A Discussion Of The Debt Relief Options For Today's Consumers | Debts

A Discussion Of The Debt Relief Options For Today's Consumers

Written by Roy Grand

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 08:51

by RoyGrand

Debt relief is a big topic today; with the high unemployment and the recession, you may find that you are facing overwhelming debt . The process of getting out of debt can be complicated, and you must be extremely careful when evaluating options. If you need help with your finances, you may find it from your creditors themselves, or from private counselors, Christian organizations, and for profit and non-profit businesses that offer help. Small business owners may qualify for government programs.

If you are not able to make the agreed monthly payments with interest, you will want to find alternatives to bankruptcy. This is an extreme step, with a tremendous and long lasting negative impact on your credit rating, and hopefully it will never prove necessary.

It will be a good idea to ask for help from your credit card company or other lenders before trying a debt reduction company. Creditors will sometimes reduce or defer interest and late payments if a request is made with good intentions to repay the principal amount.

If you are a small business owner, check the government programs that are available under the stimulus efforts to restore the economy. There are grant programs you may qualify for, and grant money does not have to be repaid.

A smart first step in getting control of your finances is credit counseling. Many programs offer guidelines for financial management. Some charge counseling fees, and some charge only for materials or tools that are needed . A budget, or a spending plan to track and apportion income and expenses, is usually the first task you will be given. With goals and time frames for paying off debt and increasing savings, you will set and keep to a budget, save three months expense money as an emergency cash fund, and then begin to pay off your debts. One favorite plan of attack directs you to select the smallest debt and work to pay it off. Then use the monthly payment for that debt to add to the payment for the next smallest bill, and work your way through until you are debt free.

Practicing this self-discipline and keeping to the plan in spite of the inevitable set backs can have amazing results. By the time your debts are paid, you will also have learned to live within your income and can pay as you go with cash. Most people have enough money to get out of debt and live comfortably if they use their available funds wisely.

Another option is debt consolidation, which involves taking out a personal loan to pay off multiple smaller loans. Although the debt is still owed, interest rates on personal loans will usually be quite a bit lower than on credit cards, and the monthly payments can be significantly less. This is especially true for home equity loans, which are secured by a lien on your house.

In addition, having one payment to make a month is easier to manage than having many small payments. If you are late with a payment, there will be only one late charge rather than several, and only one bad mark on your credit. This program works well if you are serious about keeping out of further debt, but can complicate things if you just fill up your credit cards again.

If you are really in deep unsecured debt, such as credit card charges, you may be a candidate for debt reduction. This is a process whereby negotiation with your creditors results in lower interest rates, the dropping of late charges, and perhaps a reduction in the amount of principal you will have to repay. Whether the debts are a result of high medical bills, loss of a job, too many student loans, or simply wasteful spending habits, you are still in a position where you need relief.

If you are falling farther behind each month, making no progress on eliminating your debt, and even piling up late charges that increase your interest rates, you may need to consult a debt reduction company. Proceed with caution, ignoring the siren calls of ten minute free consultations, short periods of time to freedom from debt, and other sales pitches you will see online and hear on the radio. Be very careful before you choose a company to help you reduce the amount of your debt.

In all interviews, ask questions about the impact on your credit (negative and unavoidable), possible tax consequences (the amount you are forgiven may be considered income), the fees you will be charged and the way your money will be transferred to your creditors. Make sure the company offers a written guarantee of satisfactory performance and for actual results. Check that the company is a member of national trade organizations that hold their affiliates to high standards, and that the firm has a good record with the Better Business Bureau.

Whether your debt relief comes from personal persistence in paying your bills, or is a result of consolidation or reduction, there is hope that your future can debt free.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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