Do you ever feel snowed under with debt?

March 27, 2008 2:24pm CST
So that you can't even see the light at the end of the tunnel because you don't know if you'll ever pay it? I know I do.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@deepti15 (1190)
• India
29 Mar 08
There are debt consolidation companies that will work with you, but I strongly recommend against using them. As a general rule, they are not doing anything that you cannot do on your own, and they are charging you for that "service". Here are a few things that you can do to get your debt down to a manageable level. 1. Stop spending money on stuff you do not need. A large coffee a day is around $1.50 to $2.00, that's around $45 -$60 a month. Same for bottled water, cell phone service, renting or buying videos, games, CDs, etc... Dedicate that extra money to paying down the credit card with the highest interest. 2. Set aside some money every month to pay a significant extra amount on one card, the one with the highest interest. Even if it is only $5, it is TONS better then just paying the minimum. As you reduce what you owe, the amount you pay in interest every month will go down allowing you to pay off debt faster. 3. if you are still having difficulty making the payments, for whatever reason, call the credit card companies. Tell them your situation. They would rather work with you, then send the account to collections. There is a lot that they can do, like reducing your interest rate, or allowing you to skip a month or two without penalty.
@deepti15 (1190)
• India
29 Mar 08
And now as US economy is not in it's best , IT and software people are suffering too. I have heard TCS has cut salary of their workers by some 20%.
29 Mar 08
I try doing as much as possible like that, I don't buy bottled water unless say i'm out somewhere and i'm thirty, then I usually just by the 30p bottles. I take my own tea and coffee to work and usually take a packed lunch. The cost of living increase is getting ridiculous, each year up 5% wages up 2%, it's kind of a kick in the teeth as it means you're really taking a pay cut. I don't think i'd use a consolodation company as that's just basically a loan, I might speak to a debt advisor like the citizens advice bureau.
1 person likes this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Actually, I am in debt and trying to dig myself out. I have everything written down now, and a game plan. I am following some of the steps that Dave Ramsey has in his book. It's hard. I am planning some garage sales in the not to distant future. My car will be paid off June so that will help a lot. It's going to take me awhile, but I know it will never happen again.
29 Mar 08
I think I might start a debt diary and keep a list of what I owe to who and what I pay each month and what the interest is.
@NeoComp (1316)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Yes I think that it's hard to pay off debt. this is why I work harder and harder.. and just try to make all the money i possibly can to pay off my debt.. and make big money.
29 Mar 08
It's hard to keep up with all the rates and charges!