Five biggest mistakes people make when trying to eliminate their debt.
The majority of Americans are in debt and according to some recent data,
as a nation, Americans have $1 Trillion in credit card debt.
If you are reading this article, you probably are as well. Getting out of debt should be your priority, but you have to be very careful not to make mistakes which many people make while reducing their credit debt.
First of all, you have to have the right attitude. While it may seem obvious and corny, I have seen many people trying to get out of debt with the wrong attitude, and guess what?
None of them succeeded.
If you want to live debt free, you have to get rid of your current mentality, which tells you that since so many people are in debt, it is not really a big deal and if the worst comes to worst, you can always file for bankruptcy.
Remember that bankruptcy is a very bad idea and should only be used as a last measure. Filing for bankruptcy is the worst thing you can do to your credit history. Besides, remember that bankruptcy is not going to take care of all of your debts and you are not going to magically become debt-free just because you filled some papers.
Secondly, remember that making minimum payments is not going to help you get rid of your credit debt fast. Even if you stop using your credit cards and concentrate on paying them off, you will still pay lots of extra money just because of paying the interest.
On many credit cards the interest charges per month can be larger than the minimum payment itself, so you may be gaining more debt by making minimum payments.
Thirdly, reducing credit debt should not cause you to get deeper in debt, therefore avoid credit counselors or debt consolidation companies who charge you too much or who are asking you to pay up front.
There are a number of non-profit organizations in almost every state who will help you eliminate your debt for free. With enough determination and self-esteem, most people are able to greatly reduce and eliminate their debt without asking for any professional help. Thankfully, the Internet is flooded with articles and websites on debt-free help, some of which are quite good. If you are not comfortable with the web, you can go to your local library or to a bookstore and browse debt help books and publications.
Fourthly, if you are a home owner and are considering borrowing some money against its equity, think twice. If for some reason things go wrong, you are at risk of losing your home. Are you willing to take this risk?
Fifthly, remember to keep track of your interest rates and try negotiating them with your credit card company. Many people lose thousands of dollars every year, because they don’t realize that their interest rates are negotiable. Tell your credit card company that if they don’t lower your interest rate, you will pay your balance in full and close the account. It works in many cases.
