Handling Debt in 2005

Paulson Lopedro

Debt is a problem that is ever increasing in our society today. Offers for credit cards coming in the mail is happening more and more often, interest rates are appearing low, and borrowing money seems like the “smart” thing to do at times. However, it seems that going into debt is not that good of an idea after all, and now many people are stressed to get out of debt.

Are you caught in debt yourself? Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to get yourself out of debt.

1. Make lists. Figure out what you own, and figure out what you owe. Take what you owe, and put the major debts at the top of the list. Paying off those debts first will reduce the amount of interest that you are charged. Once that is paid off, you can then move on to the next item on the list, and so on.

2. Do away with all credit cards. There are no buts, simply get rid of them. Do not roll over balances, ever. Pay them off and get rid of them. Call the credit card companies and tell them to close up the accounts.

3. Make a spending plan or a financial plan if you will. Getting out of debt is as important as staying out of debt, and that requires a financial plan that will allow you to live within your income. Also, it is not enough to simply make a financial plan. Sticking to it is the only way this can prove beneficial.

4. Watch your home’s equity. It does not have equity for the sole purpose of purchasing new furniture and going out to dinner a few times. Be intelligent and don’t misuse this.

5. Don’t be scared to get assistance if you require it. Many people simply cannot manage their expenses. The best thing to do if you are in this condition is to recognize the problem if it exists, hold yourself responsible, and ask others for help if it is needed.

Doing these things should help several people be on the right track to get out of debt. Debt can be a frightening and risky thing, it is just imperative to be wise and to handle things well. Americans are overwhelmed with almost a half of a trillion dollars of debt, with half of them passing off debt from one credit card to another, simply to keep away from ever having to pay it off. Don’t be a statistic, manage your finances and spend intelligently.

About The Author

Paulson Lopedro is the Webmaster of FindDebt.com.

You can read more of his work at http://www.finddebt.com.