Jun
04
Debt problems, I don’t even know where to begin!!!?
Posted ByHey everyone, I need some help.
I have been looking over my finances and have come to the realization that I have way too much debt!!! I have a few credit cards and some car payments, frankly the monthly payments have become almost too much for me!
I need to reduce my debt, but have no idea where to start!!! Any help on where to begin?
14 Comments
June 4th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Sit down with a credit counselor and have them contact your creditors to work out a repayment plan. You can find these counselors in the phone book if you don’t know one.
Bankruptcy isn’t a great option because that will wreck your credit for the next 7 years. No joke.
Good luck.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Hey Jacob,
I am sure that you are thinking at this point that the best way to stay out of debt is to never get into it!!! It is a scary realization when you reach the point where you are.
The best thing to do would be to calm down and take it one step at a time. Identify all the sources of your debt, and then attack them one by one.
I frequent a blog that has great financial articles. I found one that may help you, its called “Debt Reduction Steps for Beginners.”
The link is http://www.finance-your-life.com/?p=35
Happy Thursday!!!
Oh by the way, the site will also write articles based on reader comments and questions, so feel free to ask them anything!!!
June 4th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I’ll try to keep it simple but I’m sure others in here will give much better options for you.
1) Come up with something simple analyzing what money is coming in and what money is going out . Project this out for the next few months.
2) From the money going out separate those two into: obligations (credit cards, etc) and optional (fine dining, entertainment, etc).
3) See what changes you can make in your lifestyle. This can include sacrificing certain expenditures (movies or eating out, for example) but it might also include planning for additional income (2nd or even a 3rd job).
Don’t change everything at once but at least you’ll know where you stand after doing these 3. Good luck!
June 4th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I agree with Gravedigger. I was over $9,000 in debt at one point, so I contacted Budget Right Debt Management. Since I made contract with them, I have been paying down my debt for the last 3 years on one low monthly payment and I’m almost done!!! If I would have continued to make minimum monthly payments without their help, it would have taken me something like 40 years to pay off that debt.
I am not sure if BRDM is the best co. out there, but I know these kinds of companies have helped many people. Be sure to shop around to find the program that works best for you. It REALLY works, if you stick to the plan.
June 4th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
how many is a few credit cards? you really only need one. you may have to find a part time job to get out of debt. you can declare bancrupcy but i dont recommed it.
June 4th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
1) Figure out exactly how much you owe. Make a list showing all your creditors (your car loans, your credit cards, etc.) and the amount you owe them.
2) Stop spending. Don’t eat out, don’t buy clothes, don’t buy anything but absolute necessities. It sounds like you own multiple cars. If so, consider selling one or more of them (unless you owe more than they’re worth).
3) Call your credit card companies and ask them to lower your interest rate. Ask to speak to a supervisor if the first person can’t/won’t help you.
4) If you still can’t afford your minimum payments, then consider getting professional help from a debt counselor (see the link below for help choosing one without getting ripped off).
5) If you can afford at least the minimum payments, start by paying the minimums on all but one card (either the card with the highest interest rate or the lowest balance, whatever you would prefer). On this card, pay as much as you possibly can.
6) Once you’ve paid off your first card, pay as much as you possibly can toward the next card (the next highest interest rate or next lowest balance). Continue until all your debts are paid off.
7) Avoid this problem in the future by not buying things you can’t pay for in cash. The only exception to this rule should be buying a house. You should even buy your cars for cash.
Good luck!
June 4th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Yes, credit counseling is a good first step. You might be able to get out of debt on your own. You may need a debt management plan to lower your payments. You might even need bankruptcy.
A certified credit counselor can help you understand the severity of your situation as well as the feasibility of different options to help you eliminate debt.
Good luck!
June 5th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Not without numbers, nobody can give you specific advice if you cant give the specific situation? How much is “too much”? 100% of your income? How much do you make? What are you willing to do? Kill yourself? Get another job? Sell your car?
June 5th, 2010 at 1:10 am
The first thing you need to do is quit spending. Like when you in a hole, first thing you do is drop the shovel.
Then, contact your creditors and develop a plan.
Sell assets if they are not absolutely necessary. A smaller / cheaper car may be in order. Get creative!
Then work your butt off to meet that plan. It might require a second job but it will be worth it.
June 5th, 2010 at 1:52 am
jacob you know where to begin you have all ready – you sat down and reviewed your bills — ok don’t pay for any advise we can work through this == first look around and see what do i really need and what to i really want — than downsize your life style — take all of your cc and put they away we are going to use nothing but cash — take the credit bills and put them in order with the highest interest first and pay the minimum monthly payment on the others and throw some extra money on the highest interest card till you get it paid off — you said cars payments — can you do with out the extra car for a while it might be a good ideal to get rid of it and the extra cost of insurance — remember if you just park it you still have to have insurance — at the same time i want you to put 1% of your take home pay in a rainy day fund — because before you get out of debt something will come up — need a new tire or some other expenses and i want you to have the few bucks to pay for it so we do not have to get the cc back out. this may mean giving up your cell phone and cable tv and maybe even internet but in the long run you will be happy you did it.
remember by the time your are 45 you should have as much unearned income (interest on saving,bonds stocks etc)
as
you have earned income!!!
June 5th, 2010 at 2:14 am
start with your smallest debt and tackle that with everything you can. Continue to pay the minimum on everything else. When the smallest one is paid off take the money you were sending that debt and apply it to the next smallest and on and on.
The satisfaction you feel paying something off will keep you motivated as opposed to try and chip away little by little on all of them at once.
Good luck. Budget EVERY dollar you earn every month. Try to use cash instead of debit and credit cards.
June 5th, 2010 at 2:23 am
get on a written spending plan every month… give every dollar a name on paper. cut expenses you can live without like cell phones, cable tv. sell stuff to pay things off… have a garage sale…. cut up the credit cards and stop all borrowing…
June 5th, 2010 at 3:06 am
Get a budget. Cut out frills. No cable TV. Eat just beans and rice and rice and beans. Get a 2nd and 3rd job.
Do a 10 week course offered by one of these sites:
http://www.daveramsey.com
http://www.crown.org
Crown straightened my butt out! 8 years later, I’m completely out of debt and have $100K saved up in retirement accounts.
June 5th, 2010 at 3:20 am
There is a great place to go with this. I was in a very similar situation.
This is getting help from real people without the use of banks or credit card companies. Good Luck!
http://www.prosper.com/join/lzc5wh