.

Get rid of your credit cards

If you are determined to reduce your debt, cutting up your credit cards will help. If you do not have them, you can not use them. If this is too big of a move for you, at least think about getting rid of the unnecessary ones. Keeping only one or two, low interest rate cards for emergencies only, is a good idea. Remember if you cannot pay cash for something, then you probably do not need it.

Pay off your debts

If you have already acquired some debt you need to pay off, now is the time to get started. Decide which debt is your smallest and start with that one. Pay on it as your budget will allow.

Once your smallest debt is paid off, you will have a good feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. You’ll feel empowered because you’ll know you can pay off your debts. Then move to the next smallest debt. It is easier to pay them off one by one, and you don’t feel overwhelmed. And before you know it, all of your debts will be paid and you will feel great knowing you paid them off.

Debt consolidation

Debt consolidation is another option to look at for reducing your debt. Debt consolidation companies, will call your creditors for you, and make payment arrangements for your debts. In fact, many companies will get you one, low, monthly payment to pay each month, until all of your debt is paid off. This, too, will make managing your funds versus your debts much easier.

Financial counseling

Make an appointment with a financial counselor to help you reduce your debt. Some people find that it helps tremendously to have someone else point out the errors in their spending habits. You’ll also find that financial counselors are able to show you how to better manage your money, and how to stick to a budget.

Yours in figuring it all out,