Debt Service Uk

Posts Tagged ‘Credit Counseling’

When you decide to consolidate your debt, the obvious first question is “how?” – and that’s a question that isn’t easy to answer right off the bat.

Sure, you can go to your bank and ask them to consolidate all of your debts. You could get a new credit card with a 0% interest rate on debt transfers. You could call a credit-counseling bureau, many of which were recently taken off ‘tax exempt’ status by the IRS, because rather than working to help you, they work to earn a huge profit off you…

Every option has a downside, and there are more options besides. But let’s go through these three possibilities and break down the advantages and disadvantages.

1.GETA BANK CONSOLIDATION LOAN
Banks love it when their customers decide to get smart with their debt burden, and they love it even more when they do so with that bank. When you transfer £10,000 of credit card debt (at 19% interest), a car loan (at 15% interest), and a retail charge account (at 18% interest) into a single bank loan at 9% interest, both you and the banks win. The downside of this is that banks can be tougher to get credit from than other lending institutions, and that means if you’re in real debt trouble, they might not view you as a good bet.

2.CREDIT CARD WITH 0% ON DEBT TRASFERS
Some credit card companies send out special offers to try to entice you to bring your business to them. For example, one is the offer where they’ll give you a new credit card with a sweetheart rate, and any debt you transfer from an existing credit card, they’ll let you pay zero percent interest on. That’s not a bad deal, but the devils in the details – after a certain amount of time, your account reverts to above-standard interest rates, sometimes as high as 29%. In this instance, using a credit card to consolidate debt may actually see you with more debt burden in six months time.

3.CREDIT COUNSELING BUREAUS
These outfits claim to be non-profits that are only there to help you get out of debt, but the reality is the industry has been taken over by people who earn big money from your creditors by getting you to pay them back in a prompt fashion. For example, let’s say your best option is bankruptcy – hey, sometimes you just need to start over. A credit-counseling bureau, which gets paid, based on how much you pay back, will be much more inclined to tell you to NOT go for bankruptcy, because they make more if you spend three years eating noodles and sending all your money to Visa. Avoid.

In the end, your best bet, if you can manage it, is to have your bank set you up with a debt consolidation loan. The rate will be better, the payment structure easier, and you can cut those credit cards into pieces at last!

Is credit card debt driving you crazy? Spent too much this holiday season?

Well, you’re definitely not alone. Credit card debt is a way of life these days. Especially now, right after the holidays!

For many people, money gets REAL tight this time of year – we need to pay for all the holiday gifts, get ready for tax season…

Ahhhh!

What can you do if debt has taken over your life?

Make getting out of debt your New Year’s Resolution for 2006!

Here are 5 simple tips for getting out of debt. Keeping a New Year’s Resolution is difficult. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be prepared for a prosperous 2006!

1) Write down your goal and make a plan for achieving it!
The first step to getting out of debt is by far the most important – you need to:

• make a commitment to get out of debt
• write it down
• and come up with a plan for reaching it!

Hey, you didn’t get into debt overnight, and you won’t get out overnight, either. But if you want to get out of debt – if you REALLY want to get out of debt, you need to have a plan. And you need to stick with it.

2) Seriously consider using a debt reduction program
If you have the discipline to get out of debt on your own, without any help, then good for you! But if you’re like most people, a little help will go a long way. Here are a few debt reduction programs to consider:

• Credit counseling: If you have high interest rates on your credit cards, working with a non-profit company will help you lower those high rates, and combine your credit card bills into one lower monthly payment – which means more of your money will go towards reducing your debt!

• Debt consolidation loan: If you own a home, you can consider taking out a home equity loan to pay off all your credit card bills, lower you interest rates, and possibly deduct the interest on your taxes (but check with your tax professional on this one).

• Debt settlement: If nothing else is working, and your debt is still overwhelming, then you should consider debt settlement. This is a more aggressive approach, and is not right for everyone, but if you’re considering bankruptcy, this is a good option. You can pay off all your credit card bills at a savings of 40-60%, and get out of debt much quicker.

3) Start fixing your credit problems
Many people think that anything that goes on your credit report stays there for 7 years. Well, that’s not always true. I got a bunch of negative credit items off my credit report – all I did was get a copy of my credit report, and ask the credit bureaus to remove the “bad stuff”. In just a few months, my credit was almost back to normal. There’s nothing that says we must pay for our mistakes forever (or even for 7 years)!

4) Cut down your monthly expenses
If you overdid the spending in 2005, then it’s time to cut out all the expenses you don’t need, and use the money you save to pay off your credit card bills. Take a look at your checking and savings account statements, your credit card statements, and your monthly bills. Then start looking for things to cut. I know, I know, it’s hard to live without cable TV, cell phones, internet access, the morning paper, weekend dinners and entertainment. BUT DO IT ANYWAY – at least until you get your debt back under control!

5) Make some extra spending money
Sometimes making more money is the best answer! There are lots of ways to make money – selling some of your valuables, getting a part-time job, starting your own business. Despite some of the ads you read, there’s no really secret to making money – you just need to find something you like to do, and work hard at it!

6) Think positive!
OK, there were only supposed to be 5 tips, but this one is the best one – no matter how hard life can get, no matter how much debt you have, the one thing in life you can control the most is how you think. So rather than focusing on what you don’t have, be thankful for all that you do have. Nobody dies wishing they had made more money or worked longer. But many people do regret all the fun and meaningful things THEY DID NOT DO! So make some time to have fun, think positive, and find little ways to enjoy life EVERY SINGLE DAY you are here on plant Earth!

Wondering what makes me an expert on debt? Well, I lived through it. I know what it feels like to struggle. And I know what it feels like to overcome financial problems. There’s nothing special about me. I work at a college, so I don’t make a heck of a lot of money. I didn’t win the lottery. And no rich relatives left me a pile of money.

I just learned a few simple strategies – actually, I learned the 5 tips you just read about – and stuck with them until my life changed for the better.

And you can, too – just follow the tips above, believe in yourself, and DON’T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING STOP YOU FROM REACHING YOUR GOALS in life!

If you feel like you are swimming in a sea of credit card debt, you are
not alone. This fact probably will not make you feelany better, but the fact that you have lots of company means that there are a variety of debt reduction strategies and debt consolidation services you can use to get back on solid financial ground.There is a thriving industry full of companies that do nothing but help consumers get a handle on their debt problems. These credit counseling firms run the gamut from non-profit community based organizations to national chains to huge mega companies with a branch in every major city. Finding the right company to entrust with your debt reduction can be difficult and challenging.

Before turning to an outside company for help, however, there are steps consumers can take on their own to reduce their debtload. Of course the easiest strategy is to put extra money toward retiring your debt. Every extra pound
you put toward your credit card balance is one more pound on which you will not owe interest or penalties.

Of course, finding that extra money can be a challenge. Most people are lucky to have a few pounds left over between paydays,and many consumers find themselves out of money before they are out of month. This is where a good
budget program can come inhandy. Budgeting is not a skill that is taught in school, and it is often not taught at home either. Learning how to make a budget and stick to it can be the most important aspect of your financial life.
Try this little exercise and see if you can’t shake loose some extra money each month. Write down every expense you incur for at least a week. That’s every expense – every cup of coffee, every meal, every trip to the grocery store,
every trip to the mall, every tank of gas. Be scrupulous about recording every penny you spend and what you spend it on. At the end of the week, add it all up and give it close scrutiny. Ask yourself if every item was a necessity. Are there places you can cut backon your daily living expenses? Even a pound or two a day can add up quickly – try cutting back for a couple months and putting that extra money toward your debt.

Of course, this strategy may be only part of the solution for serious debts. If you owe more than you can afford to pay, try negotiating directly with your creditors. Consumers are often pleasantly surprised at how flexible their credit card companies, banks and other lenders are when renegotiating the terms of their debt. For instance, your credit card company may be willing to give you a lower interest rate, waive certain fees, or even accept a lesser
amount than what you owe.

Of course, the bank is not just doing this to be nice to you.  It is in the best interest of your creditors that you be in a position to repay what you owe. After all, if you are forced into bankruptcy, the bank will most likely be unable to recover what they are owed. And as you know, bankruptcy is no panacea for the consumer either.  That black mark will follow you for at least seven years, and it is no longer so easy to use bankruptcy to shield yourself from debt.
It can be difficult to reduce debt, but by carefully following a budget and negotiating with your creditors, you can get a handle on your debt and your spending. You will need to learn how to handle debt on your own. There is no
course on their important skill, but the skills you teach yourself can help ensure your financial future and keep you debt free.

If you find difficult to manage yourself you can always look into a debt
consolidation company.Debt management can assist you in paying off
that debt.  When using credit counseling you will make ONE LOW monthly
payment to the debt consolidation company and in turn they well
dispurse the money to your creditors.

Is credit card debt driving you crazy? Spent too much this holiday season?

Well, you’re definitely not alone. Credit card debt is a way of life these days. Especially now, right after the holidays!

For many people, money gets REAL tight this time of year – we need to pay for all the holiday gifts, get ready for tax season…

Ahhhh!

What can you do if debt has taken over your life?

Make getting out of debt your New Year’s Resolution for 2006!

Here are 5 simple tips for getting out of debt. Keeping a New Year’s Resolution is difficult. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be prepared for a prosperous 2006!

1) Write down your goal and make a plan for achieving it!
The first step to getting out of debt is by far the most important – you need to:

• make a commitment to get out of debt
• write it down
• and come up with a plan for reaching it!

Hey, you didn’t get into debt overnight, and you won’t get out overnight, either. But if you want to get out of debt – if you REALLY want to get out of debt, you need to have a plan. And you need to stick with it.

2) Seriously consider using a debt reduction program
If you have the discipline to get out of debt on your own, without any help, then good for you! But if you’re like most people, a little help will go a long way. Here are a few debt reduction programs to consider:

• Credit counseling: If you have high interest rates on your credit cards, working with a non-profit company will help you lower those high rates, and combine your credit card bills into one lower monthly payment – which means more of your money will go towards reducing your debt!

• Debt consolidation loan: If you own a home, you can consider taking out a home equity loan to pay off all your credit card bills, lower you interest rates, and possibly deduct the interest on your taxes (but check with your tax professional on this one).

• Debt settlement: If nothing else is working, and your debt is still overwhelming, then you should consider debt settlement. This is a more aggressive approach, and is not right for everyone, but if you’re considering bankruptcy, this is a good option. You can pay off all your credit card bills at a savings of 40-60%, and get out of debt much quicker.

3) Start fixing your credit problems
Many people think that anything that goes on your credit report stays there for 7 years. Well, that’s not always true. I got a bunch of negative credit items off my credit report – all I did was get a copy of my credit report, and ask the credit bureaus to remove the “bad stuff”. In just a few months, my credit was almost back to normal. There’s nothing that says we must pay for our mistakes forever (or even for 7 years)!

4) Cut down your monthly expenses
If you overdid the spending in 2005, then it’s time to cut out all the expenses you don’t need, and use the money you save to pay off your credit card bills. Take a look at your checking and savings account statements, your credit card statements, and your monthly bills. Then start looking for things to cut. I know, I know, it’s hard to live without cable TV, cell phones, internet access, the morning paper, weekend dinners and entertainment. BUT DO IT ANYWAY – at least until you get your debt back under control!

5) Make some extra spending money
Sometimes making more money is the best answer! There are lots of ways to make money – selling some of your valuables, getting a part-time job, starting your own business. Despite some of the ads you read, there’s no really secret to making money – you just need to find something you like to do, and work hard at it!

6) Think positive!
OK, there were only supposed to be 5 tips, but this one is the best one – no matter how hard life can get, no matter how much debt you have, the one thing in life you can control the most is how you think. So rather than focusing on what you don’t have, be thankful for all that you do have. Nobody dies wishing they had made more money or worked longer. But many people do regret all the fun and meaningful things THEY DID NOT DO! So make some time to have fun, think positive, and find little ways to enjoy life EVERY SINGLE DAY you are here on plant Earth!

Wondering what makes me an expert on debt? Well, I lived through it. I know what it feels like to struggle. And I know what it feels like to overcome financial problems. There’s nothing special about me. I work at a college, so I don’t make a heck of a lot of money. I didn’t win the lottery. And no rich relatives left me a pile of money.

I just learned a few simple strategies – actually, I learned the 5 tips you just read about – and stuck with them until my life changed for the better.

And you can, too – just follow the tips above, believe in yourself, and DON’T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING STOP YOU FROM REACHING YOUR GOALS in life!

Being in debt is no fun, especially if you are struggling to make ends meet. Because debt is a complex issue but there may be more than one solution. This article will outlines 12 common methods use by most of debtors to get rid of their debts. Among these 12 debt solutions, there may be one or more options which you can use to solve your financial problem.

6 debt solutions: Self Repayment Plan, Debt Settlement, Debt Consolidation, Debt Consolidation Loan, Credit Counseling and Cash out Refinance had been discussed in the past 3 parts (Part 1, 2 & 3), this part will talk about another 3 common debt solutions.

Retirement Benefits

If you have a 401(k), plan or certain types of pension plans, most employers allow you to borrow against your retirement account. Typical plans allow you to borrow up to half your vested balance, but not more than $50,000. You usually must pay the money back, with interest, over five years. If you don’t repay the loan, you will owe income tax and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. This type of loan offers low interest rates and is much easier to handle. Hence, you can borrow against this retirement account to settle the high interest rate loan.

There are a couple of big drawbacks which you should aware of. First, you are giving up the tax-free compounding of the money you withdraw. That could lead to a significantly smaller amount on retirement day. Also, if you leave your current employer for any reason, you will probably have to pay the loan back immediately or face taxes plus a penalty.

Credit Union

Credit unions generally have lower interest rates and fees on loans. These loans normally offer to member only. If you are not a member, check with your employer, or organizations of which you are a member and find out if you are eligible to join one.

Most loans are 1, 3 or 5 years in duration. From time to time individual credit unions will offer special loan rates so it is beneficial to check in with your local credit union regularly. The type of loans available depends on your credit union.

A credit union loan has some very special features:

• Loans are insured at no direct cost to the eligible member.
• Repayment protection insurance is available as an optional extra.
• No hidden fees or transaction charges.
• Repayments calculated on the reducing balance of the loan. This means smaller interest repayments as you repay your loan.
• Repayment terms to suit your particular circumstances.
• Flexibility -you can repay the loan earlier or make larger repayments than agreed with no penalty.
• Additional lump sum repayments accepted with no penalty

Insurance

You can borrow from the life insurance policy at a very low interest rate in order to solve your debt problems. The most advantageous thing is that, you do not have to repay this loan. Your life insurance benefits will be reduced by the amount you borrow in addition to any accrued interest.

In Summary

Borrow money from your retirement account or credit union are another 2 methods to use lower interest rates loan to pay for high interest rates debts. Whereas, borrowing the money against your insurance mean that you are lowering your protection sum to pay for your debts. Anyhow, these are another 3 methods of debt solutions for your choices.

See you on part 5 for more debt solutions.