Debt Consolidation and Debt Management - Get Debt Relief

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How to avoid a credit card debt nightmare
Are your credit card debts giving you nightmares? If yes read on and see if we can save you some money and help you sleep better at night. It is so easy to get yourself into debt, as all these credit card companies seem to be throwing these cards at us. Learn to understand your statement if you're paying more than 15% of your monthly salary to your credit card bill then now is the time... Read debt consolidation article



Debt Consolidation or Credit Counseling
With so many debt reduction options available to you, it's easy to get confused on which is the most effective. Debt consolidation allows you to lower interest rates and payments on your own. But credit counseling can help you find other ways to reduce your debt and develop future financial goals.

Going Alone With Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is a quick way to reduce... Read debt consolidation article



Debt Consolidation and Debt Management - Get Debt Relief
In Part 1, we discussed how debt management helps you learn how to get a handle on your finances. However, using debt consolidation and management together will provide you maximum financial results.

Once you have developed good skills for managing your debt, you need to learn some ways to reduce your monthly payments and financial stress. Here are six options for consolidating your debt.

Debt Consolidation Debt Consolidation in addition to debt management is important. It can help you understand what options you can use help reduce your financial stress.

Bill Consolidation is frequently used to combine all of one's bills into one bill. Normally, debt consolidation will reduce the amount of your monthly payments. It may also reduce your interest rate. Dealing with one company and one bill is generally much easier than keeping track of many debts and many companies.

There are many different ways to consolidate your debt. Which option is best for you will depend upon your financial situation. Consolidating your bills can relieve a lot of stress. However, remember that you must follow the debt management advice, as discussed in part 1, to insure successful debt relief.

1. Home Refinance

If you own a home, you can refinance it. The objective of a refinance should be to get a lower fixed interest rate. If you have an adjustable mortgage rate, there is always the possibility that your payments will increase.

To be successful at eliminating your debt, you should concentrate on getting the lowest fixed interest rate possible. When your payments are always the same, it's much easier to plan and execute your debt free plan.

2. Home Equity

A home equity loan is a second mortgage. It usually has a fixed interest rate and fixed time frame. The interest you pay is normally tax deductible and there is no penalty for paying off the loan early.

Be careful with this type of loan. Ideally, you would use this option when you have substantial equity in your home and plan to live in it for the next several years.

If the total amount you borrow for the first and second mortgage is equal to or greater than the value of the home, you could have some difficult experiences. For example, if you wanted to sell your home, you may have problems with your creditors. If you do sell the home, you will more than likely have debt left over which you must pay. The objective of home ownership is not to increase your debt.

3. Home Equity Line of Credit

A home equity line of credit is where you use your home as collateral for a loan. It is setting up a revolving line of credit. You can use the credit repeatedly. The amount of your payment is dependent upon your outstanding balance. That means your payments may not be the same. You can make interest only payments. That is not a good idea because it does not reduce your debt.

Home equity loans are normally set up for a five to ten year period. There is a penalty for early termination of the loan. After the initial loan period, the equity loan converts to a variable principal and interest loan. You must pay this off over a set period, usually 5 to 15 years.

The main concern with either type of debt consolidation mortgage loan is simple. If you default on the payment, you loose your home. It's one thing to have a lot of debt. It's an entirely different problem to have no home.

4. Credit Card Consolidation

Many people turn to credit card debt consolidation to as a means of regaining control of their finances. In essence, you take all the credit card debt from all your credit cards and put that amount onto one credit card.

There is very little paper work involved. You do not have to go through a long approval processes. Many credit card companies offer a twelve-month interest free period for consolidating your debt onto their credit card.

In addition, after the twelve-month period is over, you will likely have a reduced interest rate. As long as you make regular payments on time, you can substantially reduce your debt. Do not put any more charges on the card. If you do, you're only increasing your debt.

However, there is a catch. If you are late on a payment or your payment does not process correctly, your free grace period will likely be over... and you will immediately be charged a higher interest rate. Your real education is in reading the fine print of the agreement.

Credit card consolidation is dangerous unless you're very disciplined and have a very solid debt reduction plan.

5. Settling Your Debt

Debt settlement occurs when you work with a debt management company. The company will normally negotiate your debt balance. You pay the company and the company works with your creditors. Normally, these companies reduce your debt by half, including any fees the company may charge.

The problem with debt settlement is two fold. First, your credit rating may drop significantly. Second, you must work with a reputable firm. If you do not, your debt will increase and so will your financial problems.

Be sure you do your homework before considering this option. Check out several companies. Compare their services. Compare their fees. Talk with others that have used the company.

6. Borrow From Retirement Funds

If you have a retirement pension plan such as a 401(k), you can borrow from your retirement fund. There is no long processing period and no credit checks. The interest rate is typically quite low. The best part is that the interest is paid to you. It is your retirement fund. You are the lender.

It is very important that you understand that you are borrowing the money from your retirement fund. You are not withdrawing it. If you withdraw the money, you will have two problems. First, you will pay taxes on the amount your withdraw. Two, you are subject to a ten percent penalty.

The other potential problem is if you loose or quit your job. You may be required to pay back the loan immediately. If you don't, you will again be subject to paying taxes and a ten percent penalty.

Before using this option, consider two things: 1) It will reduce the amount of your retirement funds. If you are younger, you may have sufficient time to recover before retirement. 2) High interest debt will also reduce the money you have for your financial future. When you pay off the higher debts, it may provide the immediate help you need to get back on track.

It would be wise to get counsel from your company about your specific financial situation before making a decision to borrow from your retirement funds.

So, what have we learned? Debt management helps you learn how to improve your money management skills. Debt consolidation provides you with the tools to best use the financial resources you have.

To get the maximum financial results and reduce your debt, use both debt consolidation and management to your advantage. The time to start is today.

Larry Andrew founded and operated his own educational consulting corporation for over twenty years. He has extensive experience in teaching, business and finance. He is the publisher of http://www.bill-consolidation-loan-help.com.

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Debt Consolidation For Maximum Relief

Bankruptcy and financial stress are at an all time high. In increasing numbers, people are turning to bill consolidation loans and debt management counseling for relief. Both debt consolidation and management provide valuable assistance. However, you need both for maximum results.

Many people claim that "easy credit" is the underlying problem. That mindset is half the problem. It is true that credit is easy to obtain. However, each person must accept responsibility for how they choose to use their money.

The misuse of finances can be an addiction, just like drugs or alcohol. It can also result from lack of understanding. Regardless of how the debt occurred, once the person can accept financial responsibility and commit to change, the road to a debt free life is possible.

Bankruptcy is not a good alternative. It will only cause more stress and financial problems for many years to come. So, with a little determination and resolve, let's examine how to get a handle on your finances and what you can do to reduce financial stress.

Debt Management
Debt management is very important. It helps you understand how to get a handle on your finances. Here are debt five debt management principles that work.

1. Debt Management Counseling
It is usually important to get an outside, objective opinion on your financial situation. A debt management counselor can help you organize your current financial status, offer honest and objective advice, and provide a road map for you to pay off your debts.

You should feel comfortable in talking with the counselor. The counselor should have your best interest at heart. However, you may not like everything you hear. Talk to several different counselors before you commit to one. Learn as much as you can about him/her. You're looking for someone with a proven track record. Someone that will listen carefully to you and then offer specific advice that will best meet your financial situation. If they don't listen, are not honest and objective, keep looking.

2. Follow Budget
Part of your road map to a debt free life is a budget. Your budget should allocate sufficient money for your living expenses and your debts. Be diligent in following your budget. The more you write down and record your financial transactions, the more likely you are to stay on track.

To be successful at reducing debts, pay your debts first. When you pay your obligations first, then you know exactly what you have left to live on.

Some people take envelopes and put money in them for each item on the budget. When the money is gone, the budget category is used up. The only way to use more money for a specific area is to borrow it from another envelope.

Others like to use a software program for their finances. They record each item and put it in a specific category. Then, their reports let them know where they stand on each budget item.

It really doesn't make any difference how you use your budget. The important matter is that you have a budget. You know how much is in each budget category at all times and you don't spend more money than you have budgeted.

3. Get Rid of Credit Cards
Successful debt reduction is primarily dependent upon not increasing your current debt. Many debt management companies will be able to work out arrangements with your creditors for reduced payments and interest. As part of the agreement, you agree not to accumulate more debt. Tearing up your credit cards is a good idea. Get rid of the temptation to increase your debt.

4. Consciously Reduce Expenditures
Once you become aware of where your money is going, you can begin to eliminate unnecessary expenditures. For example, when you leave the house, do you turn down your air conditioning or heating? Do you turn off lights and appliances that are not being used? How much would you save by taking a sack lunch to work rather than eating out? If you're a smoker and gave up smoking, how much would you save?

You'll find that small reductions in a few expenditures will begin to add up. The more you are aware of where your money is going, the better you will be able to reduce unnecessary expenditures.

5. Focus on Debt Payment
Each of your debts will have a different interest rate and amount. Individual personalities tackle problems in different ways. You need to figure out what is the best method for you.

For example, some people concentrate on paying off their most expensive debts first. It saves money in the long run. They figure out the maximum amount they can pay each month on their most expensive bill. Once that is paid off, there is a huge relief in cash flow and stress.

Others have so many different debts. They choose to pay off as many little ones as fast as they can, so they can concentrate on the bigger debt.

It really doesn't make too much difference what method you choose. The important point is that you have a focused plan you feel good about. Good debt management, in contrast to bad debt management, is being consistent over time.

In part 2, we will discuss how use the financial resources you have to consolidate your debt.

Larry Andrew founded and operated his own educational consulting corporation for over twenty years. He has extensive experience in teaching, business and finance. He is the publisher of http://www.bill-consolidation-loan-help.com.


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