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Consolidate Bills: 7 Tips To Survive The Stress Of Debt And Get A Brighter Financial Future

Being in debt can be very stressful and unless you know a few tricks to reduce debt, such as how to consolidate bills, it can severely affect the quality of your life. When dealing with debt related stress, it can be helpful to remind ourselves that “this, too, shall pass” if we take steps to make sure that it does.

Here are seven tips to help you survive the stress of debt and begin to move towards a brighter financial future:

1. FACE FACTS. All too often, when we are overwhelmed by the enormity of debt and lack of finances, we can procrastinate on taking action. The very things we need to do remain undone. Why? Because depression can hit hard in these circumstances. We can feel like we are drowning in debt related stress and instead of taking action, we are paralyzed. Most of us have known at least one person who hates collecting the mail, fearing more bills or letters of demand. When the mail is brought in, it is often left unopened because they just don’t want to see one more bill. While this is understandable, it is also disastrous. Ignoring the problem only makes it worse and increases the stress.

2. DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION. All change begins with a decision. To climb out of debt and survive the stress that accompanies it, you must DECIDE to take action. Research the options available to you. One major way you can alleviate the stress of debt is to consolidate bills. Look into the various ways you can do this. Seek professional advice.

3. TAKE ACTION. If you need to negotiate with creditors to work out a payment plan, do so. If you need to change suppliers to get a better deal, do that, too. If you are juggling multiple credit card payments and other loans, decide to consolidate bills using the lowest interest, lowest cost loan you can find.

4. CONSOLIDATE BILLS. The first, most important action you need to take is to consolidate bills in order to reduce interest costs and increase your monthly cash flow. If you have gone through the process of researching your options, you will know which refinancing option is best for you.

5. DON’T WASTE YOUR GAINS. When you consolidate bills, your monthly disposable income will increase. Don’t waste this extra money. If at all possible, use some of it to pay off the debt as quickly as possible and put some of it in savings so you have something to fall back on and are not tempted to increase debt again.

6. LIVE WITHIN A REASONABLE BUDGET. If we live above our means, we will get stressed. It is really unavoidable. So one important way to control financial stress is to keep within a budget. A budget doesn’t have to be draconian, but it does have to balance. You can find good budget guides on the internet and can print out a form that would apply to most people. Initially, it is a good idea to keep track of spending. You might be surprised where your money is going. Where money is concerned, ignorance is not bliss. It’s good old fashioned stress!

7. ENJOY YOUR LIFE. Debt related stress can suck the joy right out of your life. So you have to factor ways of enjoying your life into your plan. Make sure that you budget for some entertainment and that you can buy some special items you enjoy. Unhappiness can create stress, too, so look for ways to be happy and find pleasure in life while on a budget. It can be done. Think about what you love doing. Now think of ways to do these things inexpensively. Be creative. The quality of your life will improve and you will be glad you took the time.

If you consolidate bills and take the other steps mentioned here, you will be well on your way to surviving the stress of debt and gaining a brighter financial future.

Need a debt reduction program? You are not alone. Here are 5 tips on reducing debt that you can do right now.

1 Knock Off Using Credit

If you havent done this one, then this is the place to start. Put the credit cards and line-of-credit checks under lock and key, and operate as if you dont have them at all. Figure out how to make more income and pay cash instead. This is the single most effective action you can take.

2 Never Commit to Spending More Than Your Income

When you pay for an item with credit because you dont have the cash, you are committing your future income to pay the credit company. Then you experience economic slavery. Ask yourself if you just want the item or if you really need it to increase your production of income. If you need it, figure out how to make the cash to pay for it over a short period of time, rather than buying on credit. Find ways to increase your income and use it to pay both current expenses and pay off credit debt.

3 Always Pay More than the Minimum Payment Required

Your debt reduction program will be most effective if you carve out a minimum of 10% to 15% of your income. Use this money to reduce debt. Set a target of paying 3 to 5 times the minimum monthly payment on every credit card. Set aside some of the payment money every week until the statements arrive. Its always easier to save small amounts over 4 weeks than pay a big bill all at once.

Your credit card payment strategy should also include paying more on the highest interest rate card. Another strategy is paying off low balance cards as fast as possible. After you pay those cards off, the money you were paying on those cards can be paid against the highest interest rate cards.

4 – Never Pay Late or Spend Over Your Limit

Do not destroy your debt reduction strategy by getting hit with late payment or over-limit fees of $25 to $39 on which youll pay interest. Plus, if you pay over 30 days late, that black mark stays on your credit record for 7 years a harsh penalty to pay.

Recently a Vice President of a U.S. bank stated that over 24 Billion dollars was paid out in interest, late fees and over-limit fees last year on credit cards. Do you think the credit card company really minds if you pay late or go over your limit? If they didnt want you to spend over the limit they could have declined the charge, right?

5 Cut Back on Expenses

Reducing debt requires as much cash as possible, as fast as possible. Look closely at where your income is being spent and cut back on any expenses that do not contribute to the production of more income. Before you spend, figure out how much money that purchase is going to bring back in to you, your family or your business.

TIP: If you are a business owner, always promote your business to everyone dont cut back on that activity. Just make sure you are getting more sales from your promotional activities than what it costs to promote.

Correctly managing the money in a business or household to ensure its survival takes more than a debt reduction program, but this is a great place to start. There are other steps that you can take to increase income, pay bills on time, have cash reserves for emergencies, increase profits and pay yourself more money. Who doesnt want that, right?

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.

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.