Ten Ways to Get Out of Debt

Home
>
Debt Relief
>
Ten Ways to Get Out of Debt

Ten Ways to Get Out of Debt

1) Use your Assets

If you have assets with some significant equity, such as a home or a car you may be able to use these to get control of your debt. For example, you could get a loan on your home sufficient to pay off your debts. You could be saving a considerable amount of money on interest if you pay off high interest credit card debt in return for lower cost debt.

If you have a car, consider selling it, paying off your debts and buying a cheaper car. Be careful though! Your don't want a "cheaper" car that will cost you a fortune in repair costs.

2) Get a Second Job

Use the money from this job to only pay off your debts. List your debts noting the interest rates. Pay off the debts with the highest rates first and work your way down the list.

3) Put your Credit Cards on Hold

One of the best steps you can take to get out of debt is to immediately stop using credit cards. At the very least destroy all your cards keeping just one card for emergencies.

4) Set up a Repayment Plan

Cut back on your expenses and/or use freed up cash to pay down your debts. Pay off the debts with the highest rates first and work your way down the list.

5) Get a Consolidation Loan

A consolidation loan can make lots of sense. Get a loan to pay off all your many debts and have just one payment to make. The new loan usually has a smaller payment and a lower interest rate.

6) Use the Services of a Credit Counselor

There are two types of credit counselor, for profit and "nonprofit". We do not distinguish between the two as they provide similar services and both charge a fee. Credit counselors can assist you in acquiring the discipline you need to get control of your debt. Be careful! Many people do not fully understand all the ramifications involved such as:

Impact on your credit rating

The credit bureau will record that a plan is in place.

Are your payments too high?

Your payments should be high enough to significantly reduce your debt but not so high that you have "no life". If you do not have money left over at the end of the month to pay for the small pleasures in life you may find that you end up defaulting on your payments.

For how long should you pay?

Most experts feel that the term should be three to four years. It is a stipulation in the new Bankruptcy Reform Bills that the term be 3-5 years. Terms longer than this have a very high failure rate, because people cannot see a "light at the end of the tunnel".

7) Informal Proposal - Payments over time.

In some cases you can make a proposal to your creditors to set up a payment plan that will allow you to pay your creditors in an orderly way and thus help preserve your credit rating. This operates similar to a debt consolidation loan except you do not borrow the money to pay off your creditors.

8) Informal Proposal - Lump sum payment.

You may be able to pay less than 100 cents on the dollar. For example, a relative may be willing to pay a lump sum to the creditor of say 50% of the amount owed in order for the balance of the debt to be written off. Your creditors will be more willing to accept this offer rather than have you file Chapter 7.

This works best when there are few creditors.

9) Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

You are probably a good candidate for Chapter 13 bankruptcy if you are in any of the following situations:

1. You have a sincere desire to repay your debts, but you need the protection of the bankruptcy court to do so. You may think filing Chapter 13 is simply the "Right Thing To Do" rather than file Chapter 7.

2. You are behind on your mortgage or car loan, and want to make up the missed payments over time and reinstate the original agreement. You cannot do this in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can make up missed payments only in Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

3. You need help repaying your debts now, but need to leave open the option of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the future. This would be the case if for some reason you can't stop incurring new debt.

4. You are a family farmer who wants to pay off your debts, but you do not qualify for a Chapter 12 family farming bankruptcy because you have a large debt unrelated to farming.

5. You have valuable nonexempt property. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you get to keep certain property, called exempt. If you have a lot of nonexempt property (which you'd have to give up if you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy), Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the better option.

6. You received a Chapter 7 discharge within the previous six years. You cannot file for Chapter 7 again until the six years are up.

7. You have a co-debtor on a personal debt. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your creditor will go after the co-debtor for payment. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the creditor will leave your co-debtor alone, as long as you keep up with your bankruptcy plan payments.

8. You have a tax debt. If a large part of your debt consists of federal taxes, what happens to your tax debts may determine which type of bankruptcy is best for you.

10) Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

If these alternatives will not work for you, bankruptcy may be the only way for you to get a fresh start. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy offers a quick solution to getting out of debt.

For more information, visit www.mybankruptcycounseling.com

Nathan Dawson writes for http://www.mybankruptcycounseling.com

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Obama announces Clinton, Gates for Cabinet (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama picked a national security team headed by former campaign rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bush administration holdover Robert Gates on Monday, and said he wants to consult with military commanders before settling on a firm timetable to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

It's official: US is in recession (AP)

AP - The U.S. economy has been in a recession since December 2007, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday.

Obama still looks for Iraq pullout in 16 months (AP)

AP - Barack Obama says the U.S.-Iraq security agreement approved by Iraq's parliament puts the U.S. on a "glide path" toward reducing forces there.

Bernanke: further interest-rate cuts 'feasible' (AP)

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday that further interest-rate cuts are "certainly feasible," but he warned there are limits to how much such action would revive an economy likely to stay weak well into next year.

2 injured in shooting at suburban Miami mall (AP)

AP - One person was shot at a suburban Miami mall Monday and taken to a hospital by helicopter, and another person was injured, authorities said.

Retailers offer deals, discounts on 'Cyber Monday' (AP)

AP - Retailers who saw Thanksgiving holiday sales drop off as the weekend progressed stepped up online promotions on the day known as "Cyber Monday" to try to get consumers tired of the crowds at stores to keep shopping.

India demands 'strong action' from Pakistan (AP)

AP - India demanded Pakistan take "strong action" against those behind the 60-hour siege that left at least 172 people dead, as new details emerged Monday about the gunmen and the survival training that enabled them to thwart Indian commandos.

Sending spam in Israel could mean a big fine (AP)

AP - Israel has gotten fed up with spam. Anyone who sends out messages without receiving the recipient's consent can now be slapped with a big fine.

Tina Fey's husband talks about her facial scar (AP)

AP - Tina Fey's husband is talking about something the "30 Rock" actress would rather not discuss: the scar on her left cheek.

Police investigating hospital in Burress shooting (AP)

AP - Plaxico Burress was led out of a police precinct in handcuffs Monday after surrendering on a weapons possession charge, and authorities said that teammate Antonio Pierce is being investigated over his role in an accidental shooting at a Manhattan nightclub.

Obama names Clinton, Gates to lead foreign policy (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama named former rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state on Monday and said Robert Gates would remain defense secretary in a national security team charged with recasting America's leadership role in the world.

Stocks slide as Bernanke confirms economic stress (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Monday as economic reports showing further evidence of the worsening global economic climate were backed up in comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

India demands swift Pakistan action over Mumbai (Reuters)

Reuters - India on Monday demanded Pakistan take swift action over deadly attacks in Mumbai it said were carried out by militants from its rival neighbor.

U.S. in recession as Europe debates spending hikes (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy has slumped into a recession, the nation's business cycle arbiter declared on Monday, while European leaders clashed over how much public money to spend tackling a deepening downturn.

House to push $500 billion stimulus bill (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met leading governors on Monday to discuss the size and shape of an economic stimulus package that one Democratic aide said was likely to cost around $500 billion.

Bush calls flawed Iraq intelligence biggest regret (Reuters)

Reuters - President George W. Bush said the biggest regret of his presidency was flawed intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and told ABC "World News" in an interview airing on Monday that he was unprepared for war when he took office.

Thai protesters consolidate hold on airport (Reuters)

Reuters - Thai protesters prepared to end their three-month occupation of the Prime Minister's office on Monday to consolidate their grip on the main airport ahead of a court verdict that could dissolve the elected government.

Alabama mayor arrested on corruption charges (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal authorities arrested the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday in a corruption probe surrounding a massive sewer bond debt that has forced Jefferson County to the brink of bankruptcy.

Hawkish Obama names Clinton as top diplomat (AFP)

AFP - Barack Obama on Monday nominated Hillary Clinton to be his "tough," "smart" secretary of state and his former foe vowed to give her all to steer America through a perfect storm of global crises.

Mumbai attacks: India demands Pakistan take 'strong action' (AFP)

AFP - India on Monday formally accused "elements" in Pakistan of being behind the devastating Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai and demanded that Islamabad take "strong action".

Ten Ways to Get Out of Debt

Debt Relief Debt Relief