Debt Management Tips for Frenzied Consumers

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You Don't Have to Live With Debt!

Living with debt isn't an option if you want to stay healthy and sane over the years. Financial stress can cause physical and emotional upheaval, so you have to take the reins and be proactive in your debt resolutions as soon as you realize there's a problem.

Credit card debt, along with over-extended ourselves in housing options and car choices, has caused many consumers to become plagued by debt they can no longer handle.


The Total Money Makeover:
A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

It isn't as easy as it used to be to just claim bankruptcy, either - wiping the slate clean to start all over. Now, you have to actually repay the amount of money you borrowed, but there are ways to do this that work to your advanatge, and some that work in favor of the lender.

Before you act fast because you're worried about the mounting bills and credit collectors beating down your door, stop and find a viable debt solution that helps you begin to instantly repair your credit and start alleviating the financial burden you've placed on yourself.

Stop Being Led Astray By Lenders!

Don't Be Kept in Debt for the Rest of Your Life!

Negotiate with Your Creditors! 

Contrary to popular belief, the lender doesn't hold all of the power in this equation of debt versus repayment. Yes, you may have borrowed more than you could afford - or maybe unforeseen circumstances stood in your way of paying on time, but you still have the ability to negotiate your debt.


How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously*:
*
(Based on the Proven Principles and Techniques of Debtors Anonymous)

Creditors like consumers who work with them on repaying their loans - even if it's not on the original terms they agreed to. They lose out on millions (if not billions) of dollars every year because they have to chase the money through collection agencies.

They would much prefer to get their loan paid back over time, but get it all than to have to forego a large chunk of the money to a collection agency who grabs their share for harassing you over the coming weeks and months (and sometimes years).

Locking your door, unplugging the phone, and not checking the mailbox won't make the debt go away - it just makes the situation worse. Don't worry if you sometimes encounter a rude creditor who acts as if they're going to come repossess everything if you don't grow a money tree in your back yard immediately!

You have rights as a consumer - even to protect you in the event that you can't repay a debt right away. They're not allowed to harass you, but at the same time, you need to make a good faith effort to do whatever's in your power to negotiate with your lenders and pay back the money that you owe.

You Don't Need a PhD to Get Yourself Out of Debt! 

Managing Debt For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 11/30/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $16.99

"Not knowing where to start untangling the mess I'd made for myself and way too embarrassed, even ashamed, to ask for help kept me living in vagueness, not ever adding up the numbers. Managing Debt for Dummies made it safe to come out from under the covers and look at my financial situation. Ventura and Reed not only have a friendly, non-judgmental tone to their advice, they break the road to solvency down into manageable pieces and guide us forward step by step."

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

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Should You Consolidate Your Debt? 

Debt consolidation is one of your better options when the mounting bills have become too much for you to handle. When you consolidate your debt, you move all of your multiple loans into one loan, so that you have a single, smaller payment rather than numerous bills that end up costing you more money.

With debt consolidation, you'll often find that the single, combined loan allows you to pay a lower interest rate than you'd have to if you paid some higher-interest credit cards back who are also penalizing you for over-limit fees and late payment fees.


Credit Card & Debt Management:
A Step-By-Step How-To Guide for Organizing Debt & Saving Money on Interest Payments

However, there is a circumstance in which debt consolidation isn't for everyone. If you are addicted to spending and can't control your debt burdens, then you might put yourself at risk for clearing your debt into a single loan, and then racking up more debt in the process.

Let's say you have 20 credit cards - all at a 26% interest rate (they raised it to the max thanks to your late payments that gave them that right). You consolidate your debt into one loan, with a more manageable interest rate of just 12%.

You feel relieved about the debt now, but then you realize all 20 credit cards are empty again - now that they've been consolidated into one loan. You have a large amount of credit available, so what's one more outfit or another lunch where you pick up the tab for your coworkers?

Before you know it, you're in deep trouble again - owing, not only the 20 credit card payment you're accruing, but also the original debt consolidation loan you took out to repair this problem in the first place!

Just make sure you're careful not to get into this predicament if you choose to go with debt consolidation to get the damage under control.

Need Help Dealing with Creditors? 

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees

Amazon Price: $17.05 (as of 11/30/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $19.95

"After reading this book from cover to cover, I was awashed with a new vigor and confidence to launch a strategic war of words with the credit card telephone handlers. As you read thru the transcripts of the author's actual calls, picture yourself talking on the phone with the same savvy as he. Then close the book, put up your over charged, over penalized, and over interest rated bill and MAKE CALLS! Show them that you are taking CONTROL of your finances and relish the experience of sticking up for yourself. "

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

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What Debt Solutions Have You Tried? 

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  • Reply
    VeRonda VeRonda Jul 3, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
    I like this post. It's something that people really need to read and digest to understand how money works and how to stay out of the red. I have two simple debt solutions... go cold turkey with no spending and periodic treats.