Debt Management Solutions

Who doesn’t have debt? We borrow money to buy a house (mortgage loan), a car (auto loan), get a college education (student loan), buy furniture (installment loan), and purchase all kinds of items from groceries to computers to … (credit card debt). Sometimes we have emergencies and then we take on more debt (usually credit cards again) to pay for medical bills, car repairs.

Some of us are great at managing our finances, and others…well we do have good attributes, but personal finances is not one of them. Even if we are great at handling money, those emergency costs, or sudden loss of income can hit us hard. Emergency funds are always limited and sometimes not enough.

Debt management is for everyone. There are different types of solutions, depending on your financial situation, including your cash flow, debts and assets. You may be looking for a credit counseling and debt management plan, loan consolidation, debt consolidation, or debt settlement plan. Alternatively, you may just need a do it yourself budget and debt payoff plan through maximizing your monthly payments.

Follow these steps to help you get the debt management plan that is right for you:

• Create a budget and other financial basics
• Learn about debt management solutions
• Debt management – It’s up to you

Debt management: the basics

Managing you debt means that you are managing your finances. Debt Management is not a one-time event, rather an ongoing endeavor. Once you get your game plan set up, it becomes easier to track your progress. Here are the basic steps that you need to take: 

1. Make a personal budget: Debt Management begins with a personal budget. That means you know how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and where the money is going I recommend that you read the Bills.com personal budget guide. You will find tips on how to start and maintain your personal budget.
2. Trimming expenses/increasing income: Your next step is to analyze your spending habits. Look for areas where you can save money. Are you overspending on groceries, a gym membership, or costly phone and cable plans? Use the Bills.com Saving Machine to find areas where you can cut your expenses. Obviously, in addition to cutting your expenses you can also look for ways to increase your income. Although it isn’t easy you can look into turning your hobby into a home business, or taking on a second job.
3. Create a savings and retirement plan: Any budget plan should include a savings and retirement fund section. Ideally, you should have an emergency fund that covers at least 6 months of your regular expenses. In addition, make sure that you are building up a retirement fund and savings plans. A good rule of thumb is to save at least 10% of your gross income. However, if you are in debt, then work on paying off your expensive debt. Credit card interest rates are high, commonly over 18%. Your minimum payments take a big bite out of your budget and make a small dent in your overall debt position.

Understand the impact of interest rates on your debt:

A key factor in managing your debt is understanding interest rates. They affect your payments. High credit card interest rates can cause your debt to grow. This can happen even if you make regular minimum payments. The longer you take to pay off the balance, the more you will pay interest charges.

Paying off high-interest debts first can save you money. So can consolidating debt into a lower-interest loan. As you create your debt management plan, watch your interest rates. Consider refinancing or debt consolidation to lower them. This will help you become debt-free faster.

Learn about debt nanagement solutions

There are a number of debt management programs and there is no one size fits all solution. By following the first steps listed above, you have moved in the right direction. Your next step is to become familiar with debt relief solutions. Here is a list of popular debt management programs:

• Do-it-Yourself: Many experts advocate a do-it-yourself approach. Pay back your debts faster. Budget carefully, be frugal and start paying back debt. Some (like David Ramsey) advocate paying back your smallest debts first and others (Suze Orman) advocate paying back your highest interest rate debts first. In any case, always make your minimum payments, and then start adding more money to your other debt. Check out Bills.com minimum payment calculator to see how much you can save in money (and time) by making fixed payments on your credit card debt.
• Loan Consolidation: A popular debt management solution is a loan consolidation. If you have student loans then look into student loan repayment and student loan consolidation programs. If you have a good credit rating then look into an unsecured debt consolidation loan or a cash-out refinance mortgage, if you have equity in your house.
• Professional help: If you need help with your budgeting and lowering your financial costs then look into a professional debt management program including:

1. A credit counseling and (debt management plan): If you can afford your payments, but need help in organizing your finances and budget, then a credit counseling program can help. Your credit counselor may recommend that you enroll in a debt management plan, which negotiates lower fees and rates with your creditors and consolidates your payment. 
2. A debt settlement plan: If you are struggling to make payments, your credit score is damaged, or on the way to be damaged, then a debt settlement company might be the right debt management solution. You stop paying your creditors and the debt settlement company negotiates a settlement for less than you owe. You make payments into a special designated account, in your name, to build up funds for the negotiated settlement. One important point: Don’t pay upfront fees. Only pay the debt settlement company when they make a settlement.

Although, many experts say that you can do everything by yourself, including budgeting and debt negotiation, we all know that, that isn’t true. Some people are more financial proficient, some are more adept at negotiating, and some of need help. The important thing to remember is to understand what the program is offering, how it will help you, and how much it will cost. No debt management program will help you if you don’t fully participate.

Debt management: it’s up to you

Although, many experts say that you can do everything by yourself, including budgeting and debt negotiation, we all know that, that isn’t true. Some people are more financial proficient, some are more adept at negotiating, and some of us need help. The important thing to remember is to understand what the debt management program is offering, how it will help you, and how much it will cost.

No debt management program will help you if you don’t fully participate. Some people make the mistake of signing up for a program, and then dropping out. A debt management company can help you, get a loan, lower your fees, or negotiate a settlement. However, it is up to you to meet your long-term commitments. Your debt can be managed, either through a do-it-yourself approach, or with professional aid.

Most importantly: Debt management is up to you.