Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Tips To Relieve Consumer Debt

Is there a way to relieve if not totally eliminate debt? Believe it or not, there is. And all it takes is a real plan and course of action of actually paying creditors.

Thankfully, there are ways to reduce debts that would enable you to make lower monthly payment obligations. Few bills actually mean more money for yourself or for your savings. This money can then be used for other useful and relevant things.

The following are basic tips to help eliminate debts.

Pay more than the minimum

Bills usually come at a designated time of the month. Usually, this bill details the minimum amount that needs to be paid on or before a particular date. As much as possible, try to pay at least triple or double the stated minimum amount. This makes it easier for you to pay off quickly the credit card balance.

Get a loan for bill consolidation

The best and usually most effective and efficient way to help alleviate debts and to eventually become free from its chains is by getting loans that consolidate debt and bills. If there is a house you own, you may consider getting a mortgage cash-out refinancing or a home loan equity. Any funds that are acquired from such transactions could be readily used to pay credit card bills with high interests and any other debt.

Loans from home equity actually create additional types of loans. These types of loans have terms that are fixed and low loan rates. Also, they are easier to repay. However, if you choose to refinance, any money received comes together with a loan mortgage.

Another type of bill consolidation involves the acquisition of a personal loan that is secure or unsecure, from a valid financial institution. If in case you don't qualify for such, get the services of a company that manages debt.

Obtain a balance credit card transfer

Usually, those who have heavy debts in their credit cards find it unthinkable to acquire another card. Think again though, there are credit cards out there that offer a balance transfer facility at a zero percent rate as their introductory offer. This offers a good opportunity and means to help ease and eventually eliminate credit card debt.

All in all, easing the monetary pain brought about by debt is easy as long as you are committed to the task. All it really takes is patience.

Tips on Preventing Debt

The only time people go to the doctor is when there’s a problem. Working out regularly, taking vitamins and visiting the physician regularly are the best ways to prevent sicknesses. These steps prove that the proper precautions can help patients from ending up in a hospital bed.

Prevention in another form can also be applied to the consumer. Instead of getting sick, the individual can work on a budget to avoid getting into trouble and paying off debt.

The first thing anyone should do is to write down the list of expenses. This can be done weekly or monthly which should includes the amount spent on gas, rent, utilities and clothing.

Next, the person must determine which of these are luxuries and which are necessities. The objective of this exercise is to check how much is earned in a month compared to the amount that is spent.

Should this be more than what the employee is earning, then some cutbacks needs to be made. This should be stripped down only to the essentials so that there is money available in case of emergencies.

Before buying anything, the individual must always ask if this is really necessary. If not, then this is one thing the consumer can walk away from without feeling any regrets.

Sticking to this is very difficult if the person has always lived a lavish lifestyle. The reality is that there isn’t that much money around so it will be a good idea to just put up with it until maybe the salary increases or a better opportunity comes knocking at the door.

The only way to know if the plan is working is by writing down all the expenses made daily and comparing this with the original list done a few months ago. If some money has been saved, then it is effective.

The cash should be deposited in the bank or invested in stocks so that this will grow and earn some extra income.

People need money to survive every single day. This is to put food on the table, clothing to wear, gas for traveling and payment for utilities.

Regardless of the amount of dollars earned monthly or in a year, the person must still know how much money is on hand and where it is spent. This is because it is only through budgeting that debts of small or large amounts can be prevented.

Tips On How To Consolidate Your Loans

First things first, what is a debt consolidation loan. Basically, this type of loan is secured via a property and creates a new kind of loan that usually pays almost all your debt, thereby saving you necessary money as well as credit.

The following are easy, effective and efficient ways to consolidate all your loans.

Add them all up

It is important that all loans, credit card charges are put together and added up. This makes computation of all debts easier as it brings together everything that needs to be paid. Eventually, this makes paying easier to manage and record.

Check the rates

Interest rates for each credit card varies. Usually, the range goes anywhere between twelve percent to twenty one percent. Not only do credit card interest rates need to be checked but also all other loans incurred.

Go to a lender

Ask for the services of a lender. Try to contact a lot of lenders so you have a range of options to choose from. A list of lenders could be found in your local yellow pages. Or, better yet, ask for the help of your local agent in real estate as he may give you a referral. You could also go online and check for any lenders near your area.

Choose the best for you

Lenders usually offer various rates of interest, loan length, loan amount, interest rate type, etc. It is up to your decision-making skills to determine the loan that will best serve your interests. Keep in mind though that the program you need for a loan will most likely depend on your income, credit as well as equity.

Fill the form, and read the fine print

After selecting the loan that is perfect for your needs, completely fill out the application form and provide all the necessary documents.

All copies of credit cards and credit card statements need to be given to the lender in order for them to pay off the necessary debt / charges. Be patient as the loan is being processed as the usual time it takes is about three to four weeks. Be warned though that any interests paid for loans and credit cards aren't deductible.

All in all, a debt consolidation loan will most likely reduce drastically the total amount you need to pay monthly as it also helps reduce the interest rates.

Tips on Choosing the Best Debt Management Service

So, you have debt problems and you would like to put an end to it. You are now ready to pick up the phone and call your chosen debt management service provider. But before you do that, please read on because you needed to be guided accordingly as to which debt management service provider to select.

1. Choose a reputable company. Debt management services are being offered left and right, in and on of the internet. Before you head on and just select out of pure gut and instinct, try to do a simple background check on the service provider. You wanted to be with the people who will genuinely help.

2. Choose the company which employs the experts. Debt management services are more one on one counseling. You should be dealing with a real expert rather than somebody who just poses to be one. In order for you to be guided accordingly, you have to be with the best people.

3. Choose the company with a good track record. How many people are actually helped by the company? Are its clients satisfied with the service they got? Are the services effective? These are questions that you might need positive answers to so that you’ll be able select the best company possible.

4. Choose the company that offers personalized service. There are instances that a certain debt management service is not applicable to you. You have to make sure that the debt management service provider looks deeper into your personal needs and requirements and not just what they wanted for you.

5. Choose the debt management service provider that will effectively take you towards debt-free living. This is your main goal: to be free of debt for life. You got to be sure that you and your service provider have the same goal. Only through that you will be able to achieve full freedom against debts.

6. Choose the company that helps more than anything. If your debt management service provider is more into making profit than helping, then that isn't a good mix. The profit and the helping aspect should both be on the same level so that they won’t conflict with each other.

These are the things that you should consider when selecting a debt management service provider. Remember, your chance to be free of debts is in their hands. Both of you should be helping each other.