Related Links

Bookmark and Share

Featured Links

Recommended Sites
Debt Links





Quote of the Day

"Their very conservatism is secondhand, and they don't know what they are conserving."

Robertson Davies



Recommended Products





 


 
Featured Debt Articles

Consolidating Debt - How To Get The Lowest Interest Rate On A Debt Reduction Or Consolidation Loan
To get the lowest interest rate on a debt consolidation loan, you need to research terms and rates. Lenders realize to remain competitive, they must offer low rates. A difference as little as a quarter percent can save you hundreds a year. The type ...

Debt Management Tips To Bring Your Life Back On The Right Track
It has become very easy to borrow loans these days. Advancement in technology has given birth to Internet that has made it convenient for the loan seekers to track the loan of their choice. Just with a few clicks on a lender's website you can access the ...

How To Live Prosperously and Conquer Debt Before The Sun Goes Down
“What if you could get your hands on some information that would literally alter the course of your life financially–“Before The Sun Goes Down” A young man in ancient times, began his journey into debt. He slid headlong into the dark financial ...

5 Things You Can Do To Get Out Of Debt Legally
 

More often than not, they look for help at debt consolidation companies which in my humble opinion just worsens their situation. When you realize that you are in trouble financially, there are a few things that you can do yourself to help ease the situation.

The first step is to take action. Do not procrastinate or try to hide from your problems - it is like a weed garden out of control - eventually it will be too much for you to handle.

Understandably, some people feel so burdened with debt that they simply cannot get their financial situation under control. However, there is no need to be depressed or discouraged about your situation.

You CAN do something about it if you are serious about getting out of debt. It doesn't matter how terrible things may seem - with a bit of planning your debt woes can be solved.

A five point plant for solving debt problems

No matter how depressing your financial situation may seem, there are steps that you can implement to improve the situation.

Lets look at 5 things you can start doing immediately to ease your debt problems.

1. Do not make any more debt.

The very first step towards solving one's debt problems is not to make any more debt. It sounds simple but it is a principle that is often ignored. The point is, if you stop making debt your monthly living expenses will be reduced. You will also be saving on interest because any money you owe on naturally has an interest amount attached to it that has to be paid back.

Another thing is that if you stop making new debts, you will have more money to pay off your old debts faster. You cannot build wealth if all of your income goes out towards paying debts.

Whatever you do, do not make the mistake of borrowing money to pay off old debt. The borrowed money will also have interest that will have to be paid off, you will have another long period of having to pay off your newest debt and by doing this you will just be creating a cycle of never ending debt payments!

No matter how painful it might seem, only by refusing to incure new debt will you eventually be able to accumulate enough money to pay off your existing debts.

2. Negiotiate with your creditors.

So you have people knocking at your door night and day looking for money that you owe them...

Instead of sticking your head in the sand, face up to your problem and contact each and every person that you owe money to. Rather than not paying anybody, or picking a name out of hat, you could try and negotiate with your creditors to pay a smaller amount every month for a longer period until you have paid off the full amount. Most creditors would rather receive a reduced payment than no payment at all.

Do not ignore your money problems, be proactive about it.

Having debt problems is nothing to be ashamed of, most people find themselves in a situation like that at least once in their lives.

The difference lies in what one chooses to do about it.

3. Selling assets

If you have any assets that you can dispose of to reduce your debts and ease your money worries you should do so. It is better to have just one car than to have two, not being able to pay your debt and eventually maybe losing your house.

If you have your grandmother's diamond ring stuck in a vault somewhere, sell it. Yeah, I know it has sentimental value but sentimental value does not put food on the table. Sometimes one just have to differentiate between what is essential and what is not.

If you own a house, why not rent it out and move to a smaller place in the interim. Do you really need to worry about keeping up with the Jones'? You can always move back once you have settled your debt.

There are many ways that you can solve your money worries. Assess your own unique situation and see what you can change to help you in your effort to get rid of bad debt.

4. Change your lifestyle

Harsh as it may sound, if you really want to get out of debt, you will have to look at what expenses you can cut out on.

Stop eating take away food - it is bad for you anyway. Stop buying weekly magazines. Do you really need that chocolate bar every time you go shopping? Pack your own lunch for work. Walk to work if you don't live to far away instead of taking your car or a bus.

Instead of buying the most expensive box of biscuits, settle for a cheaper one. Switch off the lights when you leave a room.

Most of all, try and set up a monthly budget and stick to it.

5. Increase your income If you can, try and find a part-time job to help earn extra money.

If you know anything about the internet, try and put up a website to sell something or earn money with Adsense.

There are many options available if one really looks around.

If you sincerely cannot find a way to increase your income, it is imperative that you implement the other 4 steps mentioned above.

In closing

It is absolutely not necessary to approach any debt consolidation companies to help you get out of debt if you are prepared to just do a little work. If you do it yourself you will get out of debt much sooner than if you try and do it through a debt negotiation or debt consolidation company.

It is better to cut down on expenses and to negotiate with your creditors in good time. Don't wait too long to do something about your debt problems or you could find yourself being declared insolvent and losing everything you own.

Getting out of debt may take you a while, but at the end of the day it will be worth your while. You will probably be able to do it without having to spend several years paying off extra debt if you use the services of a debt consolidation company.







Google
Debt News


ABC News

Goldman to Offer FDIC Debt
Wall Street Journal - Nov 21, 2008
By MATTHEW COWLEY NEW YORK -- Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said Friday that it will issue debt backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. ...
UPDATE 2-Debt guarantee program for US banks is altered Forbes
FDIC will guarantee up to $1.4T in bank debt The Associated Press
UPDATE 1-FDIC plan may spur debt issuance by banks -BofA Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 477 news articles

MercoPress

Ecuador audit recommends default on 40 pct debt
guardian.co.uk, UK - 4 hours ago
An audit made public Thursday advises Correa's government to default on $3.9 billion in three types of bonds issued as part of debt restructuring in 2000 ...
Ecuador cautiously studies refusal to pay debt AFP
Brazil, Ecuador in spat over debt The Associated Press
Ecuador says won't drop Brazil loan suit Reuters
Xinhua - Bloomberg
all 133 news articles

International Business Times

Fitch Rates Adventist Health System Sunbelt (Florida) Series 2008A ...
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
Key rating concerns remain Adventist's above-average debt burden and future capital needs. Adventist's debt burden is high with pro forma maximum annual ...
Fitch Rates Hawaii County, HI's $50MM GO Bonds 'A+' MarketWatch
Fitch Rates Sarasota County's $69.2M Infrastructure Sales Surtax ... MarketWatch
Fitch Affirms Hawaii's $635.4MM Tax-Exempt, Taxable, & Rfdg GOs 'AA' MarketWatch
MarketWatch - MarketWatch
all 158 news articles

Aljazeera.net

UPDATE 1-Russia Gazprom: no gas for Ukraine without contract
Reuters - Nov 22, 2008
Gazprom said on Thursday Ukraine must repay a $2.4 billion gas debt before new supply contracts are signed, raising fears the two sides face another battle ...
Ukraine president says debt to Russia must be paid The Associated Press
Russia pushes Ukraine on gas debt BBC News
Ukrainalaisten kaasuvelka Keskisuomalainen
International Herald Tribune - Kyiv Post
all 267 news articles

Thaindian.com

Hillary Clinton pays down her debts, but millions remain
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 20, 2008
Hillary Clinton continued paying down her presidential campaign debts to most vendors last month, with one big exception. She now actually owes more to the ...
If Clinton Chosen, Campaign Debts Would Wait New York Times
Clinton cuts down the size of her debt The Associated Press
Secretary Of Debt Clinton CBS News
Bloomberg - MLive.com
all 187 news articles

Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Plan to Issue FDIC Guaranteed Debt
Bloomberg - Nov 21, 2008
21 (Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the biggest US securities firm that converted to a bank in September, said it plans issue debt guaranteed by the ...

Boss of schools in debt trouble
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 5 hours ago
Most of the debt is related to John Cox’s business, Pebble Hill Homes, which he started in 2001, the filing indicates. Kathy Cox, who makes about $125000 a ...