Mandy Karlik asked:


If you're facing a huge debt, you have probably realized that it is not going to go away on its own. Even if you suddenly came into a lot of money, debt would likely return. That's becasue debt is more of a symptom of how you think (and feel) about debt than a mere financial problem. You have to learn to think about debt in new ways.

First, start by admitting that you are in debt. Believe it or not, this a stumbling block to many people who prefer to live in denial (it's cheaper) than debt. But denial will eventually crack under your feet and plunge you into the icy waters of reality. Size up your debt.

How do you do that? Take a pencil and paper and start to write down all of your debt. You may have to call the toll-free numbers on your various credit cards and look up phone numbers on varies statements. Write down all of your debts and add them together.

Don't look away, even if the number is scary. You need to know the truth. Sometimes that number has to be pretty frightening in order to engage our full attention!

Second, you have to "own" your debt. A lot of people act like their debt belongs to someone else. And maybe it did, in a way! Some people come into overwhelming debt because they wound up with the debts of a spouse (or ex-spouse). Some people end up paying off the debts of family members. Others got into debt when a house burned down or the family suffered a medical problem. You might get into debt over posting bond for a loved one.

No matter how you wound up with the debt, you have to recognize it as your own. You must assume the responsibility for it.

There are lots of reasons that people get into debt. Even if you just overspent your way into debt, you probably had a lot of good reasons for what you did. Maybe you had a lot of debt left over from your college days. Maybe you were under a lot of emotional stress and found "retail therapy" helped. Perhaps you did not understand how money works. I know one person who got herself into debt because she used a lot of plastic while in the "manic" phase of an undiagnosed manic-depressive condition.

You may have reasons, and that's not the point. The point is: the debts are yours. Take responsibility for them.

You won't ever get out of debt till you admit that you (not anybody else) have debt.

Third, you need to forgive your creditors. That sounds very weird, but have you ever noticed that in the Bible, it talks a lot about "sin" and "debt" being related? The Lord's prayer, for instance, in some Bible translations talks about asking God to "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." In financial terms, overlooking a debt means to "forgive" it.

You probably got into financial trouble because of some other trouble. Whether it was a failed marriage, a natural disaster, disease, devastation, mental illness, or just plain getting through a "rough patch," you probably need to go back and forgive the other people involved.

Let's say you're heavily in debt because you owe child support. And let's say that there is a lot of pain still attached to the relationship that brought that child into the world. Maybe you even feel tricked or cheated into paying the child support. And it could be genuinely unfair.

Forgive everybody involved. Forgive the other parent of your child, forgive your child, forgive the family of the other parent, forgive the state, and forgive the judge who made the ruling.

Forgiveness does not mean that you agree that what they did was right. Forgiveness does not mean you like what was done or that you approve of what was done. Forgiveness means you accept it and you refuse to carry around that wasteful anger and animosity any more.

What happened may or may not have been fair, but that's not the point. It's happened and you are ready to get past it. That's forgiveness.

Fourth, you need to make a conscious choice to get out of debt. A lot of people are digging themselves deeper and deeper into debt not because they want to, they just have not decided to stop digging! Make a decision.

Getting of debt involves one big decision (that's the easy part) and hundreds of smaller, daily decisions (that's the tough part). If you need to, find a way to remind yourself of getting debt free. Maybe you can write it on a paper and stick it on your desk, in the car, or on your bathroom mirror. You can make up a mantra for yourself and just say, "I'm going to get out of debt" whenever you need to and even some times when you don't need to. Don't buy anything new, but if you have a ring or bracelet or something special, you can wear that and use it to remind yourself that it is the symbol of your decision to get over your debt.

Fifth, stop the bleeding. Most debt is a result of a lot of small wounds. Stop as many as you can. This means you have to look for them. A few debt areas will be obvious. Do what you can to stop digging yourself into debt. But search out other ways that money is slipping through your fingers.

Don't be afraid to be zealous. Zealous, passionate people are the ones who can beat debt. Cancel your gym membership, cook at home instead of going to restaurants (even fast food joints), quit cable TV, and buy your clothes at garage sales. Many of us get riled up at some of those prospects, but they are all viable strategies. They work. I'm not saying you have to do all of them or any of them but you need to stop as much hemorrhaging as possible.

Sixth, get a plan. It does not seem to be as important to use a specific plan as it is to use any plan. You need a system. One good one is to line up your debts and start paying them off. Pick your highest interest debt first and devote every spare cent to paying it off. Then proceed from there.

You can also try debt consolidation where you roll a lot of higher-interest debt together into one larger debt at more favorable terms.

Certified credit counselors are available locally (check out http://www.nfcc.org) or online. There are valuable books and courses on money management. Figure it out, get help, or work with somebody. But you need a game plan.

Seventh, keep on. Getting out of debt is a bit like losing weight: it takes hard work, dedication, and just dogged day-after-day persistence.

Jo Ann LeQuang asked:


While debt is a common problem in our culture today, it is not always discussed in a productive way. In fact, it is often not discussed at all. That means that most of us worry a lot about debt, but few of us really learn about it.

In that kind of climate, a lot of wrong beliefs can spring up. While some mistaken ideas about debt may be academic matter or of not much consequence, some can be serious.

In fact, to really tackle your debt problem you have to understand it. Part of that means understanding your own spending habits and personal situation. I can't help you there.

But the other part means understanding debt and how it works.

Here are seven common myths people believe about debts.

The first: debt is a recent phenomenon.

Many of us think that it is our modern, overextended lifestyle that contributes to debt and that in ancient times, people just did not have the same problem with money that we do. That's not true. Provisions for bankruptcy protection appear in the United States Constitution (1763).

Debtors' prisons were common in the industrial revolution. And in Biblical times, people who were in debt might sell themselves into slavery to appease a creditor. The truth is debt has been around about a half hour after the creation of money.

The second myth: debt shows a lack of character.

Now it is true that a disreputable person can easily get himself or herself into debt, but debt is not in and of itself a character flaw. Debt occurs because of a convergence of unfortunate financial circumstances. This may be avoidable or unavoidable. However, the resulting debt is no reflection on the character of the debtor.

Debt is a problem, but it's not evidence you are a failure.

The third myth: debt is just something you have to live with.

This myth is particularly dangerous because it's like a long, slow illness. You really cannot afford to leave it untended too long.

I sometimes think that debt is a lot like obesity. If that is your problem, you have to fight it. It is foolish to ignore the problem or pretend it will somehow magically go away on its own.

Debt robs you of your future prosperity; it drains the resources you and your family need.

The fourth myth: everybody is in debt.

It's easy to see why people believe this, because so many people are massively in debt. But do you know what? A good many people have no debt. In fact, the majority of people in the U.S. have manageable amounts of debt in proportion to their incomes. Overwhelming debt is not something most people deal with.

That's good news if you have overwhelming debt. Do you know why? This means that you absolutely can live in a different way than you're living now. In fact, most people do. If they can do it, so can you!

The fifth myth: it takes forever to get out of debt.

That myth is true if you just wish you were out of debt or you have some lackadaisical approach to it. Do you know that there are coaches who can take an unfit person and train him or her to complete a marathon in six months? People can lose 100 pounds in a year. Some people can make a fortune or complete a degree in four years. The point is that great things can be accomplished even in unlikely individuals if you do two things: get a plan and follow the plan.

People have paid off very large debts in fairly short amounts of time with the right plan and coaching.

The sixth myth: debt doesn't matter.

Fortunately, this one is not as common as some of the others. However, it's very destructive. Typically, people who buy into this myth grew up in households that were very comfortable with high amounts of debt. This does not always create the proper perspective for future financial security!

Debt wastes large amount of your money and can cause your family to burn up high amounts of income on average-levels of lifestyle.

The last myth that people believe about debt is that you can't handle debt (you need to hire an expert to help you).

It is true that there are lots of people and businesses who specialize in helping people with debt. But be very careful. To enjoy good financial health, you have to learn how to take care of your own money.

This means that handing over a large amount of money to a debt company that promises to take care of your problems (so you can walk away) may be a dangerous decision. Here's why. If you don't understand what they're doing with your money, you are giving them a good opportunity to rip you off. It can be the financial equivalent of handing your wallet to a stranger and saying, "Take what you want."

Second, if you don't know how you wound up in debt, you won't be able to get out.

Debt consolidation is an approach to handling debt but it's a term that is frequently used carelessly online. Technically, debt consolidation just repackages or reorganizes debt in a way that makes it more favorable.

However, many companies who offer to settle or negotiate your debt (get your creditors to take less than you owe) call their services debt consolidation. There are a lot of myths out there about debt and how to manage your debt. An education can be the best defense!

Jo Ann LeQuang asked:


Most people facing growing debt and limited resources have probably looked around for financial solutions and heard a little bit about debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is a great financial option to overcome overwhelming debt, but it is not right for everyone. But before you can figure out if it is right for you, you have to realize that some of what you may have thought about debt consolidation … is wrong.

Of all the financial plans available for people dealing with overwhelming debt, debt consolidation is probably the most valuable and the least understood. In fact, you may already believe some of these common myths about debt consolidation. Find out the truth!

Myth #1 Debt consolidation is the same or similar to debt management, debt settlement, and bankruptcy.

Truth Debt consolidation is nothing like those other programs. In truth, it is not so much a "program" (you can even do it on your own, if you know enough) but more of a strategic approach.

In debt consolidation, you lump all of your debts together and repackage them. Debt settlement and debt management typically involve dealing with a company or counselor and the object is to reduce the amount you owe. Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that involves a date with a judge.

Myth #2 Debt consolidation reduces your debt.

Truth No, it doesn't. If you owe a total of $80,000 on several credit cards and loans and you consolidate that debt, you still owe $80,000.

Debt consolidation does not re-negotiate, settle, write off, or reduce any of your debt. What possible advantage is re-organizing your debt like that?

If you have a lot of loans at high interest rates, repackaging those higher-interest debts into one larger loan at a lower rate reduces your interest and the amount you have to pay. This means you can either pay less a month or (even better) pay the same amount but get the debt paid off sooner.

Myth #3 Debt consolidation will hurt my credit score.

Truth Done properly, debt consolidation will not impact your credit score or credit report negatively. In fact, debt consolidation may even improve your credit score! That's because you'll be paying off a bunch of smaller loans and any time a loan is paid in full, that helps your credit score.

Myth #4 Debt consolidation requires getting help from an outside agency or a lawyer.

Truth While there are companies that specialize in debt consolidation programs, you do not have to use them to consolidate your debt.

Of course, if you want to consolidate your debt on your own, you have to know a bit about how to do it and what the options are. But it can definitely be a do-it-yourself project for people good with money (or who are willing to learn enough to get good with money).

Debt consolidation is also not necessarily visible to outsiders. Your bank, the credit bureau, and other parties may not even be aware that you have consolidated debt.

Myth #5 Debt consolidation is something for financial losers and lightweights, not for people who know how to manage money.

Truth This is the most far-out myth about debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is a principle that is used in business and by the super-wealthy all of the time. It is a way of organizing and structuring your debts in a way that is most advantageous to you.

Myth #6 Debt consolidation is just robbing Peter to pay Paul; you're just getting more debt!

Truth Debt consolidation is indeed a way for you to pay off one debt by getting another debt. But not all debts are equal.

As an example, let's say that you owe $10,000 and the loan is set up so that you have to pay 22% interest. For example, let's suppose that I go to my credit union and work out a deal to borrow $10,000 at 12% interest. While both debts are still in the amount of $10,000, the debt at 12% interest is a better deal for me. I won't have to pay as much per month or, if I make the biggest payments I can, I can pay it off sooner.

Myth #7 Debt consolidation requires you to be a homeowner.

Truth There is a grain of truth to this, in that owning a home definitely offers an advantage to anyone who wants to consolidate debt. (It doesn't matter if your home is paid for or not, but you do need some home equity.) However, you can consolidate debt without owning a home, too.

Myth #8 Debt consolidation will make it harder for me to get future loans.

Truth In most cases, it is unlikely that anyone but a forensic accountant could figure out that you consolidated your debt (unless you go through a debt consolidation companythat might leave a paper trail).

If you borrow money in one loan and then take out another, more advantageous loan to pay off the first one, you're more likely to leave a paper trail of somebody who pays off debt responsibly. It is more likely to make you a desirable creditor.

Myth #9 People who consolidate debt just wind up digging themselves in deeper in debt!

Truth It is absolutely possible to consolidate your debt and then keep spending and get yourself in a big mess. That's why you need good information and a plan to pay off your existing debt, manage your finances now, and start planning for your financial future.

There is no reason that debt consolidation cannot work to get you out of debt for good, but you have to have a plan.

Myth #10 Debt consolidation will allow me to write off some of my debts and it will stop bill collectors from calling.

Truth Let's take these one at a time.

Unlike bankruptcy, debt consolidation will not allow you to write off any of your debtnot a penny of it. Whatever you owed as a debt before debt consolidation is the amount you'll owe after debt consolidation.

The advantage is just that you structure it in a more favorable loan. You do not get existing debts cancelled or decreased! Now it's true you can work that out in other debt management solutions (debt settlement lets you reduce debt, bankruptcy will let you write some debt off) but they come at a very high price. Both of these approaches will have a negative impact on your credit score, will make it hard for you to get future loans, and stay on your record for quite a while. Bankruptcy, in particular, is an extreme solution that involves an actual court proceeding and a judge who has the authority to make certain decisions about your financial situation (including forcing you to sell some items to pay off debts).

Debt consolidation can only stop bill collectors indirectly. Here's how: let's say you have six debts and you're getting calls all of the time. If you consolidate your six debts into one large debt consolidation loan at more favorable terms, you'll pay off all of those debts. Bye-bye, bill collectors!

However, if you don't pay off your new debt consolidaiton loan on time, the bill collectors will start calling again.

Lesley Lyon asked:


A loan granted to a borrower for paying off the existing loans and debts to credit card over arrears etc is debt consolidation. By choosing a debt consolidation loan when trapped with debt burden, as a borrower you get many advantages since it proves to be a real bonus with more benefits. Debt consolidation loans help you to overcome your financial crisis by allowing you to start by paying your debts afresh and also maintaining your debt burden successfully.

Debt consolidation loans are offered with lower interest rates when compared with your existing loan interest rates. These loans will entitle payment to multiple lenders who charge you high rates of interest for your various debts such as credit card bills, store bills etc. You can take the advantage of availing of debt consolidation, as you will be satisfying your existing lenders by taking a bigger loan with less rate of interest.

A debt consolidation loan can be a secured or an unsecured one. Secured debt consolidation requires you to provide collateral, usually your house. As the lender is satisfied with the guarantee of repayment he offers you debt consolidation loan with a long repayment period and also at lower interest rates. The amount of your loan depends on the collateral's equity value. An unsecured debt consolidation loan does not need any collateral, it is offered at a relatively higher interest rate. The interest rate depends on your financial position and credit score. Since the providers are many you will get the loan at a competitive rate.

In simple terms, merging of all you debts together is debt consolidation. There are various methods to merge your debts like debt consolidation loan, debt counseling, debt consolidation mortgage and debt consolidation re-mortgage. It provides you an opportunity to combine all your existing loans into a single manageable loan. Debt consolidation program offers you an opportunity for paying off all your outstanding bills and existing multiple loans with one easy installment. It is also a cheap debt resolution option for you.

By taking debt consolidation loan your debt amount does not gets reduced, only the rate of interest is reduced. Many credit unions and banks offer debt consolidation. Debt consolidation loans can be used for any purpose since there is no necessity to specify the reason while applying for the loan. When you have a bad credit history debt consolidation loan gives you a chance to restore your credit status. When you have chosen a debt consolidation loan a single creditor will deal with all your debts. When your debt goes beyond your control, you can take an excellent move of debt consolidation. It is always considered as a great tool of debt management and this loan works by itself for you.

Debt consolidation loans are offered to all and anybody can qualify for availing debt consolidation services. If you have had bankruptcy experience in the past or if you are with bad credit history, you can apply without any hesitation for a debt consolidation quote. The application cost is free and you have to carefully select the suitable debt consolidation service. The debt consolidation limit varies between companies and no such limit is fixed. Generally, you can avail of 125 percent of your property's value. The debt consolidation loan tenure is decided after verification of your financial condition. The maximum limit for secured loan is 25 years and for unsecured loan is 10 years.

Lokesh Kumar asked:


You never know when and who would need help from a credit card debt consolidation program. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can lead to financial difficulties which in turn would lead you to consider debt consolidation. Some of these circumstances are loss of job, loss in business, death of an earning member and so on. If you are finding it hard to pay off your credit card loans, then it is wise to consider debt consolidation. This is much better than bankruptcy. This article will help you with steps in finding the right credit card debt consolidation program, make you aware of the advantages and disadvantages of debt consolidation so you can decide whether credit card debt consolidation is the best option for you or not. Basics of Debt Consolidation Debt Consolidation is a big loan that will pay off your credit card loans. There are several ways these debt consolidation programs work. The most popular way is to take one lump sum amount of money from you (the borrower) and distribute it to your credit card companies (the lenders). All your loans will be consolidated into one payment usually withdrawn directly from your bank on a fixed date every month. These programs make the card holders life easier. As a general rule, if you have many credit cards from different companies with high interest rates, then debt consolidation can help you manage your debt with only one bill and much lower APRs. These debt consolidation companies negotiate a lower interest rate for you and this can save a lot of money in the long run. This will work out in your favor if you have credit cards with APRs of around 30% because the debt consolidation programs can reduce these interest rates to between 12% – 18%. These programs require a monthly administration fees, which is usually around and this will come off your savings. Remember if the admin fee does not come off your savings, then it is not a good idea to sign up for a debt consolidation program. So it looks like everything about the credit card debt consolidation is positive. Well, it is not always the case. There are a few advantages and also disadvantages of debt consolidation programs. You have to find a balance between them. The fact is that credit card debt consolidation companies do help you in paying off your debt. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of these programs. Advantages 1. Decreased payment amounts: The monthly payments will be less than what you were paying before debt consolidation because you are paying off the loan over a longer duration. 2. Simpler to manage: After you signup in the debt consolidation program, you will have a relief from reading your credit card statements, deciding how much to pay for each credit card and then making the payments one by one. Usually, the company will withdraw the money directly from the bank and you will not have to be concerned about late payments. 3. Decreased interest rates: This is one of the major advantages for many credit card owners. Some of the debt consolidation companies bring down the interest rates much lower than the current ones. This can save lots of money for you. 4. Debt Management tips: Many of the good debt consolidation give lots of free tips on managing your debt. They draw out a plan on debt management. These tips are invaluable. They even mail out booklets on debt management. Disadvantages 1. Lower FICO scores: Many experts debate that debt consolidation does not have any effect on credit (FICO) scores the fact is that debt consolidation has a negative effect on the credit scores. Enrolling into debt consolidation will always be reflected in your credit history. Most credit repair companies mention that it is difficult to increase your credit score if you are currently working with a debt consolidation program. Your credit scores can be raised after you have paid off the loans and are not currently in any debt consolidation program. Even if you can remove one credit card from the debt consolidation program that can help you increase your credit scores. 2. Higher Payment: Since your payments are made over a longer duration of time i.e. in more number of the years, then you will end up paying more in the long run. One way to prevent this is – if your financial situation has improved, then you can pay off larger sum of money. Most of times there will be no penalty for paying off the debt sooner than the agreed number of months. Before enrolling in a credit card debt consolidation program, you can confirm if there is a penalty or not for paying off the debt sooner than the agreed number of months. 3. Credit cards inactivation: If a credit card payment is enrolled in a debt consolidation program, then that particular card account will be inactivated. i.e., that credit card can no longer be used. 4. Negative Impact on Future Loans: Once you have enrolled in a credit card debt consolidation program, this will remain in your credit history. So, all future loan requests (new credit card applications, home loan, car (automobile) loans etc.) will involve references to your debt consolidation. i.e., the lender will have knowledge about your participation in debt consolidation program. Some people are very uncomfortable about this but it is up to you decide. Your credit history is a private record and will be provided by credit score companies only on a need-to-know basis. If you apply for home loan, then the chances of getting rejected is higher and if you get accepted, then mortgage broker will ask for explanation. Again all these conversations are kept confidential. So, the question is – when should you consider a credit card debt consolidation? If you are paying high interest rates around 30% on a credit card, you have many credit cards, you are unable to make payments or your are barely able to make just the minimum monthly payments, you are finding it difficult to manage all the payments etc., you must consider signing up for a credit card debt consolidation program. After reading through the advantages and disadvantages mentioned earlier, make decision about signing up or not signing up for credit card debt consolidation program. How to find a good debt consolidation program / company? Signing up with the right debt consolidation program is critical for saving money and successfully consolidating your debt. There are a good number of scams in the debt consolidation business so it is in your best interest to proceed cautiously to prevent being victim of a scam. Here are some very good sources of finding the right debt consolidation program. 1. References from friends and relatives: It is best to ask your trusted friends if they have any recommendations for reliable credit card debt consolidation program i.e., if they have enrolled in one of these or know of anyone who enrolled in one and is satisfied. As mentioned before, there are many scams and so with this option, you can feel safe. This should be your first option. 2. Television advertisements: Most of big and established companies run advertisements on TV. These are companies that have a lot of experience and have been successful with debt consolidation. But it is a wise thing to research the company. Look for their website and check for their standing in Better Business Bureau (BBB) and must have been in existence for a few years. Also, search http://ripoffreport.com website for this company – this website where victims of scams post their experiences. 3. Mails: When you are unable to payoff debt on time, you will receive mails from some companies that will offer help with debt consolidation. These companies have permission to access some of your basic information. The good thing here is that your fit their profile of enrollees and that is why you received a mail with their credit card debt consolidation services. As mentioned earlier, research these companies using the same methods described above. 4. Telemarketing phone calls: Typically, telemarketing phone calls that you get is because your debt situation is such that it fits the requirement of their enrollees. If you receive a phone call, remember to never enroll in the first phone call. Note down all the details of this company such as the websites, contact person and phone number to call. Research the company extensively as mentioned above. 5. Online Research: Research the internet for good credit card debt consolidation companies both non profit and profit companies. Once you create a list of possible companies, research the companies extensively. Talk to these companies until you are comfortable about enrolling with them. For a few months or years, if you can handle the disadvantages of credit card debt consolidation programs, then enroll in a program. Debt consolidation can get you out of your current debt problems and save you a lot of money by lowering your interest rates but if you do not spend judiciously, then you will be back into the same debt problems and this cycle will never end. So the long term solution to debt problems is to change your spending habits and live slightly below your means. Remember you need to manage the money / debt and NOT let the money / debt manage you.