Personal Finance Worries - Debt

 Personal Finance Worries - Debt

It may not be surprising to know that the $84,454 is the average household's personal debt in the United States. Even though you may have more or less than the statistical average, it may be comforting to know that you regardless of your financial situation can get out of debt before your debt goes further.



Pinpoint your spending habits to guide to help you realize what has damaged your personal finance. For many people it is simple just spending too much money, for others it might a combination of bad time, student loans, etc. Whatever your current financial situation you must be able to stop doing wrong before you can start healing your credit and finances. A few examples are...



Spending to much Money on Entertainment Spending to much than your making Cable Internet/TV Eating out



"If you have to use your credit card you probably can't afford it". Credit Cards are some of the healthiest businesses in American earning billions of dollars in revenue yearly. Why? People spend too much money and get in debt to quickly in their youth. First identify if you are on of these persons. Do you have more than two credit cards? How often do you use your credit card? What is your interest rate? How much do you own on your credit cards? Do you pay your credit card off with another credit card?

Please realize that the last question, paying off your credit card is an absolute no-no. You are basically paying off one debt for an even bigger one. Most people have a lot more than two credit cards, but why? You can only use one at a time? Or are you buying more than you can actually afford? The key to get out of debt is to cut your spending and save 10% of your take home pay, which you use to pay off your debts.

Get out of Debt

In order to be financial free of debt you need to stop spending and you need to get lower interest rates. You need to finance your debt into a debt consolidation loan, or refinance your home loan. This is the normal situation for most of us; however loan options will differ on individuals. Say you're paying 15% interest rate on your credit card, which is low for most. Lets also that you have the average $8,000 in credit card debt (National Average). Lets also say you have an additional $20,000 in student loans, personal loans, etc at a rate of 5% annually.(Not including mortgage, or car loans). If you were to get a debt consolidation loan, which offers you a loan to pay back your current debts normally at a lower interest rate you would be saving money in interest payments.

Accelerating your Debt

Now to really get out of debt, you need to apply the first rule. Cut 10% of your take spending right off the top. Lets say you take home $1,800/Month (after taxes, etc). Most would be going to see movies, going on dates, eating out, buying clothes. Well if you can manage your personal finance and save that extra $180/Month, and you put that toward your debt consolidation loan. You will be financially free two-to- three times faster, and have saved thousands in interest payments than if you just paid of the debt consolidation loan minimum payment.

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