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How To Clear Your Credit Card Debts

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 30-10-2010

These days there are so many ways to let credit get out of control that you will probably be constantly aware of the dangers of over spending. So many people have access to far more credit than they think they need or can afford, and it is a constant challenge not to let it get out of hand and fall into the trap of spending it all. For most people, credit cards are probably the most dangerous element of this situation and the one they will keep tabs on most closely. If you can get your credit card debts under control then you will have gone a good way to getting your finances and especially your spending under control. This is vital as credit card debt and other similar short term debts are one of the first places future lenders will look when assessing your credit worthiness for future borrowing.

There are a few very simple ways to go about keeping credit card debts under control. They are really just common sense but it is useful to recap over them as many people fall into the trap of thinking that there is some sort of magical short cut to clearing your credit card debts. Sadly this is simply not the case, and despite all the amazing deals on the market, such as zero per cent balance transfers, and loyalty rewards, the only way to clear your self of your credit card debts is to simply pay them all back.

The first thing you should do is cut back on your credit card use. You will have to stop spending so much so that your repayments can start to go back to reducing your balance rather than just keeping it where it is. If you think you will have trouble cutting back on your spending, then perhaps you should think about removing your credit cards from your wallet or purse, and leaving them at home. An even more drastic step is to cut them up.

You should also make sure you are making more than the minimum repayments. Making minimum repayments will never clear the debt, or at least it will take you a very very long time. What you should do is make as much above the minimum payment as you can afford, concentrating most of your repayments on the cards with the highest interest rates.

If you are having real difficulty meeting repayments, then you should perhaps consider contacting the credit card company and telling them of the situation and asking them if they can do anything to help you.

How Can Credit Card Debt Consolidation Help The Holders?

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 22-10-2010

Credit cards have proven to be a great help to the holders of the credit cards. These cards have provided many benefits to the population all over the world. However, things can still go wrong sometimes even with credit cards. That is why it is recommended that one should consider the option of credit card debt consolidation. This option of credit card debt consolidation seeks to eliminate all the possible risks attached with the credit cards and its usage.

Things that can possibly go wrong with the credit cards are:

•The credit card holders can over spend with credit cards and therefore, have to take the overdraft facility.

•In case the overdraft facility is taken it brings about payments of fines and interest on the amount taken as over draft. And the fines and penalties are not that small; they are relatively higher and only a select few can handle them in a manner that they ought to be.

•With credit cards from more than one bank, it can become awkward and difficult to keep track of each. This can build up debt and lead to many problems.

This small problem can bring about many serious repercussions to the holders of the credit cards. The saying “small holes sinking big ships” can certainly be applied over here.

To prevent these kinds of happenings, what experts advise is to take credit card debt consolidation. What this will do is that it will cover all what you owe to the banks with a single loan and now the borrower of the loan just has to cater to the loan and not the credit card borrowings. The other benefits of this credit card debt consolidation are that there are no fines and penalties to payoff, a borrower has same loan options that any other loan borrower may have. Also the interest rate of the loan would be either lower or at best in accordance with the rate at which the credit card overdraft had to be paid.

Another thing about credit card debt consolidation that is good is that they can be taken even when the holder is in good condition as the loan would be only of a lower interest rate. In addition, any one can take the credit card debt consolidation, be it a person with good credit history or with a bad credit one.

Applying for the credit card debt consolidation loan is pretty much similar to the approach that one requires to apply for any other loan. The difference may be in the terms that are offered with the loan. So for people with credit cards, there is some serious food for thought regarding your credit cards. Things can only get better with credit card debt consolidation.

Getting Out Of Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 05-10-2010

Getting Out of Debt, The Smart Credit-Card Plan, the perfect paydown strategy

Behavioral economist Meir Statman, recently said “getting out of debt is the financial equivalent of trying to quit smoking.” Just like any bad habit, good intentions alone will not be enough. To ensure success, we need to break our underlying patterns of behavior. How is it we live in the richest most powerful country in the world, but the average American is more than £11,000 in debt. Our European friends who live by a mainly debit card system have an average savings of £13,000. On a recent visit to Germany, I was shocked to find that less than 35% of all the shops and restaurants accepted credit cards. What would we need to do to reverse this trend and get into a (plus) situation.

Plastic Surgery
If we are serious about paying off our balances. We don’t have to literally cut up our credit cards, just stop using them routinely. We should go green for our everyday spending. Try carrying around a set amount of cash to use each week. We make better purchasing decisions when we actually have to hand over the green stuff plus there’s a preset spending limit. When we run out of money, we stop spending it’s that simple. When the only way to purchase is plastic, buying online for instance, then use your debit card. Your debit card can also be used as an emergency substitute for cash should you run out.

Leave Those Cards At Home
The best way to ensure that you enforce the cooling off period on new credit purchases is by taking the cards out of your wallet. You should store them in a place that’s not easily accessible and safe. Do not let others know where you have hidden them.

Close The Accounts No Longer Needed
Having unused credit available from lenders with whom you’ve had a long relationship will help boost your credit score. Having too many will harm your credit score. As a rule, 3 credit cards is what works best and try to never spend more than 50% of the available credit on any of the cards. This will keep your score at it’s highest. You should also consider closing all your store cards, if you need to make a purchase then use your credit card and pay it off at the end of the month.

Lowering Your Interest Rates
Start by reducing what you pay in interest. We can start by calling our current credit card companies and explaining that we intend to transfer our balance to another issuer unless our interest rate is lowered. Almost all credit card companies run promotional programs with low or 0% interest. They will be willing to put you on one of those rather than risk losing your business. All you need to do is ASK.

Tackling Those Credit Card Balances
Finally we need to develop a strategy for paying off our existing credit card balances.

Gather all your credit card statements together and make a simple table listing the entire amount you owe, and the minimum payment and interest rate for each card. This will help us determine the order in which we should pay off our cards. We need to focus on the highest interest rate cards first and pay off as much as you can each month while making only the minimum payments on our other cards. When the first card is paid off, use the same strategy on the next-highest interest rate card and so on until you’re debt-free.

Late Payments
Are the number one cardinal sin of debt management. You get hit with hefty late fees and very high penalty rates that can go to 30%, plus of course your credit score will take a big hit.

We all have a responsibility to improve our financial literacy and develop the required skills and practices for effective financial management. There is a real need to get away from the “Someday things will get better in my life” or the “Someday I will be able to earn enough money to stop worrying about the bills. There is a lot more to life than that, but it has to be said and understood that the only person that can change your life is YOU. There is NO substitute for Action! With Action, you will overcome your fears and hesitations and accomplish everything you set out to do and more.

Have an opinion or a question you would like me to answer, then write me! http:www.CarlHampton.com

Finding Help To Get Out Of Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 10-09-2010

For many credit card holders, credit card debt can put a damper on what would have been a quick fix to financial woes. High credit card interest rates can lead to substantial credit card debt for millions of individuals and families around the world. It is far too easy for credit card holders to find themselves falling into credit card debt. High credit card interest rates are not the only factor that leads to a surplus of credit card debt, the high expenses people must cover in order to get by in their everyday lives lead to the general public seeking financial help. Credit cards seem like an easy answer, allowing customers to buy things now and pay for them later. However, if put in the wrong hands, credits cards can lead to even more financial trouble than the customer was already in.

There are a number of companies who capitalize on the large amount of credit card debt that can be found throughout the country and the world. These companies claim to have all the financial solutions customers who are in debt are looking for. How many times have you seen advertisements for companies claiming to get you out of credit card debt in five easy steps, or claiming to help you eliminate credit card debt in just months? The claims seem promising to people trying desperately to get themselves out of the throngs of bad credit. However, not all these companies can be trusted. It is important for any customers tempted by these get out of debt fast claims to first research these companies. Many companies simply use these empty promises as a way to prey on those who have already established bad credit and seem like easy targets to get quick cash from.

But do not worry, you do not have to fall victim. If you are tempted to employ the services of a company offering credit card help, be sure to do your homework. Research the company; try to find former customers to talk to, and make sure that your money will be spent wisely - helping you get out of debt. In far too many cases people who are already in financial trouble find themselves falling in further debt after being scammed by companies who claim to have all the answers to getting out of credit card debt. In fact these companies simply offer useless tips while scamming customers out of even more money. In fact, some debt-help companies do just the opposite - cause further debt for their financially troubled customers. Customers who are well informed and ready to find the right company to help them get out of debt will be able to spot frauds right away and employ the services of a company that will offer valid assistance rather than a hoax.

Do You Have Too Much Debt?

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 27-08-2010

How do you know if you have too much debt? Credit is a great way to get what you need when you need it, but many Americans are finding that credit can get out of control rather quickly.

Just look at the amount of advertising for refinancing, consolidation, credit counseling and credit cards.

You may not have any problem paying on your debts right now, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a credit problem.

Betty and John didn’t see it coming either. They lived as they liked, had several credit cards, two auto loans and a small mortgage that they were prepaying. They were able to make extra payments on all of their debts and thought they were doing well. If there was something they wanted, they just charged it and paid for it later.

Then Betty found that she was no longer able to work. A total surprise, they didn’t realize how much the second income really mattered until the monthly bills started coming in. Suddenly, they found themselves unable to pay their bills.

John and Betty were better off than most. They budgeted and used their savings to pay off all of their revolving debt in one year. Today, they are on the road to being completely debt free in less than a decade.

There are many Americans out there that are in worse shape before they realize that there is a problem. How do you know if you are facing a financial disaster due to debt?

If you answer no to one or more of these questions, you may be at the beginning of a potential debt disaster.

Do you have a savings account?
Do you make more than the minimum payments on your credit cards?
Do you reserve your credit cards for emergencies only?
Do you have plenty of income to pay off your debts?
Do you only have one credit card?
Does your credit card balance go down drastically every month?

If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, you may already be in serious financial trouble.

Are you at or near your credit limit on your credit cards?
Do you write checks with the hope that they won’t clear until you can deposit something?
Do you know how much you owe towards all of your debt?
Do you pay bills with your credit cards?
Have you been declined when trying to make a purchase?
Have you been denied credit?
Do you bounce checks?
Do you avoid calls from collectors?
Do you lie to those around you about your spending or debt situation?

The first step to changing your financial situation is to realize that you have a problem with spending andor debt. Once you know what the problem is, you can make a plan to fix it. Changing your financial situation isn’t easy. It takes persistence, patience and a lot of hard work and decisions.

There are companies out there that promise to fix everything for you quickly and easily, but they can’t. The only way to change your financial future is to turn your finances around and work at it. If you are motivated, committed and honest with yourself, it doesn’t matter how deep you are in debt, you will find your way out.

Can You Get Out From Debt?

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 10-04-2010

The first principle towards settling your debt and moving towards a debt-free existence is in prioritizing your debt. What you must hold on for now to and what you must clear immediately is the first step towards debt management. A good debt management and prioritization of you loans settlement will get you out of debt. This article will give you some information guide on your debt management.

Which loans to prioritize?

Logically, the one with the highest rate of interest is the one that should be cleared quickly.

Two types of loans that should be cleared as soon as possible are personal loans and credit card loans.

The interest rate on these loans is the highest. On credit cards, it amounts to around 24% per annum (at 2% per month). A personal loan should be around 18% onwards. Even if you get the personal loan at a discount, it would be around 14% per annum.

Which loans can be serviced over time?

In your debt management process, there are loans which you need to prioritize to pay them off first, but there are loans which you could service them over time to reduce your loan repayment burdens. These loans can be serviced over time:

1. Loans with low or no interest rate
2. Loans with tax benefits

Home loans and education loan offer tax benefits and can be settled over time. Same for loans to family or friends, which are either interest-free or carry a low rate of interest.
The loans which you can close now

If you are in the bad debt situation, it is critical for you to close as much of loans as possible in the short period of time. Look at your asset list and see whether you have loan on these assets. For instance, you take a car loan for an asset - which is the car. In such a case, you can sell the car and close the loan.

If you are really struggling to pay your home loan, shifting to a smaller home or more economic location is solution for it.

Switch to Other Loans

As you know credit card interest rate is high and you might not able to clear it in short period of time; then, look for an alternative and switch it to a financier who will charge you a lower rate of interest.

For credit card, there is service call balance transfer. Say you are paying 2% or 2.25% per month on your card. You can go in for another credit card. They will pay back the bank and transfer your loan onto the new card. For the first six months, they will give you a lower interest rate. Say 1.5% or 1.75% per month. This lower rate of interest will help you pay back more.

For home loan, there are home loan packages which offer a very loan interest rate in the first 3 to 5 years; some even offer 0% interest rates in first 1-2 years. Take up these benefits by refinancing your home loan.

Summary

Almost all people have debt in somehow or rather and debt is the worst poverty. Being in debt is bad enough and not managing it well is worse. Know your debt and manage it property and you will get out from debt one day.

Are You Faced With Out-Of-Control Expenses

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 08-01-2010

Perhaps you can relate to this scenario: The moment you thought you were back in the financial game of life, something else came along that smacked you back down into the land of money woes again. Was that an accurate scenario? For many people it is. Perhaps a tragic emergency or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came by and you had to pay more money than you expected to pay.

Whatever the situation, you were just clawing your way back to having control of your expenses when you pushed back down. Of course, the end result is debt!

How do you deal with that mounting debt? What can you do to solve it? There are many solutions and one of them is loans. We are going to show you the different kind of loan options you have to help you make the decision wisely.

A Secured UK secured loan is one option that many people just might want to choose because it gives them a variety of potential loan amounts and interest rates. If that’s you, the choice is yours! You can choose the loan amount that is right for your situation. And, the rate of interest on the principle is usually determined by several things. For example, the prevailing interest rates, the risk the lender faces from the recipient, the amount of money you want to borrow, and the repayment period. Also, a Secured UK secured loan comes with several flexible repayment terms, including the repayment frequency and the loan period (which is the amount of time you expect to pay the loan back). That way, you can manage the loan over a period of time and suit it to your income.

Be sure to shop around. If you look around at the many options available, you’ll probably find a Secured UK secured loan that provides you with a good amount to borrow, competitive rates, an attractive repayment period, and a repayment frequency that meets your needs. Consider this example:

If you have a large amount of utility bill outstanding debts (such as credit cards, loans, or bills owing), a Secured UK secured loan might be a good option in order to help you consolidate those utility bills into one manageable payment. That way, you can keep the lights on and the water running! Get a loan for a little more than your current accumulated bill so that you can put a small credit on each outstanding amount. That way, you’ll gain back your good name from the utility companies, and you’ll have a month or two of reprieve before you have to start paying back both the loan and the new utility bills you incur. It just might be a period of time where you tighten your belt, but it will allow you to live comfortably.

A Secured UK secured loan has many options. One of those is to consolidate your utility bills and let you begin the fight to win back your good name while keeping the lights on in your house. Many people are choosing to add a secured loan to their financial management plan. Is it the right thing for your out-of-control utility bills?

A Debt Consolidation Program To Relieve Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 23-10-2009

Debt consolidation programs are good if you are paying on several different loans. They can make your life easier by giving you one monthly payment. Your monthly debt decreases if the program you use for debt consolidation stretches your payments over a long period of time.  Paying less every month will free up some extra cash.
A successful strategy sometimes is to use a debt consolidation program. With these programs you can manage various high-rate revolving debts with one payment. Let’s say you have several high credit card balances with high interest rates. With the debt consolidation program, you will be able to lower the interest rate you’re paying and manage the debt better.

Debt Consolidation Programs Reminders
A debt consolidation program doesn’t eliminate your debt. All these programs do is move your debt to make it easier to make the payments.  You will have to pay the money back sooner or later since you do owe it.

One problem with a debt consolidation program is you will feel like you owe less.  Your credit cards will again have large amounts of available credit for you to use. Beware of digging yourself into a deeper hole by continuing to add to these balances.

With a debt consolidation loan you may end up paying more in total interest. By stretching your payments over a longer period of time, your total interest cost could possibly be higher. Of course, it may help you more easily manage your current cash flow.

There are risks by using debt consolidation programs. If you’re using a home equity loan or line of credit to consolidate your debt, the consequences of falling behind on the payments can be disastrous. You could lose your home if it is pledged as collateral against your loan.
How to Choose the Best Debt Consolidation Programs
You should shop around to find a program that fits your needs. Local credit unions and banks you already deal with are a good place to start. They are a reliable source and will most likely give you a fair deal. You might also try a bank you aren’t currently working with. Be careful of scams though, when searching the Internet for debt consolidation.

When searching for a debt management company, look for experience, how professional the company is, their assistance and budgeting services. Try to find a local company you can communicate with without having to drive for hours to talk to your counselor.

The debt management industry is unregulated. Scam artist are out there waiting to charge your outrageous fees without informing you of the best solution for your situation. Try to find out some of their customers and talk to them. Get recommendations and research online if possible.
When you team up with a debt management company who is less than above board, you may be left feeling insecure. You should relate well with your counselor and understand what they suggest. That peace of mind should help you pursue your goals and your financial future more comfortably.

Also the debt management company your choose should be a be advise you on how to deal with angry creditors, whether bankruptcy is an option or how to consolidate debt or simply reorganize your bill payment schedule.

Remember, your main goal is to work towards a better understanding of your financial debts. You will want to learn how to take care of your own debts, assets, and financial goals through your counselor’s advice. The debt management and debt consolidation is only stepping stone towards your own financial self-reliance.

4 Smart Ways To Deal With Credit Card Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 22-08-2009

You already know a lot about credit cards. You’ve heard that consumer debt in this country-particularly credit-card debt-is at an all-time high, while our savings rate is lower than ever before. You realize that the boom in online shopping, with its absolute dependence on credit cards, is further fueling their use. You are well aware that running a balance on your plastic-and paying the unconscionable interest rates that come with it-is one of our most basic and widespread financial blunders. And you suspect that the sheer volume of direct-mail credit-card solicitations with low teaser rates must be devastating the forests of northern Idaho.

Still, credit cards are a fact of 21st century life, and it only makes sense to understand how to use them wisely. While it’s probably impractical to keep all plastic out of your wallet, it is prudent to limit the number of cards you have, and, of course, to pay all balances in full every month. Indeed, having only a traditional American Express card, which doesn’t allow you to carry a balance, can be an excellent way to impose fiscal discipline on you and your family-although, as the Visa ads point out, not everyone accepts American Express. For the rest of us, who do occasionally dabble in credit-card debt, here are a few ways to keep your habit under control.

1.Take advantage of frequent-flier programs tied to credit cards, but keep in mind that interest payments on a high balance can quickly turn “free” flights into outrageously expensive ones. At a pound per mile, running up a debt of 25,000 may get you a plane ticket, but it will also saddle you with £4,500 in yearly interest payments, assuming an 18% annual rate.

2.Look very closely at credit-card offers before you bite. Obviously, most of those 2.99% and 3.99% rates will be in effect for only a few months. But there may be other catches as well. Making a late payment, even if it arrives only a day after it was due, may immediately trigger a permanent rate hike. Also, low initial rates sometimes apply only to transferred balances, and you could get charged a fee for making the transfer. Check, too, to see whether there is an annual fee, or charges for exceeding your credit limit or even for closing an account.

3.Avoid amazing grace-period tricks. What you’re looking for is a provision that says you’ll never be charged interest as long as you pay your bill in full by the due date. But some cards have no grace period, calculating interest from the moment you make a purchase, while others give you only a limited time after making a charge before interest is imposed. That period of 20 days or so may end before your payment is due.

4.Don’t forget to cancel cards you no longer use. If you don’t, they’ll show up on credit reports, and that could be a problem, particularly if you’re applying for a home mortgage. Your would-be lender may be reluctant to make a loan to someone who has a cumulative credit-card limit of £50,000, £100,000, or even more.