So where can you find additional money to apply to your credit card debts each month? Here are several ideas:
Tax refund: Do you typically get a large tax refund each year? If you do, then you can apply part or all of the refund to your debts. In addition, you should adjust your withholding so that less taxes are withheld from each check; you'll get a smaller income tax refund, but you'll have more money to apply towards your debt payments each month. The last thing you want to do is give Uncle Sam an interest free loan when you have high interest credit cards!
Savings: Nobody wants to cash out their savings account to pay off credit card debt, but when you have credit cards that are costing you 18% or more in interest each month and your savings are only earning 4% (or less), it just makes sense to use some of your savings to get rid of that nasty credit card debt.
Bonuses, raises and overtime: Anytime you get a raise, bonus or earn overtime, you should use at least a portion of that money to pay towards your debt. Since this is "extra" money that you didn't have before, you shouldn't miss the money that you put towards your debt.
Part time or temporary work: If you're really in a debt bind, consider getting a part time, seasonal or temporary job. It doesn't have to be forever, just long enough to pay off or at least make a dent in your debt.
Sell things: Another option is to sell things to raise money. Have a yard sale or sell items no longer used on eBay. Sell books that you no longer read on Amazon or http://Half.com. You'll be surprised at how much some items will sell for on an online auction!
Borrow from family and friends: Everyone hates to ask family and friends for money, but if you're in over your head and you have family members in a position to help, this is an option you shouldn't ignore. If it helps, you can draw up a written agreement so that each party knows what to expect, and there's no chance for disagreements or hard feelings down the road.
Borrow against your home equity: This is not an option to take lightly. Yes, you can reduce the interest you are paying on your debts significantly by taking out a home equity loan, but remember that your home is at risk if you are unable to make the payments for any reason. Choose this option only if you are 110% sure that you can continue to make your payments, even in the event of a job loss or other emergency.
Reduce spending: Although listed last, this is probably the first strategy you should take to find extra money to pay off debts. You should review your spending to see if there are any areas that you can cut back on to generate additional cash to be applied towards your debt. Some typical areas that can be cut back on, at least temporarily, to help pay off debt include food (both groceries and eating out), entertainment (gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, cable, internet, trips to the book store) and personal care (haircuts, clothing, housekeeping, etc.).
These are just a few suggestions on how you can find money to help pay down your debts quicker. There are hundreds of other ways you can find money to use towards your debt if you are motivated to look for them.
What is debt? This means something a person owed. This is usually in the form of money with corresponding interests given back to the creditor.
Is it easy to pay off a debt? Yes but it is going to take some hard work and sacrifice before the individual can live a considerate lifestyle again.
The reality is that there isn't enough money to pay off the loan in one swift stroke. This is because the spouses have to also spend on other things for daily living such as rent, gas, food and clothes.
One way to pay off debt slowly will be borrowing money from family and friends. A certain amount can be collected and returned later on without returning this back with interest.
It sometimes takes two heads or more to work better than one. If the couple has a hard time controlling the expenses, perhaps getting the help of a financial expert is in order. These professionals can deal with the banks and even consolidate the remaining amount by up to 40%.
The spouses will have to write down all the expenses. The expert will then help cross out those that aren't important. As long as the two follow the plan, a calculation can be made as to how long before the debt is paid.
Aside from dealing with this situation in one front, the couple mustn't forget to deal with rent and other bills that come at the end of the month. Being focused on one and neglecting the other can also do some damage.
The worse thing is getting a bad credit rating, which will make it difficult for anyone to apply for a credit card or a much needed loan in the future.
People must remember that it is one thing to spend on something and another when getting the bill and reading the fine print.
The only way to get out of a debt is to pay for it. By getting help from people and learning to spend within the available means, Michael and Ronnie can recover from this obstacle and work hard to prevent it from ever happening.
Both Kristine Mckinley & Deanna Mascle 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.
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