I'm Buried in Debt ? What Now?
Some people find themselves with way to much credit card debt and not enough income to bring the balances down. What can be done? Here are some suggestions.
* Start bringing in more money. You might need to get a second job, or search for a better paying one. There are also some ways you can make extra money from home, such as babysitting or doing direct sales. If it comes to this, putting as much of the additional funds as possible toward paying down your debt will help you get it down to a manageable level quickly.
*When you show a willingness to pay many creditors are ready to work with you. Call your credit card companies and see if they will negotiate a lower monthly payment or bring down your interest a bit. You could even try to negotiate a reduction in your overall balance, however you may find this difficult to accomplish without legal representation.
*Debt consolidation can make debt more manageable. If you are a homeowner consider a home equity loan to turn your multiple payments into one payment with lower interest. Remember, though, that this is a serious decision to be thought out carefully because this loan will be secured by your home.
You may also pay more in interest than you realize, because even though the interest rate is lower, you will be paying for a longer time. If you choose this route, paying more than the minimum payment each month will save you money.
It's also possible to get a credit card with a high credit limit and lower interest to transfer existing balances to. Your minimum monthly payment should also be lower. This is less risky than putting your house on the line, but you will pay more interest.
Once you have consolidated your debt you have to be careful not to begin charging things again and run the credit card balances back up. You will be in worse shape than you were in the beginning.
*As a last resort Bankruptcy is an option. If you file Chapter 7 you will be completely debt free. However, you may have to sacrifice some of your belongings. If you file Chapter 13 you will have a payment plan structured by the courts to pay your debts off. Either way this will forever show on your public record and you will have a blemish on your credit report for the next 7 years. That is why this should be your last resort.
* Start bringing in more money. You might need to get a second job, or search for a better paying one. There are also some ways you can make extra money from home, such as babysitting or doing direct sales. If it comes to this, putting as much of the additional funds as possible toward paying down your debt will help you get it down to a manageable level quickly.
*When you show a willingness to pay many creditors are ready to work with you. Call your credit card companies and see if they will negotiate a lower monthly payment or bring down your interest a bit. You could even try to negotiate a reduction in your overall balance, however you may find this difficult to accomplish without legal representation.
*Debt consolidation can make debt more manageable. If you are a homeowner consider a home equity loan to turn your multiple payments into one payment with lower interest. Remember, though, that this is a serious decision to be thought out carefully because this loan will be secured by your home.
You may also pay more in interest than you realize, because even though the interest rate is lower, you will be paying for a longer time. If you choose this route, paying more than the minimum payment each month will save you money.
It's also possible to get a credit card with a high credit limit and lower interest to transfer existing balances to. Your minimum monthly payment should also be lower. This is less risky than putting your house on the line, but you will pay more interest.
Once you have consolidated your debt you have to be careful not to begin charging things again and run the credit card balances back up. You will be in worse shape than you were in the beginning.
*As a last resort Bankruptcy is an option. If you file Chapter 7 you will be completely debt free. However, you may have to sacrifice some of your belongings. If you file Chapter 13 you will have a payment plan structured by the courts to pay your debts off. Either way this will forever show on your public record and you will have a blemish on your credit report for the next 7 years. That is why this should be your last resort.
About the Author:
Are debt consolidation non profit services the best way to consolidate your debt? Not always. Get the full story on the Inside Debt Consolidation website
posted by Debt Consolidation Loan at
9:42 PM
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