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Debt Management through Bankruptcy Credit Card Debt Management
Many times people will look at a credit card and see only the ease and convenience with which they can painlessly get the things that they want. When asked to list their debts, people will list their mortgage payments, their car payments, and other installment loans, and not list their credit cards.
The fact is that the balance on a credit card is the amount of the debt (NOT THE MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENT)...and that debt only increases each time an interest charge or a late charge is added. Paying only the minimum on a credit card balance will mean that it will be many years before that debt is paid off.
It is astounding, but a great many people have no idea what the interest rate that is charged by their credit card companies or whether that interest rate is simple or compound interest. (It's compound...and it is well above the national interest rate.)
Too many households in America carry far too much credit card debt. Seventy-five percent of households, in a recent study of American spending habits, are carrying a substantial amount of credit card debt. (Only 41% of American households have saving accounts.)
Now, don't misunderstand me...I am not knocking credit cards. I have a few of my own and I use them almost every month. Credit cards are practically as essential as an automobile in today's world, and if one does business or shops on the Internet, a credit card is indispensable. I also pay the balance before the credit card companies can charge a penny of interest.
Paying interest means that everything that you buy on a credit card cost you more than it would have cost if you had simply paid cash or written a check for it.
The best rule is to pay as you go. Use your credit cards, but pay balances before interest is added.
See Also:
Free vs Paid Debt Management Services
| Services for Debt Management Debt Management for the Future
We can't foresee the future and I'm pretty sure that's a good thing. Although we can't see the future or what it holds for us, we do need to be prepared financially to deal with it. If you spend like there will be no tomorrow, when tomorrow does get here, you're going to be in deep trouble.
The trick in debt management is to live as well as you can today while preparing to live even better in the future. Just because you live in a financially responsible manner doesn't mean that you always have to do without everything that you want right now. You do, however, have to choose.
There are three important factors in successful debt management today that will prepare for the unseen future.
The first of these three ingredients is saving. It will never work to save what is left at the end of a pay period. There will never be anything left. You must save before you spend. The most painless way to save is to never get the money that you will save at all. Go by the payroll office where you work and sign a form that instructs your employer to deduct some money from your paycheck and save it for you.
The second ingredient is to prepare yourself for debt. Before you make a purchase for which you will have to make a monthly installment payment, save the amount of the monthly installment for three months before you make the purchase to see if you can comfortably live with that much less in disposable income every month.
The third ingredient is a little trickier. You must know yourself. You must make choices based upon your own set of priorities. Would you rather buy that new car, or would it really make you happier to do with the car you have and buy a boat? You really can't have both if you are going to prepare for the future. |
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Used Car Buying Guide provided by 1st Source Bank
| Planning for Debt Management Debt Management Wiggle Room
Yes! If you are ever going to gain control over your finances, you are going to have to make a budget and learn to live within it. There aren't any other options for successful debt management.
You wouldn't start building anything without plans, would you? Even building a model airplane requires following a plan. Building a house always starts with drawing up the plans for the construction. There is an old saying that applies here: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” Without a financial plan (a budget), you are certain to find yourself in debt up to your eyeballs and no visible way out.
Now, let's discuss the making of a budget. You cannot have every last penny of your net income allotted for providing for necessities and paying installment loans. That will not work. You must leave yourself some wiggle room. Stuff is going to happen. There WILL BE unexpected and unbudgeted expenses every single month. You can bet on it...you had BETTER bet on it.
There will be, without any doubt whatsoever, expenses that you will overlook when making your budget. They may seem like small items that aren't very important, but they have a way of multiplying.
For example: you suddenly realize that the inspection sticker on your car or truck is about to expire. There really isn't much of a choice about getting it renewed, is there? Will the vehicle pass inspection without two new tires? Are those in your budget?
It has been my experience that "miscellaneous" is usually the largest single expense in every workable budget that has ever been created. You need to allow room for unforeseen expenditures. When making your budget, be sure to leave yourself some wiggle room. Do not budget every single penny of your net income. |
Related Topics: Cleaning Up Past Debt Management Mistakes,
Debt Consolidation Loans and Debt Management, The Debt Management Trap-Credit Cards
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