Government Grants - federal grant for debt consolidation

Image : http://www.flickr.com

In recent times, it has been observed that many people become victims of debt traps because of their ever-increasing needs and in many cases often need a helping hand to find their way out of their situation. In most cases, people do not have any idea as to what to do and where to get monetary aid from that will help them cope with their financial crunch.

If you are faced with major debt issues or you cannot afford to repay loans with high interest rates, then going for a government grant program might just be the right option for you provided you are eligible to apply for one.

Debt Consolidation Grants vs. Debt Consolidation Loans

Federal government grants are one of the best ways to consolidate debt. Although they aren't as popular as debt consolidation loans but they are made accessible to individuals. These grants are premeditated for debt relief help.

In case you are considering getting a debt consolidation loan, then I'd suggest thinking again. With free federal grant money, you can get the financial help that you need to pay off all your loans without having to pay back the principal or any interest unlike debt consolidation loans.

Different Types of Federal Grant Programs

There are several grant plans that provide different kinds of help to a wide range of individuals and businesses. Such grants are used for funding higher education, to repay debts taken to start new businesses, to pay off medical bills, and to consolidate personal debts.

One of the most popular grants for individuals is scholarship grant. These grants need not be repaid unlike scholarship loans. The only requirement to avail them is to submit report of your academic excellence to the government that awarded you the grant.

This granted money is interest and tax-free. Even if you have a bad credit history or are bankrupt, you can still apply for scholarship grant provided you are at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the US and a taxpayer.

Getting One of Free Government Grants

Several government agencies and the social service office analyze each and every grant application to make sure the money granted by the federal bank of the US to help the people goes to the needy. They do a thorough appraisal of your financial condition like your due debt amount, current income, and monthly debt payment to confirm if you are eligible for the grant. It is only after this critical evaluation that a specific grant is sanctioned.

A grant is not a gift or free money from the government. It is a financial aid provided to you on the grounds of particular duties that you, as a grantee, need to carry out after having received the granted money from the US government. You are also expected to submit progress reports on activities and projects from time to time on which The concession was granted to you.

Now that you have suffered this article, you have a good idea of the benefits of implementing a government grant. These grants are government programs that will help you live better, and proved to be an excellent tool for consolidating debt.

Credit cards with low interest rate for people in serious debt

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Credit cards are a modern financial tool which can be used wisely or foolishly.
Contrary to popular belief, credit cards can actually be used to your benefit, but you must be aware of the potential risks and pitfalls involved and most of all, exactly which cards suit your lifestyle.

If you are already in debt, then getting another credit card may seem foolhardy. However when you take a closer look, it could be the answer to your prayers.

The idea of a credit card, at its simplest form, is to allow people to purchase items for which they do not have the cash for. In short, it fulfills impulse purchases. It is understandably extremely easy to run your credit card to its limit in a very short amount of time. Not until you see the bill do you begin to realize the trouble you may be in due to the high interest rates on most cards. That $2000 television can over time turn into a $6000 television.

Low interest credit cards for people in debt can be a good way to pay off the debt faster. It is possible, with some cards, to transfer multiple credit card balances to a new, lower interest card. If you have the aim of paying off your credit card fast, then you will be more concerned with the interest rate rather than any interest free purchase periods (because you don't plan to make anymore purchases!).

Credit card debt consolidation can lower your monthly repayments and ideally, lessen the total amount you will pay until the balance reaches zero.

You will require a good credit history to be able to take out another credit card if you have existing credit debt. If you have a record of missed payments then banks will be hesitant to lend you more money (which is essentially what a credit card is doing).

When consolidating your debt to a low interest rate credit card, your total balance will not be lowered. You will still owe the same amount before consolidation. The aim is to pay less interest and pay off the debt as quick as possible.

Interest on credit cards is charged on the balance owing, not on the credit limit. Therefore the more you pay and the quicker you reduce the balance, the less interest you pay per month. This leads to lower monthly payments.

Low interest credit cards for debt consolidation are just one option you may consider taking to reduce your monthly repayments.

10 No debt consolidation you need to know

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The first thing to understand is that credit counseling and debt consolidation is not the same thing. Credit counseling involves a debt counselor working with you to assist you in making a budget so that you can pay off your debt, whereas debt consolidation involves the payment of a bulk amount of money each month allowing the company to issue payments to your creditors. You have to be careful that the company you choose is not attempting to negotiate a settlement by holding onto your payments for an unreasonable amount of time in order to coerce your creditor into settling for pennies on the dollar. Though debt consolidation may assist you in getting your finances under control, a settlement will hurt your credit, so you need to avoid that at all costs.

Do not let a debt consolidation company convince you that they can negotiate a lower payment plan than other companies because this just isn’t possible. The creditors have set programs for those who enter into debt consolidation programs, and only under extenuating circumstances are those programs open to negotiation. Don’t be fooled by the claims that you will save over half on your payments because except for payments that might be past due and showing as a minimum payment due, that just isn’t going to happen.

Another thing to be wary of is that companies cannot negotiate interest rates that are lower than that of the rate that is charged to the customers with the highest credit rating. If you know that your friend has excellent credit and is paying 9.5% interest on his new car loan, be wary if you are quoted a rate more than 2% under that and you have questionable credit. It doesn’t make good business sense for a company to give a lower interest rate to someone who has only fair or poor credit than what is given to someone with excellent or good credit. It’s a ploy to get you in, and once there, your final contract is going to demand a much higher rate than you were quoted. By then, it’s too late for you to back out unless you are conscientious enough to read everything you sign, something many people don’t do.

Debt consolidation companies can be quite helpful to people who have tried and failed to get out of debt either because they don’t know how or they are unable to stick to a budget. They may be quite serious about getting out of debt, but once the money is in their hands, they just forget everything they had promised to do. For them, debt consolidation or even a plan that involves paying creditors before the paycheck is ever received, is the best solution. You must choose the plan that is best for you, but you must also keep the facts in mind as well. Do plenty of research before making a decision, and be sure to read every piece of paper that is passed your way.

The elimination of debt is to stop your financial problems

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Are you constantly hoping it is not another creditor calling you, every time you hear the phone ring? If it has gotten this far, then you should know by now they are not going to stop! At least not until they get a payment towards what you owe them.

More than ever, being in debt is seen as a common problem most Americans are facing. Wouldn't you like the creditors to leave you alone? How about relieving some of the stress that comes with knowing you are in debt? Debt settlement is a solution that can ease your financial pain.

Maybe you have heard of the term "debt settlement" but you aren't exactly sure what it means. Let me explain a little to you and how the process works.It is actually very easy to understand. This is a process where your outstanding debt is negotiated down to a smaller percentage, and that is what you pay.

By paying only a portion of what you originally owe, makes you feel better because you are that much closer to becoming debt free. And it makes the creditors happy because they have gotten a payment!

The way that debt settlement works, is you put aside an amount of money into a settlement account. You would actually not make any payments to your lenders; you would be saving your money. When you reach a specific amount then you would start the negotiation process. More often times than not, they will agree to a lesser payment for two reasons.

The first is if you have been late on your payments they are already nervous they won't see a dime. The second is they know bankruptcy is an option and if you file, they really won't get a payment. So by agreeing to the negotiation process, they are settling, you are saving and everyone wins. If you are fortunate enough, you will be able to get the balances negotiated down anywhere from 45-60% of your original balance.

Let me be clear on why the lenders will agree to this. As I mentioned above, they are concerned that you might find bankruptcy as an appealing option! That leaves them with nothing, so by settling your debt this is like protecting their investment. If you are in a bad spot with your finances, they know that they risk getting any form of payment from you. If they see you are willing to give them a portion of it in full, most times they will agree to take it.

This is a process you can do alone, but I honestly wouldn't advise it. You are stressed out enough as it is with your bad credit and being in debt. There are many reputable debt settlement companies that you can work with! Just don't wait any longer, because your creditors will eventually turn you over to a collection agency. Once it's gone that far, the collectors will be relentless. The last thing you want is a lawsuit involved, just think about attorney fees.

Legitimate debt settlement companies know just how to go in and negotiate on your behalf for prime results. They are the experts here and usually will have a relationship with the credit companies. Do some research online and with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) so you can find a company that will negotiate for you.

Of course there are pros and cons when it comes to the debt settlement process. Yes, it does show up on your credit report that you filed, but keep in mind this is still better than bankruptcy!
As for the fees that are involved, make sure you pay them after they have settled your debts. Be aware of a company that asks your for a large fee in the beginning and monthly payments.

Keep yourself informed and very active in the process. This is YOUR finances at stake here. Let them do their job, but make sure you do yours. Keep track of everything and also request copies of your credit report after to make sure that all three credit bureaus have updated information.

Good luck and know that you are not alone in this. Yet, no one other than yourself can You take the first step towards resolving the debt. Begins today, and on the way to live debt free!

Combine your debts, if you do not own a house

Image : http://www.flickr.com

No House, Alot of Debt, What Do You Do?

If you have a great amount of debt, especially if it’s mostly from high interest credit cards or store accounts, you’d typically get a debt consolidation loan. This would give you one monthly payment instead of many different payments. Because the interest rate is much lower than the debts you’re paying off, the monthly payment is dramatically reduced. The reason the interest rate for a debt consolidation loan is so low is because it’s a secured loan. This means you have collateral, typically a home or other real estate, securing the loan. Because the lender has collateral for the loan, their risk is much lower and that is reflected in the interest rate.

So what if you’ve got no home or real estate to use for collateral? Can you still get a debt consolidation loan? Well, you may have several solutions. One debt consolidation solution for people who don’t own a home, but still have good credit, is to use no interest credit cards. Many people get these type of offers in the mail every week. You can transfer the balance from one or more credit cards onto a new credit card. For the promotional period, usually 6 months to 2 years, you’ll pay no interest on the transferred balance. That functions like a debt consolidation loan.

Make sure you cancel all or most of the old credit cards and examine your spending habits. This will help to keep you from getting into a dangerous credit situation. This can easily arise when you have the new card with a healthy balance that you transferred over, and all your old cards still active. If you start to accrue a balance on the old cards, you’ll soon find yourself in a situation where you have multiple cards with large balances in addition to the new card with the debt that you transferred. It’s worth mentioning again. Make sure you thoroughly examine your spending habits to ensure you don’t just spiral deeper into debt by adding a new credit card.

Another alternative, if you are really in a bind and don’t own a home, is credit counseling. Credit counseling can get you a debt management solution that can allow you to become debt free within a certain period of time. A good credit counselor will work with you to develop a personal financial plan that lets you maximize the use of you money. You can do more with your current income and get yourself out of debt. They will also look into the future to assist you in planning for the future, so you have a financial contingency plan in the event of an emergency. In a worst case scenario, they will work with creditors to negotiate different payment schedules or decreased credit balances.

If you need a debt reduction or consolidation solution but you don’t own a home, do not despair. There is a solution for your problems. You can get out of debt without sacrifice everything. You may need to increase a little, but you will come to an end, not a little.

For debt consolidation

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Debt consolidation proves to be the answer to many financial problems. Debt is something that has become part of the reality of almost all human beings. It gradually builds up, even without you noticing. First, you buy that fur coat you have always wanted, then a DVD player charged to your card, then a car, and the rest is history.

You would think that a $30 per month is not that much of a big deal. Paying for items by card makes purchases appear cheaper than they really are. Before you know it, your monthly payables are much more than you can manage. Worse, you may be facing the greatest financial mess in your life with too many debts than you can hardly manage. If you are facing a situation like this, then you might want to consider consolidating your debts before you drown in all financial worries. But the question still remains: Will debt consolidation really solve all your financial problems?

Well to start with, what advantages can you expect if you consolidate your debts? Here are some of the benefits that you can get out of debt consolidation:

1. Interest rates diminish, long term interest costs decrease. Consolidating your debt means you will be entitled to lowered interest rates, which simply translates to smaller overall monthly payments. You can allot a portion of this savings to pay part of the principal loan to minimize further costs. Interest rates for consolidation are usually provided as flexible by lenders, so you can negotiate accordingly depending on your circumstances.

2. Consolidation means one, single, solo monthly payment. When you consolidate all your debts, your lender clears off all your debts, covering secure and unsecured loans, credit card bills, medical bills and so on. You do not have to worry about paying tons of bills or taking note of payment deadlines as well as be imposed of additional charges due to delayed payment.

3. Tax deductibility. Debt consolidation loans for first or second mortgage may be tax deductible. This is an added plus, but make sure you check with your tax advisor as the IRS may have imposed some limitations without you knowing. For example, a second mortgage amounting to more than $100,000 is not tax-deductible.

4. Peace of mind. More than these financial benefits, the peace of mind that debt consolidation offers may be quite priceless. By consolidating your debts, you relieve yourself of the pressures and the burden of your finances. You do not have to deal with warning calls from those persistent collection offices.

Debt management is one of the most important keys to financial success. Though debt is rather unavoidable, the way you manage it makes a big difference to your overall finances. Whether or not you earn big paychecks each month, you have to make sure you spend only what is reasonable. Debt consolidation is one of the The most effective ways to manage their finances. And proven effective in getting you on the road in the right direction.

Outstanding credit card consolidation help pay debts

Image : http://www.flickr.com

With credit card debt consolidation help, you can easily work your way towards reducing and then ultimately eliminating the large amount of card debts that you might have accumulated due to indiscriminate use of the plastic money and missed monthly payments. The most effective tool that can help you in this journey is consolidation of your loans. However, before implementing this tool you should understand all its implications and strategies.

How It Functions

Credit card debt consolidation help will set into motion the process of consolidation of your loans. The underlying principle of loans consolidation is that all the debts are replaced with a single consolidated loan that is procured at a lower rate of interest than the original debts. This can only be achieved with the debt help from the finance companies. The lower rate of interest of the consolidated loan automatically brings down the amount of the monthly payment.

With the lowering of the monthly payment amount, it becomes easier for you to make regular monthly payments and even have surplus money every month because you were making a higher monthly payment before the free credit card debt consolidation process started. This surplus money can be put to good use if you start paying off the principal amount of your consolidated loan so that you can reach the debt-free zone.

Debt help services can also enable you to sort out your various card dues before consolidating them. By analyzing your various debts you will be able to separate those debts that are currently at a lower rate of interest than the rate of the consolidated loan. It would be futile to include these debts in the basket of consolidated debts.

With this debt help you will have only one loan and one monthly payment to keep track of. It'll be easier for you to remember to make the monthly payment on time. Apart from reducing your debt burden, this will also improve your credit rating as you will be making regular payments. Moreover, consolidation of credit card dues will give you peace of mind and you can relax. An additional advantage of this process is that you will be spared the constant harassing calls of your creditors.

Credit card debt consolidation help will also advise you on making a proper budget for the future so that you can set out your spending limits based on your monthly income. We also need to remember how to avoid misuse of cards and the closure of most credit card account.

It should, however, the choice of professional to help you give good advice at every step. You should also avoid companies that operate in such a way, dishonest, and you should try to read between the lines.

How to consolidate credit card debt

Image : http://www.flickr.com

If you have more bills coming in than you can possibly afford to pay, you would want to start thinking about debt consolidation.

Many people think that credit cards can only dig you deeper into debt but the fact of the matter is that if you use them correctly you can actually use them to help you get to where you want to be financially. If you have gotten into trouble using them too often or irresponsibly in the past, it isn't too late to start using them wisely.

Only Keep What You Need

If you want to consolidate your arrears you will have to get rid of the credit cards that you have that you don't absolutely need. And when you consider what you need you shouldn't be thinking about what you would like to keep around for those impulse buys at the mall or the impromptu vacations with friends. Instead, think about what you should keep around for unexpected medical bills and car repairs and get rid of everything else.

After you have gotten rid of the accounts that you no longer absolutely need, start shopping around for debt cards that offer you the ability to transfer your balances that you have now to an account with a lower interest rate.

This will allow you to make payment on your debt more affordably because you aren't constantly paying interest only. If possible, try to transfer as much of your balances as possible to one card. This will mean that you have a bigger payment but you are making just one payment then with one interest rate. Which will mean that you are giving more than the actual amount you owe.

Make sure that you continue paying more than the monthly minimum each month. A good idea is to total up the amount that you were paying before to all of your plastic money accounts before and then continue to pay this amount. You will likely be paying far more than the minimum balance, but this is good!

When you are making payment for the minimum balance only, you aren't paying off anything more than interest and you will continue to pay on the account for ages. When you consistently pay more than the minimum amount due you are actually making strides to get out of the arrears.

If you continue to pay on your account in this manner for six to nine months you will see a huge difference in your credit score as well as the way creditors respond to any new requests for credit, such as if you need to buy a home or a car. Many people underestimate the little time and effort, he really get out of debt, so take the time to explore options, and then start making changes.

A credit card can help you simply turn your financial situation, until you create a plan balance transfers and payments and stick to it.

Consolidate Federal Student Loans - Advantages and disadvantages

Image : http://www.flickr.com

As you approached your graduation from college, more than likely you've already had consolidation services contacting you about your student loans. Of course, as you are bombarded with all this information, it can be difficult to figure out whether or not consolidating your federal student loans is the right option. This type of consolidation is only for federal loans, and there are both advantages and disadvantages for you to consider as you make your decision on federal consolidation.

Advantages:

When you go with a federal consolidation loan, your credit won't matter. They don't do a credit check and your credit won't affect the rates you get on the loan.
If you need to pay off the loan early, you won't get a prepayment penalty.
There are no fees that have to paid in order to take advantage of a federal consolidation loan for your college loans.
Disadvantages:

If you decide to consolidate while you are still in your grace period, you will end up losing the rest of the grace period that you have left.
When you consolidate, you may lose some of the special benefits that come with particular loans, such as the Perkins loan.
If you've already paid off quite a bit of your college loans, then it may not be worth it to consolidate those loans.
There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to consider before deciding that federal student loan consolidation is right for you. Carefully look at both sides of the situation and make the right decisions, that gives you the greatest financial benefit.

Combine your debts - The Complete Guide to Debt

Image : http://www.flickr.com

If you are not too far down the road of debt, you may still have some potential sources of new loans available, or existing loans which might be increased. If this is the case, then one option which is open to you is 'consolidation' of debts. This is basically the principle of 'borrowing from Peter to pay Paul' put to constructive use to either reduce risk or to reduce the overall number of payments you must make. There are several circumstances under which this might make sense:

1) If you have a large number of small debts which are difficult to keep track of, it may be simpler to get them all under one roof provided that you are not increasing your risks. Against this is the possibility that it may actually be to your advantage to have a large number of small debts as creditors who are owed only small sums are unlikely to take any drastic action. Not recommended in general.

2) If it is possible to borrow from a lender who is less likely to inflict damage on you than an existing creditor (for instance paying off a secured loan with an unsecured one). Highly recommended if this is a possibility.

3) If you can borrow from a lender at a much lower interest rate than that which an existing debt commands (for example you could increase your overdraft to clear your credit card debts, or borrow from a credit union to pay off a loan shark). Care required.

You are strongly advised never under any circumstances to repay an unsecured debt loan secured by your home. If you can then maintain payments on the loan guarantee, which can easily turn a crisis into a catastrophe. It should also be noted that if you deliberately, knowing that the loan will not be able to repay as agreed, may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Debt Consolidation Quote - How to get rid of the debt problems

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Debt consolidation quote is the first step in your journey towards a life without any kind of debt problems. It is a proposal that describes various options before you when you decide to move in the direction of a financially free life. A lot of people all around the world live with this kind of dream. However, to turn it into a reality, you need to select a debt consolidation plan carefully.

Absolutely Free

The best part of the story is that you can get a debt consolidation quote without paying any money at all. It really helps because anyone who is already in debt would not like to spend any money in exploring various options. Free availability of quotes allow you to keep on comparing until you come across the most suitable one in your case.

When you perform a systematic research, you will realize that it is not only the rate quoted by any lending institute but you need to look for several other factors also. Interest charges, payoff fees and any upfront fees has to be considered cautiously. Moreover, also make sure that there are no hidden costs associated with these services.

Advantages

The central idea of debt consolidation is to merge all current debts into a single bigger loan with lower interest rate. Not only it cuts down the cost of borrowing but it also makes debt management easier. Dealing with only one lender once every month is definitely more convenient than coping up with several lenders.

However, bear in mind that there is no use doing all this exercise if you are unable to save any money. Best debt consolidation quote is one that offers a solution that brings down both interest charges and monthly installment to a considerable extent. Therefore, do not make any decision in haste. There is no need to panic at all. You are not going to miss the train by spending an additional day in carrying out the organized study. Instead, you may ultimately saving hundreds of dollars more.

Why consolidate student loans debt

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Receiving the college degree of your choice using a student loan can mean new challenges upon graduation. Of course, you had the intelligence, hard work and drive through all those years. Now you have your degree and you are looking for a career that will pay you well enough to repay all your student loans. You education should give you an edge amongst your fellow job applicants. As a side benefit it strengthens your place in the society. And of course, it also reaffirms your financial responsibility to pay off all your student loans.

If you are looking into arranging repayments for multiple student loans, it is time know how to consolidate student loan debt. If you are bit skeptical about merging all your existing student loans into one account, then knowing the many benefits it can bring into your financial management will surely help.

Once you consolidate student loan debt, there are three C's that you will be able to satisfy: convenience, cost management, and credit score. Prior to any loan consolidation, you will have to deal with arranging regular monthly repayments with several lenders. Each lender has their own set of due dates, their specific minimum due date and different payment methods. Since they are separately managed, you have to make sure that each and every payment is successfully remitted in a timely manner to avoid a negative credit score.

Once you consolidate student loan debt, you no longer have to prepare separate monthly repayments to all your lenders. From the operative word 'consolidate', these loans will be merged into one account, allowing a more systematic and efficient payment remittance and collection from both the borrower and lender, respectively.

The effect of the loan consolidation also leads to the protection of your credit rating because of the fact that there will be no missed payments due to neglect or confusion. You only have one payment to arrange. So that provides safety and convenience.

How in the world does consolidating your student loans lead to efficient cost management? Just with the simple fact that a loan consolidation may involve locking in a lower interest rate or even allow deferred payments in times of emergency. In addition another possible benefit when you consolidate student loan debt is that you may be able to defer loan payments until you get a job.

You should take note that there are different terms and conditions with regard to the consolidation of each student loan you carry. Basically federal student loans are backed by the United States' Department of Education, while private student loans are funded by privately owned financial institutions. Because of the difference in the funding source, there are also many significant differences in ways how to consolidate them into one loan package.

You need to do your homework and study each of your ready to take action when it comes to building your credit. The difference in interest rates, loan terms, prepayment penalties and other details are important considerations when consolidating your student loans. Otherwise, you can create a long-term financial consequences.

7 tips to reduce debt

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Levels of personal debt have increased significantly in the past 2 decades. It is now easier and more acceptable to get high levels of debt. However, for many people there comes a point where the debt seems unmanageable and therefore, they struggle to see a way out of the debt mountain. These 7 tips show how to reduce and eliminate debt. These 7 different solutions can help you to be debt free within years.

1. Don't Ignore your debt problem in the hope it will disappear.

It is a mistake to try and forget or ignore the problem of debt. It may seem unmanageable, but if you take a clear and focused attitude you can regain control and work out how to best manage the existing debt.

2. Always Try to Meet Minimum Payments.

It is very important to maintain the best possible credit rating. Therefore, it is important to make minimum payments on time. If it is a real problem, speak to your loan company and explain the situation. At least, you may be able to miss a payment, with less damage to credit rating.

3. Debt Consolidation.

There are various ways to consolidate debt. However, the basic rule is to try and pay off debts with the highest interest rate first. It may be possible to consolidate high interest debts into a lower interest debt. If possible, this avenue should be explored. If you own a house, you will be able to have a secured debt consolidation; this will have a lower interest, but at the same time, means your house is liable to repossession should you fail to meet debt payments.

4. Debt Counselling.

If you find your debt very stressful and you don't know how to manage, it is advisable to speak to an independent debt adviser. A good debt counsellor will be able to look at the problem with less emotion and more detachment; with their experience they will be able to suggest various options to reduce and eliminate debt. Often an independent counsellor may be more appropriate than friends and families as there is less emotional attachment.

5. Debt Settlement

This is a potential solution for those with very large unsecured debts. It is a solution with debt settlement companies find an agreement to reduce your debt. They negotiate with your creditors to pay upto 50% less than your total debt. The debt is then said to the "settled in full" . There are potential drawbacks of debt settlement, for example, it will have some impact on your credit rating It is not something to be entered into lightly, however, it can be a much better alternative to bankruptcy. See: Debt Settlement

6. Increase Income.

A second job is a way to be able to save extra money. This can be used to actually reduce your total debt, rather than just adding to your debt. In the long term you will save twice; not only will you benefit from reducing your debt, you will also save on interest payments.

7. Reduce Spending.

If we look closely at our spending, we may be suprised at where our money goes. For example, the TV programme, big spenders, showed in graphic fashion how much people were spending on inessential items. One girl, was spending £2,000 a year on take away coffee and pastries. In most cases, those with large debts seriously underestimated the amount they spend on certain things. If you record what you spend your money in a week you will be surprised in May when you can easily burn. And not only that, but people have found to be much happier to reduce non-essential expenses.