| |
| |
|
Debt Relief Information |
|
|
|
Eight Ways to Consolidate Debt
Next to winning the lottery, a debt consolidation loan is a debtor's dream. With one monthly payment and a fixed monthly payment schedule, you can actually see an end to those monthly payments. In reality, consolidating bills isn't always easy. If you have a lot of debt, it can be hard to find a consolidation loan at a lower interest rate. And if you're not careful, you can end up deeper in debt than when you started. Your goal in consolidating your debt should be to lower your overall costs. To accomplish this there are two things to keep in mind: 1. Get the lowest interest rate possible 2. Have a plan to pay off your debts in 3 - 5 years. Here are some of the best ways to consolidate: Using Credit Cards The good news about this method is that with a good credit rating, you may get a much lower rate than other forms of consolidation loans. And since credit card issuers don't require collateral, you aren't "risking the farm." Call your current issuer to ask what interest rates they will offer you if you transfer balances from other cards over to theirs. Go for a fixed rate if you can get it, and ask them to waive any transfer fees. If you can't negotiate a low rate with your current issuer, try shopping for a new card at a site such as CardRatings.com. But be careful! Too many applications for credit in a short period of time can hurt your credit rating. Once you do consolidate this way, be sure to set up an optimal payment plan so you can be debt-free in 3 - 5 years. Home Equity Loans With a home equity loan, you borrow against the value of you home, minus any other mortgages. The two major kinds are: 1. A Home Equity Loan - a fixed amount of money for a fixed period of time (sometimes at a fixed rate) and 2. A "Home Equity Line of Credit" where you borrow up to a pre-approved credit limit (interest rates usually variable) and can borrow again if you still have money available. These loans can offer attractive rates, low payments, and the interest is usually tax-deductible if you itemize. Many issuers offer no or low closing costs for these loans. Interest rates are often variable, however, and there's always the risk that you can lose your home if you can't pay. Cash Out Refinance Refinancing your home and taking out money to pay off bills (called "cash-out refinance") is yet another way to tap the equity in your home. If you can refinance at a substantially lower interest rate, you'll eliminate the high interest costs of the debts you pay off, and you could even come out with a lower payment than you have right now since rates are so low. One option to consider: an interest-only loan. By lowering your monthly payment, you can free up money to use toward paying down other high-rate debt or building a retirement fund. Make sure you understand the total cost of refinancing. Take any money you've freed up by paying off other bills and use that to create an emergency savings fund. Traditional Debt Consolidation Loans A debt consolidation loan is an unsecured personal loan, and the only collateral you are offering for the lender's security is you. Because lenders consider them risky loans, they're usually more expensive and not always easy to get if you have a lot of debt. If the interest rate is too high to make it worth it and the repayment term is ten or fifteen years, you should probably consider another method of consolidation. However, if the term and interest rate are right, this can be a great way to actually save money in the end. (Check Bankrate.com for current averages). Remember, to calculate the total cost of the loan from start to pay-off. Credit Counseling Credit counseling agencies may help you get out of debt, though they don't actually consolidate your debt. Instead, payment plans (usually with lower interest and fees) will be worked out for all of your eligible debts. You'll make one monthly payment to the counseling agency, which will pay all your creditors. Participating in a credit counseling program generally won't hurt your credit rating, and if you stick to the plan you can be out of debt in three to six years. But be careful which agency you work with. If the counseling agency pays your bills late, you'll pay the price since you're still responsible to the lender. It happens. Debt Settlement Debt settlement is another option that's become increasingly popular with consumers who have a lot of debt and can't, or won't, file bankruptcy. You stop paying your bills and instead make a regular monthly payment to the settlement company. Your creditors contact them, and not you, about your overdue bills. As your accounts fall further behind, the negotiation company will settle your balances - usually for 50% of the balance or less (including fees) depending on the debt. Most people can be out of debt in less than two years or less using these programs. It's not perfect. Your credit rating will be hurt in the short run and you must be certain you're dealing with a reputable company or the money you pay each month could disappear. Still, for consumers who can't shoulder the burden of debt they have now, it can be a very good option. Retirement Loans If you have a 401(k), 403(b) plan or certain types of pension plans, you can borrow against your nest egg. (You can't borrow against your IRA.) It's easy, with no income qualifications or credit check. The key here is to borrow against your retirement account, rather than withdraw from it early so that you don't end up paying taxes and a 10% penalty. Also, if you leave or lose your job, you may have to pay your loan back immediately or pay taxes and penalties for an early withdrawal. These loans typically offer low interest rates, and interest is paid to you, since you are the lender. While tapping your next egg like this can short-change your retirement, so can costly debt payments. If you are in your 20's and 30's,you obviously have more time to rebuild a retirement nest egg, but even if you're in your 40's or 50's, you will want to weigh the cost of paying the high interest of the debts over time, versus borrowing from your retirement account. The return you get from paying off high-rate debts is guaranteed - while the stock market isn't. Rapid Repayment There is a mathematically optimal way to pay your debts. Choose a fixed level monthly payment, and commit to it each month. Pay as much as you can on the highest rate debt first, while payment the minimums on the rest. I almost always suggest consumers with debt start by creating one of these plans. Many people who do so find they don't even need to consolidate to get out of debt in the next few years. They just need a plan and they can do it on their own. Overview The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to consolidation are: A. Not having a plan for paying the debt off after they've consolidated, and B. Procrastination. Waiting for the "perfect" solution to come along almost always means you'll end up deeper in debt. Choose your approach, and start getting out of debt today! For more information on dealing with debt, visit www.stopdebtcollectorscold.com. Gerri Detweiler is considered one of the country's top credit experts. She has been interviewed in thousands of radio, television and print news stories including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dateline NBC and many others. She has testified before Congress several times and worked on reform of the national credit reporting laws.
MORE RESOURCES:
Debt-Relief - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Establish Money Saving Goals For Added Success Having something tangible to strive towards can work wonders for your money-saving efforts. To those of you that have already been actively implementing money-saving tips in order to lower your monthly bills, for added inspiration, establish a meaningful goal along with a specific dollar amount. Debt We all know about debt. If you don't have too much as an individual you can increase the quality of your life, but with more than you can handle it can make your life a nightmare. Dont Let The Good Times Bury You It is vital to get rid of debt while things are going well. Yet the opposite is usually the case. The Simple $10 Debt Elimination Solution Ask a friend what resolutions they made for 2004 and your bound to hear them reply "Pay off my credit cards." Ask them how they planned on reaching that goal and many of them will not have a clear cut answer. Bankruptcy - Bankruptcy Myths Bankruptcy has long been a big question mark in the eyes of the consumer. After all they don't teach us about bankruptcy in school. Credit Card Debt & the Unfairness of the Universal Default Clause Let's look at a real world example: A woman purchased a new $4,000 large screen TV a few months ago based on the knowledge her monthly payment was going to be $175, and based on the 9% interest rate charged by her credit card company. For five months straight she made all her payments on time, but in the fifth month she was late paying her mortgage bill, for reasons unknown. Credit Card Debt: How to Get Rid of It This method is simple, but requires some discipline.First, you have to stop any new spending on your cards. Future Secured? Oh Really? A headline for a retirement annuities flyer declares "Future Secured!" Was your reaction like mine? Yea, sure!Is our financial future ever that secure? Maybe for a few. But for the majority of us this is not true. Bankruptcy: Which Chapter Do I File? There is more than one kind of bankruptcy. You should understand your options before deciding which chapter of bankruptcy you are going to file for, or if you are going to file for bankruptcy at all. Help for the Single Mother with Managing Credit and Debt Today's consumers benefit drastically from the usefulness of credit. Credit cards are especially useful for large purchases, emergency situations, making reservations, identification, and protection from fraud. IVA Information If you're thinking about an IVA, it is essential to get the best information possible. This is because although an IVA can be a manageable way to resolve your debt problems, it can also represent a commitment of up to five years. A History of Money and Banking Secrets That Banks Dont Want Published A History of Money and TradeTo start with a history of money and debt, we must go back many years ago when people used to trade their wares for the things they wanted and needed.In place of money or Federal Reserve Notes, you could trade a well made pistol for a cow, which you could eat or trade a remainder of for other items like clothing. Debt Reduction, a Necessary Endeavour Massive debt is something many Americans face. Debt reduction is now becoming more and more of a necessity. Debt Settlement What is debt settlement?Debt Settlement is a process to settle your debts with the creditors. With debt settlement, a third party or you yourself negotiate with your creditors to come up with a reduced debt that you agree to pay. The 7 Secrets to Getting-and Staying-Out of Debt As vice president of the American Credit Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals and families manage their debt, Mike Peterson knows firsthand how financial problems can wreak havoc in one's life. Each day, counselors at the Midvale, Utah-based foundation help desperate clients dig themselves out from under piles of unpaid bills, stern notices from collection agencies and ominous foreclosure threats. Is Debt Negotiation Bad? Educating yourself about the ins and outs of debt negotiation is a good first step. Please note that the term 'debt negotiation' is also known as debt arbitration or debt settlement. Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know Personal bankruptcy is a legal way to give people with overwhelming debt a fresh financial start. Many people do not realize that there are five types of bankruptcy options available under the U. Student Loans Can't Be Swept Away Through Bankruptcy Bankruptcy is in the news these days, as Congress has finally overhauled the Federal bankruptcy law after years of talking about it. The credit card companies, rightly or wrongly, have been pressuring members of Congress to tighten the bankruptcy statutes, saying that too many people were willfully spending money they couldn't repay with the intention of avoiding paying the money back by filing for bankruptcy. How to Get Triple A Credit in 25 Days Good credit is everyone's dream. A wise use of credit can go a long way. What is Debt Settlement? Debt settlement is the process of negotiating with your creditors so that you are able to pay off a certain percentage of the debt amount that you owe. A debt settlement company will use different types of strategies to negotiate with your creditors so that you get the best outcome.
|
| Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating |
| © 2006 |