Kellys Credit Information

How To Eliminate Credit Card Debt


There is almost nothing more troublesome than having too much debt to pay each month. Consumers incur debt for many different reasons. Sometimes illness, accidents, or just bad luck can make it seem impossible to get finances under control. Other times it is simply because we spend more money than we earn. The first step toward taking control of your financial situation is to learn how to eliminate your credit card debt.

Develop a budget. Start by listing all sources of income. First list fixed expenses such as mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and auto loans. Next, list the expenses that vary from month to month such as utility bills, recreation and clothing. If there is any hope of controlling your credit card debt you must create and stick to a budget.

There are different kinds of debts. Mortgages and auto loans are debts secured by collateral. In the event of default on a secured debt, a lender may foreclose on your home or repossess your car. Unsecured debts are loans with no collateral and often have variable interest rates and are assessed a fee for late payments. In the event of default on an unsecured debt a lender may report to a credit-reporting agency, contact the debtor repeatedly by mail or telephone, and in general make life miserable for those who find themselves in financial trouble.

If you are among the millions who have found themselves in a financial crisis, consider your options - budgeting, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy. Which works best for you? It depends on your level of self-discipline, how much debt you have, and your future financial prospects. While eliminating debt may seem next to impossible, your life does not have to go from bad to worse.

Self-help may be the easiest, cheapest way to eliminate debt. First, stop charging now. Incurring more debt will only compound the problem. Make a list of all your credit card bills starting with the smallest. Pay as much above the minimum payment as you can afford on the card with the lowest balance. Continue until this debt is paid in full, and then proceed to the next card. Systematically paying off your credit cards one by one will reduce your debts dramatically. The fastest way to eliminate credit card debt is to put every penny you can towards paying off your credit cards. Do not underestimate the effect an extra five or ten dollars paid repeatedly over time can have on eliminating debt.

You may be able to reduce the amount of your combined monthly payments and lower the interest rate by obtaining a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage. Think carefully before taking this route. Your home becomes collateral with these loans. If you make late payments or miss payments you could lose your home. These types of loans may provide certain tax advantages but the fees can really add up. The same goes for debt consolidation. You eliminate or reduce interest rates and the amount of your monthly payments, but the length of the contract and the fees can be more than your original debt.

As a last resort, bankruptcy could be considered. A bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 10 years, making it difficult to obtain credit, get life insurance, or buy a home. However, it can be a fresh start for those who cannot otherwise satisfy their debts.

About The Author

Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.com. Easy online credit card applications.


MORE RESOURCES:

Kenexa to Present at the Credit Suisse Annual Technology Conference
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
a global provider of talent acquisition and retention solutions, today announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Don Volk, is presenting at the Credit ...
AMD to Present at Credit Suisse Annual Technology Conference WELT ONLINE
SuccessFactors Chief Financial Officer to Participate in a ... MarketWatch
Brocade Corporate Controller, Charles Read, to Present at Credit ... MarketWatch
WELT ONLINE
all 60 news articles


Washington Post

Government plans new credit, mortgage programs
O Jornal, MA - 7 hours ago
The Fed program for consumer debt will lend up to $200 billion to the holders of securities backed by various types of consumer loans such as credit cards, ...
US Unveils New Programs to Ease Credit New York Times
Thanksgiving surprise: $800 billion more for the credit markets Los Angeles Times
The $800 Billion Pick-Me-Up for Consumer Credit Motley Fool
Detroit Free Press - Chicago Tribune
all 2,144 news articles


Realtors(R) Federal Credit Union Hires Thomas A. Glatt as First CEO
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Dec 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The REALTORS(R) Federal Credit Union board of directors today announced that veteran credit union leader ...


Post Chronicle

Sector Snap: Consumer Lenders
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Consumer spending is likely to decline as the nation's largest credit card lenders cut customers' credit lines over the next ...
Credit card industry may cut $2 trillion lines: analyst Reuters
US Consumers Seen Facing ‘Liquidity Squeeze’: Chart of Day Bloomberg
The Death of Credit Cards Motley Fool
Consumer Affairs - BloggingStocks
all 60 news articles


Credit Market Risks Rise as Economic Slump Claims Industrials
Bloomberg - 27 minutes ago
1 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of protecting US corporate bonds and loans from default rose as the credit slump that felled financial firms spread to industrial ...
‘Telephone Number’ Bailouts Mean Record US Risk: Chart of Day Bloomberg
M&S, Casino Guichard Bond Risk Increases to Record, Swaps Show Bloomberg
all 3 news articles


Salesforce.com Chairman and CEO to Deliver Keynote Presentation at ...
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
... Chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, will deliver a keynote presentation at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference on Wednesday, December 3, ...
ExpressJet to Present at the Credit Suisse Global Airlines Conference MarketWatch
all 15 news articles


The Jewish Journal of greater L.A

Pastor apologizes for church credit card use
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 6 hours ago
AP LOS ANGELES—The pastor for First AME Church in Los Angeles has apologized to his flock over his use of a church credit card for $122000 in personal ...
First AME pastor's credit card charges probed Los Angeles Times
Pastor Apologizes for Charging $122000 on Church Credit Cards KTLA
First AME pastor apologizes to congregation for alleged misspending Los Angeles Times
all 39 news articles


CEP News

S&P affirms Macy's credit rating, negative outlook
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Monday affirmed its credit ratings for department store operator Macy's Inc., ...
Standard & Poor's assigns eBay an 'A-' debt rating CNNMoney.com
all 9 news articles


United Online to Present at the Credit Suisse 2008 Technology ...
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
... and Scott H. Ray, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Credit Suisse 2008 Technology Conference in Scottsdale, ...
United Technologies Corp. Investor and Analyst Meeting Advisory MarketWatch
all 15 news articles


'Coupons' & 'Credit Scores' Top Ask.com's Real Deal List of Most ...
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
Credit score Ask searchers were hunting down deals for all facets of their everyday lives, demonstrated by top queries for "cheap," "used," and "discount" ...

Credit - Google News

home | site map
© 2006