Debt Reduction Planning - A Stepping Stone to Financial Health
Although many people get into debt is the result of poor credit card use, others may have debt as a result of medical expenses, divorce, or job-losses that interrupted your income.
There are many debt reduction or financial companies that want to help you find a debt relief solution.
These are legitimate companies that serve as bankers, negotiators, accountants and a money coach.
Make a few phone calls to do comparison shopping.
Identify which debt relief solution service offers the most services for the least amount of money.
Most debt relief solution companies have a minimum debt amount with which they work.
So, if you owe less than $3,000, you don't really need a professional debt reduction planning service, however, there is still something you can do.
Many debt relief solution companies do offer free debt reduction planning consultations.
Taking advantage of the free service could be useful to you.
You can also call your creditors and inquire if they would lower their interest rates or work some other kind of payment.
Whichever method works to get credit payments and/or settlement amount negotiated, you should subsequently start planning your financial budget and cash plan.
As you realign you budget and spending patterns to recoup your losses and to position yourself to regain a surplus of funds, these ideas may help you.
Here are 6 Practices Help You Continue to Save Money and Contribute to Strengthen Your Financial Health 1.
Do not create new debt.
Using credit cards works great if can budget that money for paying of the balance 30 -90 days after the expense is incurred.
You can not save properly even on a high interest money market savings if you are paying double digit percentages on loans and credit cards.
So, you should make a commitment to yourself that when you make a credit purchase, you will always make the purchase with the thoughts of when, what month, you should be able to pay off the new debt.
2.
Set aside a percentage from your income.
Most money-savers automatically take at least 10-30 percent from their salary to numerous types of savings accounts and other saving vehicles.
Many other people, unfortunately, spend whatever amount they earn from each paycheck, maybe even more.
If you make a commitment limit that available spending amount, your expenses will automatically decrease.
It is a much better feeling to be surprised that it is payday already, instead of living for payday because you ran out of money.
3.
Pay with cash or your ATM card.
Credit cards are often a way of life for most people.
In the society so many people have become so comfortable using their credit cards that many put everything on credit with no thought of paying the bill in full.
That automatically adds a new bill to your budget or throws off your budget accelerated payment schedule.
Statistics actually show that the average family has an outstanding credit card balance of up to $7,000 - paying almost $1,000 in each year on the interest charges due to not paying off balances.
On top of that, most people fail to track their expenses and accumulate more debt than they can afford to pay.
4.
Set goals based on priorities.
Create goals that you really want.
If there's a certain amount involved, be specific with the amount, like saying "I will save $6,000 in a year and not maybe or about $6,000.
" Set your goals based on your priorities.
Also, make sure you have a end-period or time frame for every goal.
It is beneficial to develop a 2-3 year budget to make this simpler to plan.
Sometimes it helps to see it accumulating in a spreadsheet in month 18 of your budge, for example.
Also, it helps when saving for large purchases like furniture or a vehicle.
It also helps when paying off an unexpected debt like new braces.
5.
Check your company's retirement plan.
With your employer plan such as the 401(k) or the 403(b), you can definitely save more money for the future.
Here, your company will deduct a percentage of your salary from each paycheck and invest the amount in your choice of instruments-mainly mutual funds.
6.
Open a Roth or Traditional IRA.
Maximizing your IRS deductions as it benefits your tax return.
On top of that, the more it's going to cost you due to the power of compound interest.
If you do not think that you have enough money to contribute to an IRA sit down and create a plan and compute how to enable yourself to do this.
If you cannot start immediately, creating the plan with begin the process if you have that as a goal.
That is part of your long-term - over 5 year financial planning.
The true secret to personal financial success is living below your means in order to have or create excess money.
Then you can use that money to create new money.
It is one key to building wealth.
The other keys have to do with what you do with that excess.
Saving is a way of life but smart saving creates new money and increases your means.