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Sunday, May 19, 2013
4 Tips To Help You Reduce Debt
4 Tips To Help You Reduce Debt
If you want to reduce the debt that you are dealing with in your life, there are various ways that you can do this task. While it may not be easy to cut your debt, it will be worth the effort in the long run. Here are four ways that you can apply to reducing your debt. Using these methods could also lead to wiping your slate clean of all your debts.
#1 Use Cash Only
One way that you can drastically reduce debt that you have is by using cash to pay for your purchases. If you continue to use your credit cards all the time, you will only build up more and more debt. As the debt piles up, you begin to lose control, and find yourself behind on your monthly payments.
Instead of reaching for your credit card, start buying only what you can afford with the cash you have. Often, this will mean making do with less. But a small sacrifice can prevent financial disaster in the future.
Tip#2 Get Rid of High Interest Credit Cards
If you want to reduce debt that you already have, you need to get rid of those high interest credit cards that you are carrying. Many times, you are barely paying off the interest each month with your payments. But if you get a card with lower interest rate, more of that monthly payment will pay off the original amount you owe. If you need to have a credit card for emergencies, make sure the card is a low interest one so you will not have to pay much interest costs.
Tip#3 Do Not Avoid Your Creditors
Fear may tempt you to avoid bill collectors and credit cards companies who call wanting payment. But you can benefit from talking to them. Often, if you talk to your lenders, you can let them know you are doing your best to pay your bills, but with much difficulty.
The lender may then propose a settlement that could provide some relief from your debts. This could mean offering a lower interest rate or having you skip one or more payments. Creditors like to know that you are working to pay your bills, so take the initiative and talk to them personally.
Tip#4 Decide on a Budget
Another way that you can reduce debts is to come up with a reasonable budget and stick to it every month. This will help you to live within your means so you are not always spending more money each month than you make. Make sure to budget in payments for your bills as well. And if there is any extra money, you may want to pay more on loans or credit cards that have high interest rates.
Families need to work together to reduce debts that you have built up. Usually, there is a way that everyone can help. Whether it is by watching the grocery spending or cutting down on what you spend on movies and entertainment each month. If you want to reduce your debt, it will take work and perhaps even sacrifice. But in the long run, it will be worth it to see your debt come down with each passing month. If you work at it, you will be debt free.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Smart Ways To Deal With Credit Card Debt
Smart Ways To Deal With Credit Card Debt
You already know a lot about credit cards. You've heard that consumer debt in this country-particularly credit-card debt-is at an all-time high, while our savings rate is lower than ever before. You realize that the boom in online shopping, with its absolute dependence on credit cards, is further fueling their use. You are well aware that running a balance on your plastic-and paying the unconscionable interest rates that come with it-is one of our most basic and widespread financial blunders. And you suspect that the sheer volume of direct-mail credit-card solicitations with low teaser rates must be devastating the forests of northern Idaho.
Still, credit cards are a fact of 21st century life, and it only makes sense to understand how to use them wisely. While it's probably impractical to keep all plastic out of your wallet, it is prudent to limit the number of cards you have, and, of course, to pay all balances in full every month. Indeed, having only a traditional American Express card, which doesn't allow you to carry a balance, can be an excellent way to impose fiscal discipline on you and your family-although, as the Visa ads point out, not everyone accepts American Express. For the rest of us, who do occasionally dabble in credit-card debt, here are a few ways to keep your habit under control.
1. Take advantage of frequent-flier programs tied to credit cards, but keep in mind that interest payments on a high balance can quickly turn "free" flights into outrageously expensive ones. At a dollar per mile, running up a debt of 25,000 may get you a plane ticket, but it will also saddle you with $4,500 in yearly interest payments, assuming an 18% annual rate.
2. Look very closely at credit-card offers before you bite. Obviously, most of those 2.99% and 3.99% rates will be in effect for only a few months. But there may be other catches as well. Making a late payment, even if it arrives only a day after it was due, may immediately trigger a permanent rate hike. Also, low initial rates sometimes apply only to transferred balances, and you could get charged a fee for making the transfer. Check, too, to see whether there is an annual fee, or charges for exceeding your credit limit or even for closing an account.
3. Avoid amazing grace-period tricks. What you're looking for is a provision that says you'll never be charged interest as long as you pay your bill in full by the due date. But some cards have no grace period, calculating interest from the moment you make a purchase, while others give you only a limited time after making a charge before interest is imposed. That period of 20 days or so may end before your payment is due.
4. Don't forget to cancel cards you no longer use. If you don't, they'll show up on credit reports, and that could be a problem, particularly if you're applying for a home mortgage. Your would-be lender may be reluctant to make a loan to someone who has a cumulative credit-card limit of $50,000, $100,000, or even more.
Simple Steps To Get Out Of Debt - And Stay Out
Simple Steps To Get Out Of Debt - And Stay Out
Step One: Plan for the Unexpected Big Time Bill
The first step arises from debt from a one-time large expense - something that is too large to be paid for with your monthly paycheck, or by saving for a few months.
Many of these debts are investments in either an asset that will appreciate over time, or a income stream that will be greater over time. The most common example is the purchase of a home. Very few people are able to save enough money to purchase their home outright, or pay for their entire home out of a few paychecks. We use a mortgage to pay for the home after-the-fact, and to enjoy home ownership in the meanwhile. Another example is investment in education. Many people cannot afford to pay for college tuition outright - so we take out loans, planning that our future income stream will enable us to be able to afford to pay for the education after-the-fact.
The more insidious type of one-time large expense is the expense that is not an investment. The emergency, unexpected, unplanned-for bill - extreme medical bills, disability, failure of a business, a lawsuit judgment, or long-time unemployment. These bills can put a family under - forcing them to either sell assets, move out of their home, or declare bankruptcy, because they will never be able to pay off the debt with their income.
One way to combat this danger is to set aside three to six months of your living expenses in a special savings account - an Emergency Fund -- to be used for the emergency, unexpected expense. This money is sacred, only for a family emergency. The Emergency Fund will save your family from potential tragedy and help you create a secure future.
Action Step #1: Open a special savings account to be your Emergency Fund. Set aside money each paycheck or month to fund this account.
Step Two: Think Out of the Budget Box
Instead of worrying about budgets, this step is the flip side of cash flow problems - income.
We know when we have a debt problem. We may stop opening bills, stop answering the phone. We may even try to create budgets, reduce our expenses, cancel cable, live at the basic minimum, to try to stop the bleeding.
But sometimes, overspending is not the problem. It is underearning.
You may just not earn enough to afford to live your life. I'm not talking about living an extravagant lifestyle, or even a "nice" lifestyle - but the basic necessities of life - housing, automobile, phone, insurance, groceries, gas, clothing - may add up to too much, given your income. This is especially common in expensive places to live, like the Silicon Valley.
The first step in dealing with this problem is to stop feeling guilty. You are not a bad person, who spends irresponsibly. You are someone who needs to acknowledge that you need, want, and deserve more income.
Instead of being frozen in guilt, start to take action on creating more income. You may not need to do something radical - you may just need to ramp up what you are already doing, or look for hidden treasure already in your life.
Put together a proposal for your boss, to describe how the company would be better if you got a raise. Create a new information product to generate passive income for your business. Search your basement for items you can auction on e-bay. Teach a class on scrapbooking, or changing the oil in your car. Have a garage sale to generate some quick cash, and reduce the clutter in your life.
Whatever you do, the important idea is to start today.
Action Step #2: Brainstorm 5 ways you will earn more income now - such as - ask for a raise, look for a new job, start a small business, sell a new product, auction old items on e-bay, rent out a room, teach a skill, or have a garage sale.
Step Three: Planning for the Big Stuff
This step is about the debts that sneak up on us. You may be able to pay for your bills and regular expenses each month -- but what happens if the car breaks down? The property tax bill arrives? Your quarterly's are due? Christmas? Baby announcement? Wedding invite? The family or high school reunion? The big family vacation you all deserve?
Are you able to pay for those non-monthly expenses out of your paycheck or your small business profits? Or, do those items go on a credit card?
Automobile repair, gifts, taxes, and travel are all examples of expenses that are non-monthly, but are expected. We know they are coming, but not necessarily when, or how much. These expenses should not be going on a credit card - you should save for them ahead of time, so you do not pay a bank 10-20+% a year for the privilege of paying for your expenses after-the-fact.
Go through your bills, receipts, and cards for the last year, or the last few years, and figure out how much you spend on each of these categories each year, on average. If you don't have those records, make a realistic estimate. Divide that annual amount by 12. That's how much you should set aside each month for your irregular expenses.
Action Step #3: Open a special savings account for at least one non-regular expense: either auto repairs, taxes, travel, or gifts. Save a fixed amount each month in that savings account, so when bills are due, you already have the money!
Step Four: Plug The Holes
Step four is about how to prevent your family from going into debt, by planning for your expenses ahead of time. This step we come to the most insidious problem, and the most difficult to conquer - overspending.
Do you know where your money goes each month? How much are all of your bills? How much are you spending on Dining Out? Drinks Out? Gas? Target & Costco? Clothes? Personal care (i.e., massage, pedicures)? Recreation - movies, golf, Netflix? Toys (both for the kids, and for yourselves)? Do you really know?
Do you spend your money in accordance to your values and priorities? Is there one, or more areas, where you are spending money not because you particularly need, or even enjoy, that product or service - but because you are not paying attention, or because you are compensating for another problem in your life by habitually spending money in that area?
Commonly, we see this in clothes, toys for kids, recreation, high-tech gadgets, and dining out - easy for relatively small expenditures, made each day or week, to add up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each month. Spending without thinking will derail you from ever being able to achieve your most important life goals. Especially if you are spending more than your income, month after month.
Instead of being frozen in guilt, do something about it. Look over your habits for the last few months, and pick the most obvious problem area, where you "go" when you are stressed, bored, or unhappy. Do you buy CDs? Shop online? Get a new pair of shoes? Start in one category, and create good habits and rules for yourself in that area - then carry those personal rules over to the rest of your expenses.
Action Step #4: Create a Cash-Only account for your problem category. Withdraw your budgeted monthly amount in cash on the first day of the month, and place the cash in an envelope - when the envelope is empty, you're done!
Step One: Plan for the Unexpected Big Time Bill
The first step arises from debt from a one-time large expense - something that is too large to be paid for with your monthly paycheck, or by saving for a few months.
Many of these debts are investments in either an asset that will appreciate over time, or a income stream that will be greater over time. The most common example is the purchase of a home. Very few people are able to save enough money to purchase their home outright, or pay for their entire home out of a few paychecks. We use a mortgage to pay for the home after-the-fact, and to enjoy home ownership in the meanwhile. Another example is investment in education. Many people cannot afford to pay for college tuition outright - so we take out loans, planning that our future income stream will enable us to be able to afford to pay for the education after-the-fact.
The more insidious type of one-time large expense is the expense that is not an investment. The emergency, unexpected, unplanned-for bill - extreme medical bills, disability, failure of a business, a lawsuit judgment, or long-time unemployment. These bills can put a family under - forcing them to either sell assets, move out of their home, or declare bankruptcy, because they will never be able to pay off the debt with their income.
One way to combat this danger is to set aside three to six months of your living expenses in a special savings account - an Emergency Fund -- to be used for the emergency, unexpected expense. This money is sacred, only for a family emergency. The Emergency Fund will save your family from potential tragedy and help you create a secure future.
Action Step #1: Open a special savings account to be your Emergency Fund. Set aside money each paycheck or month to fund this account.
Step Two: Think Out of the Budget Box
Instead of worrying about budgets, this step is the flip side of cash flow problems - income.
We know when we have a debt problem. We may stop opening bills, stop answering the phone. We may even try to create budgets, reduce our expenses, cancel cable, live at the basic minimum, to try to stop the bleeding.
But sometimes, overspending is not the problem. It is underearning.
You may just not earn enough to afford to live your life. I'm not talking about living an extravagant lifestyle, or even a "nice" lifestyle - but the basic necessities of life - housing, automobile, phone, insurance, groceries, gas, clothing - may add up to too much, given your income. This is especially common in expensive places to live, like the Silicon Valley.
The first step in dealing with this problem is to stop feeling guilty. You are not a bad person, who spends irresponsibly. You are someone who needs to acknowledge that you need, want, and deserve more income.
Instead of being frozen in guilt, start to take action on creating more income. You may not need to do something radical - you may just need to ramp up what you are already doing, or look for hidden treasure already in your life.
Put together a proposal for your boss, to describe how the company would be better if you got a raise. Create a new information product to generate passive income for your business. Search your basement for items you can auction on e-bay. Teach a class on scrapbooking, or changing the oil in your car. Have a garage sale to generate some quick cash, and reduce the clutter in your life.
Whatever you do, the important idea is to start today.
Action Step #2: Brainstorm 5 ways you will earn more income now - such as - ask for a raise, look for a new job, start a small business, sell a new product, auction old items on e-bay, rent out a room, teach a skill, or have a garage sale.
Step Three: Planning for the Big Stuff
This step is about the debts that sneak up on us. You may be able to pay for your bills and regular expenses each month -- but what happens if the car breaks down? The property tax bill arrives? Your quarterly's are due? Christmas? Baby announcement? Wedding invite? The family or high school reunion? The big family vacation you all deserve?
Are you able to pay for those non-monthly expenses out of your paycheck or your small business profits? Or, do those items go on a credit card?
Automobile repair, gifts, taxes, and travel are all examples of expenses that are non-monthly, but are expected. We know they are coming, but not necessarily when, or how much. These expenses should not be going on a credit card - you should save for them ahead of time, so you do not pay a bank 10-20+% a year for the privilege of paying for your expenses after-the-fact.
Go through your bills, receipts, and cards for the last year, or the last few years, and figure out how much you spend on each of these categories each year, on average. If you don't have those records, make a realistic estimate. Divide that annual amount by 12. That's how much you should set aside each month for your irregular expenses.
Action Step #3: Open a special savings account for at least one non-regular expense: either auto repairs, taxes, travel, or gifts. Save a fixed amount each month in that savings account, so when bills are due, you already have the money!
Step Four: Plug The Holes
Step four is about how to prevent your family from going into debt, by planning for your expenses ahead of time. This step we come to the most insidious problem, and the most difficult to conquer - overspending.
Do you know where your money goes each month? How much are all of your bills? How much are you spending on Dining Out? Drinks Out? Gas? Target & Costco? Clothes? Personal care (i.e., massage, pedicures)? Recreation - movies, golf, Netflix? Toys (both for the kids, and for yourselves)? Do you really know?
Do you spend your money in accordance to your values and priorities? Is there one, or more areas, where you are spending money not because you particularly need, or even enjoy, that product or service - but because you are not paying attention, or because you are compensating for another problem in your life by habitually spending money in that area?
Commonly, we see this in clothes, toys for kids, recreation, high-tech gadgets, and dining out - easy for relatively small expenditures, made each day or week, to add up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each month. Spending without thinking will derail you from ever being able to achieve your most important life goals. Especially if you are spending more than your income, month after month.
Instead of being frozen in guilt, do something about it. Look over your habits for the last few months, and pick the most obvious problem area, where you "go" when you are stressed, bored, or unhappy. Do you buy CDs? Shop online? Get a new pair of shoes? Start in one category, and create good habits and rules for yourself in that area - then carry those personal rules over to the rest of your expenses.
Action Step #4: Create a Cash-Only account for your problem category. Withdraw your budgeted monthly amount in cash on the first day of the month, and place the cash in an envelope - when the envelope is empty, you're done!
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