Although it can be hard to face, not being able to pay off your loan debt is something that many people have to come to terms with. If you are in this situation, then it is important that you try and sort it out as soon as possible. The longer you leave the problem, the worse it will get. If you cannot pay back your loan and need help, then here are some tips to help you on the road to recovery.
Admit defeat
If you really are struggling and cannot make your repayments, it will only harm you to carry on struggling. You will have to pay late fees or extra payments, and your debts will get worse. Do not try and cover your loan debts with other types of debt like credit cards, as you are just making the problem worse. Admit that you are struggling and start taking steps to change the situation right away.
Contact your lender
The first thing to do if you are having problems is to contact your lender and try to work out some sort of plan. Although lenders are a business, they are often sympathetic to your situation and might be able to help by deferring or temporarily stopping payments. Having your payments stopped for a few months might be all that you need to get back on track. If you can show your lender that you can solve the problems, they should be able to help you.
Pay what you can
Even if you cannot pay the full amount back each month, you should always try and pay what you can back. The debt you have is not going to go away, so paying back what you can will still help to reduce the problem, even if it is not the full amount you should be paying back. Lenders will look more favourably on you if you are seen trying to pay back as much as you can.
Seek advice
If your problems persist, then seek some independent financial advice to try and help you through the problem. There is free advice available, and it could help you to learn where you are making mistakes that you could change in order to pay back more of your loan amount.
If the worst happens
If the worst happens are you are forced to sell your home or are taken to court, try and deal with the situation properly. Although this is obviously a very hard time for you, make sure you keep a level head, and respond to all paperwork and requests promptly and accurately. Although the situation may seem bad now, if it helps you to become free of debt it will be worth it in the long-term. If you cannot pay back your loan, then seek advice and help, and always pay as much as you can do each month.
No Pay Back Loans
Credit Cards First
If you have a lot of loans, the first rule of thumb is to pay back the higher interest loan first. This means that first of all, you should never get a payday loan or cash advance on your paycheck. These loans can lead to exorbitant rates of interest, and should always be repaid first.
However, for many people, the highest-interest debt that they owe is a credit card debt. This should be paid back before you put any extra money on your car payments, student debt, or mortgage. Although many people carry a balance on their credit cards, the best thing to do is to avoid carrying a balance, or to pay as much as you can each month. This will reduce the amount of money that you are spending each month on just giving the credit card companies money.
Car Loans, Personal Loans, Renovation Loans, Student Loans
Once you have paid off your credit card debt, what do you with extra money now? Again, start with your highest interest debt. This means comparing the financing rate on your car loan with the interest rates on your other loans.
Consolidation
If you have a lot of loans, you might be able to consolidate them, especially if you are a student. Visit http://www.theguideto-studentloans.com/student_loan_consolidation/ The Guide to Student Loans for information on how to consolidate your loans. If you consolidate them you put them all at one interest rate and one monthly payment. Remember: lowering your monthly payment isn't always the best choice. You want to have the lowest interest rate possible to save you money in the long term. If you choose to consolidate, the answer becomes simple, you put the money on the consolidated loan that you have.
Mortgages
Mortgages are one of the least-taxed loans that there are. This means that there is no rush to pay off your entire mortgage instantly. However, whenever possible, do put extra money on your mortgage payment. Even if you only put an extra $500 in the first year, that will save you more than $500 in interest. Make a goal to overpay your mortgage, but only slightly. Your other, higher-interest loans are more important to pay off first.
Savings
Although getting all of your loans paid off might seem like a good thing, you need to remember to save for the future too. Make monthly payments into a retirement plan (perhaps a 401k), and pay yourself first. Once you have paid your savings, and then paid your monthly payments on debts, you will know how much money you have left to spend.
Both Peter J Kenny & Andrew Dillan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Peter J Kenny has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Finances and Banking. Peter Kenny is a writer for thriftyscot.co.uk Please visit us at and
Cat Flaps Glass Doors If I ever have a cat again, I will definitely make sure I have a cat flap on my door, to help keep us both happy.