Pay Off Debt Now: 5 Steps To Getting Your Finances in Order


In our world of dizzying change, nothing is more true than the time honored statement that circumstances always change.

No where is this more true than with financial issues.

Have you ever borrowed money, or charged up the VISA card at Christmas, all the while telling yourself that you would pay everything off with a coming tax refund or bonus?

Sound familiar. And then what happens when the bonus money arrives?

Let me guess?.circumstances changed, the car needed brakes (or the kids needed braces, etc), and the VISA debt and interest charges keeps piling up.

Unless you have a plan, you will always be caught in the unpredictable grip of "changing circumstances."

This is a slippery slope that can very quickly become serious financial stress. Consider the fact that Americans are declaring bankruptcy at record rates. One in every 100 families is affected by a bankruptcy.

I was on this slope 10 years ago. Declaring personal bankruptcy and filing for divorce went hand in hand.

One of the most insightful moments of the process was preparing a written log for the trustee of all of our spending for the 5 years leading up to bankruptcy.

While all of the individual decisions made sense in the moments that they were made, they looked totally foolish in the context of the "bigger picture"

In other words, constantly changing circumstances drove us off our financial roadmap.

Consider this five step plan for getting on, and staying with, your financial roadmap.

Step No. 1: Make a list of what you owe & prioritize: Put all your bills in a pile. Then list your debts in order, starting with the largest balance first. Then prioritize your repayments (ie paying down the highest interest rate first).

Step No. 2: Eliminate credit cards and don't roll over balances. Once paid off, notify the company that you want to close the account.

Step No. 3: Make a spending plan. Change your free-spending ways. Track the money that's coming in and going out. Use a debit card instead of your credit card. Download your bank transactions into a computer program for easy categorizing.

Step No. 4: Be careful about the equity in your home. Billions of dollars worth of equity has been withdrawn from millions of homes in the last few years. But many people pay down credit cards only to charge them up again - and then you don't have the safety net of the equity in your home.

Step No. 5: Get help. For some people, the problem of overspending is a psychological one. Spending can become a habit that's as difficult to kick as alcohol, drugs or gambling. Sometimes, it's due to circumstances they truly could not avoid: medical bills or divorce or loss of a job.

You can talk with a credit counselor on a private basis. It only appears on your credit report if you enter their debt repayment program.

During this holiday season, as you consider your finances, remember that Americans are now carrying $683 billion in revolving credit card debt. 47% of the people who paid less than the full amount on their credit card bills in a recent month, made only the minimum payment due.

The good news is that planning and professional help will definitely help you turn things around.

Case in point: I went from bankrupt with zero assets living in a boarding house, to gainfully employed, running my own home based business, with 2 houses and excellent re-established credit.

In other words, it can be done.

=========================================================

Pay-off-debt-now.com is run by Drew Harris and is a one-stop-shop web portal for those facing crushing debt issues. Multiple pages of resources, referrals and tools. Expert advice on credit cards, loans and avoiding bankruptcy. http://tinyurl.com/4bbum

================================================



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

Best Syndication

Homeowner Debt Consolidation: Conquer The Debts
Best Syndication, CA - 4 hours ago
So, Homeowner Debt Consolidation is a friendly debt consolidation program that benefits homeowners to get rid of irritating debts in an easy and hassle free ...


Best Syndication

The Tools To De-mine The Dangerous Financial Field
Best Syndication, CA - 7 hours ago
Summary: Debt consolidation loans are those borrowings which are availed to handle multiple loans by going for a single borrowing. The credit-taker gets his ...


Best Syndication

Have a Systematic go at the Financial Worms Eating in to your ...
Best Syndication, CA - May 14, 2008
So there are numerous people in the UK who require debt consolidation and management service to come out of the quagmire. Debt consolidation is one of the ...


Right Time for Debt Consolidation Help
PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - May 7, 2008
Kankuratan.com offers Online Debt Consolidation and Debt Management service in America. Our friendly American staff of certified credit counselors and ...


Best Syndication

Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loans: A Risk Free way to Get Rid of ...
Best Syndication, CA - May 6, 2008
Unsecured debt consolidation loans prove to be extremely useful in such circumstances. These loans are provisioned to consolidate your various debts into a ...
The Loans To Tie All Of Your Economic Problems In A Single Knot Best Syndication
Unsecured yet Smart enough to Deduct the Debt Burden Best Syndication
Availing Burden-less Finance is Easier Now Best Syndication
all 6 news articles


Debt consolidation loans provide alternative source of finance ...
Only Finance, UK - May 2, 2008
Debt consolidation loans, are being used to as a source of essential funds, which consumers with debt problems, can use to pay off creditors, according to ...


Debt Consolidation Care Reaches the Magical 50 in its Hall of Fame ...
PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - May 1, 2008
Carson City, NV (PRWEB) May 1, 2008 -- The Debt Consolidation Care Community has recently crossed 50 members in its Hall of Fame Section. ...


Best Syndication

Student Debt Consolidation Loan: Remove The Debts With Ease
Best Syndication, CA - Apr 22, 2008
The solution ofcourse comes in the form of Student Debt Consolidation Loan. The main reason for incurring debts is due to the reckless spending habit among ...


Best Syndication

Credit Card Debt Consolidation – Manage Your Shopping Adventures
Best Syndication, CA - Apr 23, 2008
But with credit card debt consolidation, you can go back to a sound and very tension free sleep. Generally, credit card debt consolidation loans are ...
Bad Credit Debt Consolidation Loans – Prune The Burden Of Old Loans Best Syndication
Bad Credit Home Equity Loans: A Way To Make A Fresh Start Best Syndication
Adverse Credit Secured Personal Loans – Greater Finance Without ... Best Syndication
Best Syndication - Best Syndication
all 8 news articles


Best Syndication

Debt Consolidation – Get Rid From All The Financial Worries
Los Angeles Chronicle,  USA - Apr 17, 2008
In such cases contacting the debt Consolidation Company might help. Yes, you heard it right; debt consolidation is the only solution that helps you at the ...
Student Debt Consolidation Loan – Tension Free Student Life Best Syndication
Debt Consolidation Calculator – First Step Towards Debt Free Life Los Angeles Chronicle
Choose a Best Debt Consolidation Program to Reduce Your Total Debt Los Angeles Chronicle
Los Angeles Chronicle - Los Angeles Chronicle
all 12 news articles

Debt-Consolidation - Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved