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When you're deeply in debt, it's only natural to want to be out of it as soon as possible. Interest charges can mount up and having too much debt can make it difficult or even impossible to borrow for the things you really need. When faced with what seems to be an overbearing amount of debt, it's important to take the time to formulate an achievable plan.
If you can get out of debt on your own then you should do so. If you can't then don't make the common mistake of trying to clear off your debts too quickly. It's very easy to set goals that are impossible to reach and all too easy to lose your momentum as you fail to reduce your debt. An all too common end to this path is bankruptcy because people feel there's nowhere left to turn.
Rather than setting lofty goals, the best approach is to be as realistic as possible about what you can achieve and in what time frame you can achieve it. Having a budget is an essential step towards being debt-free. Just ensure you include everything you spend money on each month. Once you have a list of your regular expenses, take a critical view and ask yourself whether or not each expense is absolutely necessary. Obviously, things like rent and groceries are pretty hard to do without, but do you really need to eat out so often?
Here's just a few of the non-essentials that can often be cut out:
1) Dining out. If you eat out a lot or buy ready made meals for lunch then you might be surprised at just how much money can be saved by eating at home and taking lunch into work.
2) Vices. Coffee house coffees, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes are just a few examples of modern day habits. These are the kinds of things we can definitely do without, at least reduce whilst we're trying to be frugal.
3) Leisure. Whilst a life without entertainment might be a bit of a drag, there are ways to have fun without the expense. For example, rent a movie for you and your friends to watch at home together instead of going to the cinema and buying individual tickets. You can be sure the snacks will be cheaper!
4) Travel. As fuel prices continue to rise, reducing the amount of travel can bring a significant saving on your budget. Instead of commuting alone in your car, consider carpooling or even using public transport. As well as helping your wallet, you'll also be helping the environment by doing so.
With proper planning, you could pay off your debt in years or even months, depending on how much money you can divert from your other expenses and the amount of debt you have to start with. As long as you can make your minimum repayments and whatever else you have left in your budget, you'll be on the right track. As well as clearing your debt, another benefit of keeping up your payments is that you'll also be building your credit history.
Whilst reducing your outgoings in any one area might not seem to offer much benefit, when you add all of the little savings up it can make a significant difference. Remember that the more you can save on your regular expenses, the more you can whittle away on your debt.
Debt management plans (DMP) consolidate your short term debts into one monthly payment. They also negotiate lower interest rates, enabling you to pay off your accounts usually in less than five years. Before you sign up with one of these companies, you want to investigate them to be sure they are legitimate.
Services Offered
A DMP company, also called debt consolidation, handles the accounting side of your bills. They work with your lenders to lower interest rates, pay your accounts, and then close accounts when appropriate.
DMP are for short term debt, like credit cards and bills. They cannot reduce student or mortgage rates. However, you can reduce rates on these types of loans by refinancing them on your own.
With a DBP company, all you do is make one payment to them and provide your financial information. Part of your monthly payment will include a small fee for each account handled by the debt consolidation company.
Questions To Ask
Before you submit your financial information to a DMP, investigate the company. One important question to ask is how long will it take to pay off your accounts. A reputable company will ask for lenders' names and account balances, but not account numbers to make an estimate.
They will then give you a specific date for each account. Since you have varying account balances, each account will have a different date. You should also know that rates are predetermined by creditors, so all DMP companies will get you the same low rate.
You should also ask about fees. Most companies charge a small fee for each account handled. Companies that require a large fee up front that is refundable in part are banking on the fact that most people do not follow through with these plans.
Other Credit Services
If you are not sure debt consolidation is for you, sign up for credit counseling. Through an appointment over the phone, internet, or in-person, you can work with a counselor to come up with a financial plan for debt payment. They may suggest a DMP or consolidation your credit into one loan, usually a second mortgage.