Manage Credit Card Debt

Carrying balances on credit accounts is a notoriously unwise credit usage decision, but it’s a trap into which many young money-users fall. If you have accrued a pile of credit card debt, it is vital that you turn your financial ways around and properly manage this debt to ensure that it is paid off as quickly as possible. By managing this debt intelligently, you can overcome it and venture into your financial future a reformed credit card user who is free from your previously overwhelming credit card debt.

  • Pay more than the minimum each month. If you pay only the minimum, paying off your credit card debt will be a lengthy process. Bankrate.com illustrates this by explaining that a $2,000 purchase will end up taking you 30 years to pay off if you only make the minimum payments on an 18-percent interest rate account.
  • Steer clear of your credit limits. If you haven’t already maxed out your accounts, don’t. The closer your balance is to your credit limit, the worse the impact on your credit score. Balances that nestle up to the credit limit are seen as a sign of over-extension.
  • Check your credit account statements several times a month. If you are still using your credit accounts, keep on top of your purchases by using your credit company’s online system to check on the account. This will help you keep track of how much you have spent and act as a reminder not to amass even more debt.
  • Keep a balance sheet if you find yourself frequently overcharging on your credit cards. Use an empty check register or a similar financial documentation sheet to keep a tally sheet of your credit card purchases. At the beginning of the month, write the amount that you can afford to charge and pay off that month at the top of the sheet, as if it were your account balance. As you make charges on the card, deduct these amounts from this available amount. When it gets to zero, stop charging; you are out of money.

Category Categories: Credit

How to Overcome Debt Problems

According to CNN Money, the average American family holds over $10,000 dollars in credit card debt alone. The average interest rate on cards is in the mid teens with some cards exceeding 20 percent. Overcoming debt problems seems impossible for some but the truth is it’s quite simple. It just takes time, discipline and patience.

Track Your Spending

  1. Make a list of everything you spend in a month. At the end of the month, review your list. You will likely find several items that easily can be cut from your spending.
  2. Create a list of bills and other expenses. Gather all of your bills and place them in a pile. List who you owe money to, the total amount and the amount due each month. With credit card and loan agreements list, also the interest rate.
  3. Pay down your highest interest debts first. These cost you far more money in the long run and usually carry heavy penalties for late payments. The sooner you can pay these off the better.
  4. Avoid paying just the minimum. With credit cards, the minimum payment just covers the interest. Pay more than the minimum each month if you can afford it. You’ll start clearing the balance faster.
  5. Put any left over cash in a savings account. Even small amounts start to add up. As the money accumulates you’ll have an emergency fund or extra cash to put toward debt.
  6. Ask for help. If your income isn’t sufficient to cover your monthly outgoings then consider credit counseling. A good credit counseling service can negotiate with your creditors and try to freeze interest and late fees. They can also help you with creating a reasonable budget.

Category Categories: Financial

At What Cost Credit Handed Out?

In this economic climate, many of us are faced with debts, far greater than we’ve ever experienced. The total UK personal debt currently stands at around the £1.5bn mark. The average household debt is approximately £16,500 (excluding mortgages) and it is estimated that 346,000 loan accounts are in arrears. However, even with these grim figures, credit companies are still more than happy to offer credit to anyone, it would seem.

Most of us will recognise the situation all too well; you’re weighed down with the day’s shopping and just about to pay for your goods at the till. Just before you hand over the cash, the cashier offers you a discount on all of your purchases if you sign up for a store card. “It’ll only take a second”. How could you possibly resist such an offer?

However this offer may sound at the time, you should always be wary; unless you are extremely careful with your money, store cards can come back and sting you in the future. In the UK, store cards have an APR of anything up to a staggering 30%. Many store cards offer an interest free period, usually between 30-55 days. In this time you should aim to clear your balance and reap the full benefit of the discount you made when signing up. If there is a balance on your card after this period, be prepared for the interest to stack up.

With credit being offered left, right and centre, it is easy for debt to spiral out of control. What is being sold as a ‘convenience’ could actually end up putting you firmly in the red. If you do take a store card, or any other credit card for that matter, make it your priority to make payments on time to avoid substantial late payment charges. Also, refrain from making the minimum payments. Pay as much as you can each month to clear the balance as quickly as possible.

Category Categories: Credit