Digging Out Of Debt In 8 Steps

February 26, 2009  |  Filed Under » ,  |  View as article

Digging Out Of Personal Debt

People are carrying more consumer debt now than ever before and signs of that burden are showing up in the form of debt fatigue. If you're being buried under payments, the only real solution is to change your debt habits and start digging your way out, one step at a time. So roll up your sleeves and grab that shovel.

Facing The Music

If you've been trying to make bills vanish by throwing them away unopened, the first step is to own up to your mistakes. Clear off your kitchen table and get out all your loan statements, bills and budget - basically everything you can think of that relates to your finances. The loan/credit card payments and the bills for essentials - power, heat, water - will represent your base payments. If these already exceed your net income, you will either have to change your lifestyle (sell the house, get a small apartment, take on a second job) or file for bankruptcy. Now you need to make a plan. (For more on taking stock, see Getting Your Finances In Order.)

The Pilgrimage Of Repayment

Not all debts are created equal. In making your plan, you'll need to establish precedence among your debts and make a plan of attack. Target the high-interest debt first, non-deductible, low-interest debt next, and tax-deductible debt last. Speaking of high-interest debt, it's time to stop using it. Keep a single credit card for emergencies and quit carrying the rest entirely. Ideally, you should try to save up an emergency fund and lock all your cards away. It is time for a cash diet to help you to stick to your repayment plan. (See Six Months To A Better Budget for more insight.)

Get The Damage Report

The next step is to check your credit rating. You can get your credit rating the same way lenders and landlords do - from the credit bureau. Once you have the report, you can check if it's accurate and identify the accounts that are dragging your rating down. It only takes one or two late payments to move a consumer loan from a green rating to a red. If you have late payments on all of your credit accounts, you may find yourself in the "high-risk" category, despite diligently paying the loans down (although not on time). It sounds picky, but banks can afford to be uptight because they have a huge pool of people seeking loans. (See The Importance Of Your Credit Rating for more information.)

Initiate Damage Control

Get rid of troublesome accounts, cancel unnecessary cards and pay down your overall debt on time. Use automatic payments and tighten up your budget to get your debt under control. This will keep your credit rating from getting worse and, over time, will improve it. If your credit rating allows for it, visit the bank and try to get a larger, lower-interest loan and consolidate all your consumer debts into this loan. This will speed up the process of paying off your debt by minimizing the interest drain on your payments. (For more on consolidation, read Debt Consolidation Made Easy.)

Use Two Shovels

Whenever possible, double up on payments on your highest-interest debt. Although it's not quite as efficient as consolidating, doubling up on payments can speed up the pay back period. If you've eliminated the high interest debt, double up payments on the next-highest debt. You'll be consistently increasing the overall rate at which your debt diminishes and getting closer to the magic number the bank is looking for before granting a consolidating loan. Once you get a consolidation loan, doubling payments will make it vanish that much faster. (For more on the benefits of making extra loan payments, see Be Mortgage-Free Faster.)

 

It's My Debt, I'll Do It

Getting out of debt usually means making some painful decisions. If you're simply too far behind, it might be time for some drastic measures. The softest cuts come in the form of substitution - one-ply for two, a walk in the park for a gym membership. Harder cuts come in the form of selling whatever non-essential items you can live without and that someone on eBay or in a pawnshop will pay for - you might be surprised at what you can get for the complete box-set of your favorite TV series. The money raised from the sale will provide a lump-sum payment against your highest interest loan. (For more on cutting back to cut costs, see Downshift To Simplify Your Life.)

Many Hands Make Light Work

One mandatory step in getting out of debt is to meet with a credit counselor, but this is option is much more helpful if you do it before you're desperate. A credit counselor will provide many helpful tips and make sure that you're on the right track with your repayment plans. He or she may also provide support when you meet with your creditors, adding a little bit of professional weight to any negotiating you want to do. That said, be wary of credit specialists who charge high fees while churning through an equally large volume of clients. (For more on this, see How To Find A Credit Counselor.)

Renegotiate The Terms

Now it is time to meet your creditors. Go and visit the lending institutions with which you have outstanding debts. If you owe more than one bank, start with the bank that you have the best history with. Set a meeting time and bring your damage report, your new cash-based budget and a humble smile. Explain the steps you've already taken to avoid defaulting on your debts and ask to renegotiate the debt you have at that institution. Now that you've abandoned your loose credit ways and can prove it, banks will be more likely to cut you some slack. (For more on debt negotiation, see Negotiating A Debt Settlement.)

Don't Get Buried Again

You'll be able to climb out of most financial holes by following the steps we've outlined here. For some, getting buried in debt and having to dig their way out is enough to turn them off carelessly piling up more debt in the future, but solid personal finances are the only buttress against future problems. If you can't dig yourself out, you may have to declare bankruptcy, which can ruin your credit rating and make you ineligible for loans for years. (For more insight, read A Lifeline For Those Drowning In Debt).

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