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Organize Your Finances And Do Your Research

December 8, 2022September 22, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

If you are considering debt consolidation or consumer credit counseling agencies for credit help, start by getting your act together. Organize your finances and do your research. You will begin to learn the skills you need to fix your money problems and avoid getting in this situation again. Your active participation is key in the success of your financial future.

Visit a credit counselor. There are credit counseling companies who help consumers by offering debt reduction plans to tackle debt. An advisor will work with you to lay out a plan to repay your loans. The counselor will negotiate with lenders on your behalf for the lower rate which, in turn, will reduce your monthly payments as well as keep your credit rating intact. Read the fine print to make sure you understand any fees involved; make sure that your credit rating is not adversely affected too.

Credit counseling is all about you and your financial situation. Make sure to ask the credit counseling organization about what type of customer service they provide. Credit counseling organizations should have someone available for you to talk to during all business hours of the day. Be sure to ask about counseling fees and the type of management and education programs they have in place.

Use cash as much as possible. Paying with cash has a more significant psychological impact than plastic. It feels like you’re spending more money so you spend less.

If you want something, save for it and then buy it. You should only finance items that are absolute necessities (home and car). Don’t finance furniture, small appliances or vacations. If you can’t afford to pay cash for it–you can’t afford it! Also, paying cash for items is a safe way to avoid any financial errors and bank fees. If you only take $50 to the store, that’s all you can spend.

When paying down debt remember: Minimum payments lead to the maximum amount of money paid over time. Paying more than the minimum applies more money to the balance, which decreases the amount of money you will end up paying overall.

If you are going to use any settlement companies be sure that they are registered members of the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and that they have little to no complaints. And if there are any complaints make sure then were resolved to the clients liking.

Chronic spending and debt can be a harmful habit, just like alcoholism or any other addiction. Consult a professional and/or Debtors Anonymous if you feel you might have a problem.

DMCC is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization committed to educating consumers on financial issues and providing personal assistance to consumers who have become overextended with debt. Education is provided free of charge to consumers, as well as personal counseling to identify the best options for the repayment of their debt. To speak to a certified credit counselor, call toll-free 866-618-3328 or email contact@dmcconline.org.

Use Budgeting To Reduce Debt

December 8, 2022September 13, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Many Americans live their daily lives without a budget, possibly why the average American household is over $8,000 in credit card debt. People in these difficult financial situations often say that the reason they have fallen upon hard times is because they do not make enough money. More money does not always solve the problem; more money often leads to more problems. The real solution to financial problems is planning, or budgeting.

With a little knowledge and effort, anyone can begin creating a budget to reduce their overall debt.

First, stop adding debt upon debt. It’s of the upmost importance that you quit accruing debt immediately. Use cash for your purchases, not your credit cards. If you can’t pay cash, you don’t buy it. Period.

Next, figure out how much you pay per month total for all of your expenses. This includes rent/mortgage, car payments, car/home insurance, utilities, credit card debt, other personal loan debt, food, gas, Internet, cable television, clothes, eating out, and entertainment – everything.

Now, determine your total income. Subtract this total from your monthly income total. Where do you stand? Are you comfortably in the positive, or barely? Or are you in the negative?

If you’re barely in the positive, or if you’re in the negative, it’s time to reduce your overall expenses.

What can you get rid of? Eliminate extraneous expenses. Also, shop around for better telephone rates, cell phone rates, and insurance rates. Make changes where you can.

Phone your credit card companies and try to get your interest rates reduced; sometimes they’re even willing to negate past due and over the limit fees. Consider contacting a non-profit credit counseling company. Debt consolidation or debt settlement might be a consideration for your situation. Your goal here is to reduce your overall debt from your credit lenders.

If you shift your focus from short term to a long term point of view, you will find that you will eliminate many of your wasteful spending habits. Furthermore, you may find that you are saving money for a rainy day, possibly even investing. Once your financial maturity reaches this point, you will no longer fall prey to life’s unexpected expenses. This is the only way to reach financial independence.

Credit Card Debt Relief Act 2010

December 8, 2022September 9, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Many Americans are struggling with out of control credit card debt. As a result, several debt relief options have been introduced to the market including debt consolidation, debt settlement, and credit counseling. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently passed provisions regulating the credit card debt relief industry, mainly targeting for-profit debt settlement companies. Many of these companies promised they could help consumers “cut credit card debt in half”. The problem was, however, that there was no guarantee for consumers, many of which had to pay large upfront fees to the debt settlement companies. Too many of these companies, instead of leaving consumers better off, push them deeper into debt, even bankruptcy.

The Credit Card Debt Relief Act 2010 prevents settlement companies from charging heavy fees even before the completion of the deal. This legislation is intended to provide significant protection for consumers who enter into a debt relief program and stop deceptive and abusive practices by debt relief providers that have targeted consumers in financial distress.

The purpose of the Act is to give consumers with over $10,000 in unsecured debt, who are facing financial hardship, a real and legitimate option for achieving debt relief. Since creditors and card issuers receive nothing in a bankruptcy filing, they are eager to work with genuine debt settlement companies to collect at least some of their money back.

Other provisions of the Act require settlement companies to specify to the defaulter exactly how long the total process will take and also the cost in such a circumstance. Moreover, the borrower can, at any point in time, choose not to continue with the program and in such a case, all his or her funds have to be refunded. The FTC debt settlement provisions also make it mandatory for the companies to inform the concerned customer about the negative effects, if any, of going for such a program.

Will these new regulations put legitimate debt management companies out of business along with the abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt companies? It’s very possible that this Act will have a detrimental effect on consumers, leaving many of them to resort to bankruptcy instead of debt management. Although the intention of the FTC is to protect consumers, it’s yet to be seen if the Credit Card Debt Relief Act will achieve the Commission’s desired result.

Advice For Dealing With Creditors

December 8, 2022August 28, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

At one time or another, all of us have forgotten to pay a bill or fallen behind on payments to credit cards, mortgages, autos, medical bills, or other situations involving bills. We have all therefore been contacted by a bill collector, ether through the mail or telephone call. Some these calls and correspondence can become a terror attack from creditors. Some creditors call at all hours at home and work. Some even may call the neighbors, the family, and/or employers. Some collectors can be obnoxious, condescending and downright rude. Despite laws governing their actions, many creditors and collection companies feel that an individual will not have the time, money or emotional strength to pursue them in court. Therefore, they get away with the outrageous and, sometimes, illegal acts.

If you have filed bankruptcy, and received an automatic stay, it is against the law for the creditor or his collection company to contact you without permission of the Bankruptcy Court. If your case is discharged, then creditors and their collection companies are permanently barred from contacting you unless they have received special permission from the Bankruptcy Court, or your debt is one that is excepted from your discharge.

If you have entered into debt consolidation or debt settlement with a non-profit debt counseling service, make sure you know your rights for protection from creditor calls from your representative.

You have other legal rights which protect you against certain collection practices. First, you should know what to do when you start getting bills. If you feel you do not owe the debt, or the amount the bill collector is claiming is incorrect, you should write a letter to both the collection company and the original creditor stating you do not agree you owe the money, or that the amount owed is incorrect. You should also ask for a record of your payments.

If the bill collectors report the debt to a credit reporting agency, you should write to the credit reporting agency and tell them the bill is in dispute. Whenever you write to a bill collector or to the reporting agency, you should sign the letter, date it, and keep a copy for your own file. Remember, just calling the bill collector to say you do not owe the money may not leave a permanent record of the call. Like most bureaucracies, if it is not in writing, it does not exist.

You can stop annoying collection. If the collectors continue to call you, you can send them a letter requesting they cease communication with you under the terms of the Fair Credit Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C.S. Section 1692. When you write your letter, do not forget to date it, sign it, and keep a copy. If you really want them to pay attention, send the letter CERTIFIED. By sending the letter CERTIFIED, you have proof that you sent the letter. If you send this letter, it will not only stop letters to you, but will also stop telephone calls to you.

Also, The Fair Credit Collection Practices Act forbids bill collectors from calling you at inconvenient times, such as before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.. The collectors or agents cannot communicate with third parties such as your neighbor, your friend, or your family members. They cannot contact you at work if they know (notice must be in writing) that your employer prohibits it. They cannot threaten you with criminal prosecution or call you on the phone repeatedly with the intention of harassing you.

Document all your discussions and communications with any debt collectors. If the collection company continues to ignore your warnings and refuses to comply with the law then you could sue them. But their behavior must be truly offensive, not just annoying. You could bring an action in small claims court, or hire a lawyer. But, you must have proof of their actions in order for any court to find in your favor.

Reduce Debt By Taking Charge

December 8, 2022August 20, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Getting out of debt and staying out of debt is not easy. If you’ve already amassed a fair amount of debt and are thinking it will be impossible to ever get out from under it all, don’t despair, you can learn how to stop incurring new debt and take charge of your life.

The first thing you must do is STOP increasing your debt! If you have any credit cards that are maxed out, destroy them. The best way to manage your debt is to get spending under control by eliminating all of your credit cards, except one. Use your one credit card ONLY to buy “must haves” until you can get your finances in check.

Avoiding more debt starts with knowing what you are spending your money on. Record your spending. This is key to getting out of debt. You’re in debt because you spent money you didn’t have. If you’re like most people, your debt didn’t come from a single large purchase; it was trickles of spending amassed over time. Each day for at least one month, write down every penny you spend, no matter how small.

The next step is to categorize your spending. Put your monthly expenses into groups of “Must have,” “Should have,” and “Like to have.” “Must haves” are things that will cause harm if you don’t buy them, such as food, rent, medicine, pet food, etc. “Should haves” are things that you need, but can do without for a little while, e.g., new clothes for work, gym membership, etc. “Like to haves” are things that you don’t need, but enhance your life, e.g., magazine subscriptions, newspaper, cable tv, coffee with friends, etc. By doing this, you’ll have a good idea of what you spend your money on, and you’ll be able to figure out where you might need to cut back on spending. You don’t want to eliminate all of the “should haves” and the “like to haves,” but take a look at those first.

Now, make a budget based on your spending record. Looking at your new budget, you’re going to be able to see areas where you might be able to cut back. Chances are, your budget has some fat that can be trimmed. Be realistic, but vigilant. Over time you will be able to hold back on purchases and you will be able to come up with a dollar amount that can be put toward paying down your debt.

To begin paying off your debt, first figure out how much you owe, to whom, and on what terms. Debt can often feel overwhelming because you really don’t have a clear idea of how much in debt you really are. Gather your bills, and make a simple list of all the debts you have. Write down all the pertinent facts, including name of the creditor, your total balance, your minimum monthly payment, and your interest rate.

Prioritize your debts. Debts that are past due, ones where the creditors are hounding you, and those with exceedingly high interest rates should be considered top priorities. You should pay the minimum on your low interest rate debts, and apply the bulk of your available funds to the highest interest rate notes. Once you pay off one creditor, each debt gets easier to pay off than the last. Continue to pay off each debt in your priority list. You’ll refine your budget over time, increase the amount of money you can pay yourself, and the amount you can put toward debt.

Once things become more manageable, make sure you always pay more than the minimum required, otherwise it will take an extremely long time to eliminate your debt. For example, a single credit card with just a $1,000 balance and 19% interest will take about FIVE YEARS to pay off by making only the minimum payment of $26. Paying the minimum, you will spend $1556.40, with the Total Interest Paid: $556.40! Paying only the minimum payment will equate to giving them 55% more than you actually borrowed.

Don’t give up. You probably didn’t get into debt in a day, and you won’t get out of debt in a day. There are no quick fixes. Consider contacting a credit counseling agency to consolidate or settle your debts. Learning how to manage your money can bring great peace into your life, and will give you the freedom to spend your energy on other things.

Don’t Succumb To Financial Stress

December 8, 2022August 16, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Financial stress is common if you are facing economic distress as a result of a lost job, divorce, death in the family, or being over your head in debt. This can lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, anger, and depression.

These feelings can cause you to continue to make poor money management decisions. These poor decisions can lead to even heavier debt loads, and start a vicious cycle that never seems to end.

If you reach the point where your feelings of helplessness and hopelessness become overwhelming, get the help you need. Talk to a friend, loved one, your doctor, pastor, a debt counselor , someone.

No situation is hopeless. With just a little guidance, a few well thought out goals, and emotional support from family and friends, you can take steps in the right direction. As with many obstacles you overcome in life, you will emerge with a new outlook, new skills, and best of all, a new feeling of self-esteem.

You may want to consider debt consolidation or debt settlement to pay off your credit cards. One payment, usually a lot lower than your credit card payments, can help you get back on track.

The well being of you, and your family, has to be your priority during times of financial stress. Make the decision now to learn how to cope, to make the changes you can, to stay focused and goal-oriented, and to let anxiety and financial stress go.

Goal Setting Your Way Out Of Debt

December 8, 2022August 14, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Everyone talks about the importance of setting goals, but how many people really understand the process of effective goal setting? Goal setting is the foundation for both personal and professional growth and should rank high on your priority list, especially when it comes to the area of finances. If you are in debt, ignoring it is not going to benefit you. You must first asses your situation so you can determine what your options are.

If you are barely getting by financially and have no money in savings, contacting a credit counselor, who can offer advice on how to manage outstanding debts and answer related credit questions, may help you head in the right direction. You may want to consider entering a debt management program to allow credit counselors to negotiate with your creditors for lower balance, no fees and a lower rate of interest. If you have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, you may qualify for debt settlement. Bankruptcy, although a last resort, may ultimately be your best alternative. Whatever your situation is, the first step is to determine the best path for you. Only then can you begin to set realistic goals that will give you your desired results.

Once you’ve achieved this, you are ready to set your goals. Start by prioritizing which goals you’d like to focus on immediately. Goals should be specific, measurable, action-oriented, reasonable, and timely. You should have laser focus on what you want to achieve, how you are going to achieve it, and when you expect results.

Another important aspect to successful goal planning is positive language. Too often goals sound like painful work! Instead of a “to-do” list, how about an “action list” or “an action plan”. Instead of thinking in terms of what you don’t have, celebrate what you do have. Proper language should inspire, motivate and give you solutions, not cause you stress and be something you dread.

Breaking a goal into manageable steps is another helpful tool. Often we set goals, get overwhelmed, and give up. If a goal seems too big, pump it into steps that are achievable, but still challenge you.

Plan your weekly and daily goals and rank them in order, from most critical, to least. Your goals should consistently be rotated up the priority level and to accomplish them more efficiently.

Finally, visualization is an amazing tool to have in your toolbox when it comes to goal setting. Seeing yourself debt free is a powerful motivator that will keep you energized and on track.

Whatever debt relief solution you decide to embark upon, goal setting is an important component in the success of your venture.

Finding A Credit Counselor

December 8, 2022August 11, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

Reputable credit counseling organizations advise people on managing money, bills and debts, help them develop a budget, and usually offer information and workshops. They should evaluate your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to get you on the right track. Debt consolidation, debt settlement and credit counseling are often better options than bankruptcy. Input from a trained professional can help guide you in the best direction for your individual situation.

Finding reputable credit counselors has become more convenient. New laws requires credit card issuers to include a toll-free number on their statements that directs cardholders to information about finding nonprofit counseling agencies.

Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, look for nonprofit credit counseling programs. Just as with any other venture, the more educated you become, the better choices you will make for yourself and your finances.

Deal With Your Debt

December 8, 2022August 1, 2013 by Aldo Gonzalez

If you are one of the millions of Americans out of work, and your cash flow has been impacted dramatically, there are several things you should do especially if you are carrying large credit card balances.

If you know you will be going delinquent on your payments, you should stop using your credit cards immediately, except for one that you will need in case of emergency.

It’s important to contact the remaining credit card companies to let them know your situation and that you will need some relief from your payments due to your employment situation. In the current economy, there are thousands of people defaulting on their credit cards and going bankrupt. When you show that you want to do the right thing and work with the issuer to come up with a solution to your problem, the issuer generally will do all that they can to help you.

Your creditors may suggest that you work with a local credit counseling firm. This is in their interest because those companies receive a portion of their fees on an annual basis from the issuers, along with whatever fee you would be paying them for their service. Asking them for a settlement probably won’t be helpful, they generally do not do this until you are severely delinquent and they have exhausted other resources, such as consumer credit counseling.

The important thing is to get in front of your debt problem. Don’t wait until you are overwhelmed. By that time your choices become more limited, you will most likely be recieving numerous collection calls, and maybe even threatened with lawsuits.

You are more in control than you might imagine if you start early, recognize the problem and deal with it.