subject: Debt Management - Do It Yourself [print this page] Debt Management - Do It Yourself Debt Management - Do It Yourself
Once your personal debt is out of control it can soon take over your whole life.It can be very confusing as to how to take control of the situation. First thing you can do to try is lowering your interest rate with credit card companies. This can be obtained by merely calling the company and requesting a lower interest rate. Lowering the interest rate will lower the monthly payments.The same things applies with a home loan or personal loans, call around and find out the cheapest rates then switch (if possible). As for credit cards some credit card companies will lower your interest rate to near to nothing for only several months and some companies will extend the amount of time - but keep in mind- once you do these things you can no longer use that credit card.Credit card and loan companies do not want to lose the money and most will work with an individual but they have to pick up the phone and call. The majority of these companies are more than happy to work with an individual. The companies get their money and your credit is not destroyed.Also, a flaw has been discovered in the Consumer Credit Act of 1974 and in some cases the entire amount of credit cards debt and mortgages have been written off. If you have gotten your credit card prior to April 2007 there is a chance that the entire amount can be written off. There are compainies who will provide this service for a fee.This could be well worth it if you owe a large amount on credit cards or mortgage loans.You must also look at how you got into a situation like this. The majority of people overspend by one-half of their take home pay, of course some emergencies arise and that cannot be helped. Sitting down and adding up your necessities is the first step; then what is left over must be added into getting control of the debt. Buy food, clothes and household items when they are on sale and clip coupons.There are numerous ways to save on your grocery bill. The more money you save the more you can apply to your debts. Once this is applied to everyday living you will see that money can be saved and you will see that there is light at the end of the debt tunnel.
