There Is Always A Way Out
Debt can be substantial, it can totally dominate your life, and it can take a long time to recover from. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. With varying debt relief programs, you may be able to see debt-free financial security much quicker than seemed possible. Following, we'll go over a few things you can do to help relieve debt, including:
- Consider If Consolidating Debt Is Right For You
- Seeking Debt Relief From Debt Relief Companies
- Paying Off Debt More Swiftly By Increasing Payments
- Flushing Savings To Put A Dent In Situations Of Large Debt
- Throw Tax Refunds At Debt, Sell Off Things You Don't Need
- Constantly Seek Employment Which Offers More Pay
- Don't Make Purchases That Expand Existing Debt
Consider If Consolidating Debt Is Right For You
This can be an extreme solution, but it may also be the right one. Basically, consolidating debt refers to a process by which a debt consolidation company buys up all your debt. Basically, you're getting a "new" loan.
So say you had credit card debt, college debt, and a few thousand dollars tied up in this or that. A debt consolidation company would pay off all those whom you owe, ultimately making it so you just owe that debt consolidation group.
Here's where the advantage is. If you have ten debts you are paying off every month, each has associated interest rates which differ. What you pay in interest can be greater than the principal of the loan, over time. With debt consolidation, you can see substantially lower interest, allowing you to get debts paid off quicker, and less expensively.
Seeking Debt Relief From Debt Relief Companies
Another strategy might be looking into debt relief companies to help you develop more effective overall payment options. Such companies can also help you find relief through laws which diminish the amount you may owe.
There are options like debt forgiveness for which some that have debts against them may apply. Every individual has a different situation, but there are options here which can help you reduce what you owe overall, diminish interest, or otherwise chip away at your debt.
Paying Off Debt More Swiftly By Increasing Payments
How much are you paying into your $20k debt a month? Are you paying 5% of your monthly income? Say you're pulling in $3k a month. Well 5% is only $1,800 a year. Without interest, it will take you over 11 years to pay that debt back.
Now say you up that monthly payment to 15% of your income monthly. Now you're looking at $5,400 of your debt paid back annually. Without interest, you'll have your debt paid off in under four years. Basically, you cut out over 60% of the overall debt period.
So find how you can shuffle money around. Make your own coffee at home to save at least a grand at coffee shops, quit eating fast food, ride your bike for transportation, and reduce all non-necessary expenses until your debt is gone.
Flushing Savings To Put A Dent In Situations Of Large Debt
How much do you have in savings? Do you have $5k waiting there? Well look, if you're keeping it back and paying interest on your debt, you very well could end up paying out more over the long term than had you simply used your savings to pay off the remainder of the debt.
Here's the truth: whenever you're in debt, whatever your assets are, you need to subtract debt from that. So say you've got $20k in the bank, but you owe $50k in debt. Well, your net worth is negative in the amount of about $30k--if you used your savings to pay off some of that debt.
If you don't use savings to reduce that debt, then your net worth in this situation is negative in the amount of $50k. Also, a debt of $50k stretched out over ten or twenty years will produce quite a bit of avoidable interest--for some debts, $50k over ten or twenty years could produce more than $20k in interest; depending on the rate. So you're not really saving anything by not using those assets to more swiftly reduce your debt, because you pay on "the back end".
Throw Tax Refunds At Debt, Sell Off Things You Don't Need
Speaking of assets, you'd better not spend tax refunds on "toys"--not while you're in debt, anyway. Certainly you could, but doing so will just keep you in the hole. What makes more sense is putting that tax return against your debt. Additionally, take inventory of your possessions.
Do you have two cars? Sell one of them and put the money toward debt. Do you have old furniture which has some sort of market value? Maybe you should make a trip to a localized version of "Antique's Roadshow". Do you have collectibles? How about good furniture you no longer need?
Look around your house, figure out the things you can't part with, and what you are a bit neutral about in terms of preference. As in: well, you don't hate that couch in the basement, but you haven't sat on it in half a year, and you could get $100 for it from the right buyer.
Sometimes you'll need to part with something you love, like a guitar or a computer. If you can sell such things without impacting your ability to make a paycheck, then doing so could be worthwhile to escape debt. You can re-purchase these items down the line when you're no longer under the thumb of debt.
Constantly Seek Employment Which Offers More Pay
How is your job treating you? Are there opportunities for promotion? Do you have means of supplementing income? Are there other job opportunities you could pursue which may pay more? A great way to get out of debt is to pay it off quicker.
The best way to pay of debt more quickly is to make more money. You can't make more money if you tread water in whatever mediocrity presently binds you. For all people at all times, there is always room for improvement. If you are serious about getting out of debt, dedicate yourself to maximizing the income you're able to acquire with regularity.
Don't Make Purchases That Expand Existing Debt
This one should go without saying, but many who are in debt have found themselves in that position because they don't exercise proper self control in terms of spending. When you're in debt, don't expand that debt by making more purchases which increase the amount of money you owe.
Getting Out Of Debt And Into Freedom
There are a lot of things you can do to escape debt. Avoid the purchase of expensive things you can't afford, try to acquire more gainful employment, sell assets when this is worthwhile, level tax refunds against debt, leverage savings against debt, increase monthly payments, consider consolidation, and look into debt relief companies. Different debts have different solutions, but at least a few of the strategies explored here should be worthwhile. Seek consultation, and find debt relief tactics that best match your particular situation.
