Debt management groups, or debt counseling agencies, are good sources if you are over your head in debt. They work to make your debt more manageable, from helping you create a plan to negotiating with creditors to lower interest rates and sometimes balances. Continue reading
Debt
Pros and Cons of Debt Negotiation
If you are struggling to repay debt and are tempted by the possibility of paying less than you owe, you should first consider the pros and cons of debt negotiation. The cons usually outweigh the pros, so it is important to see how the risks and rewards stack up given your own situation. Continue reading
Zero Percent Balance Transfer Credit Cards
The most common type of debt in America today is credit card debt. When so much has accumulated, and interest is so high, it sometimes seems worthwhile to use a second credit card to take care of the debt on the first, but a lot of times this does little to help. However, some credit cards offer a zero percent interest rate when transferring credit card balances that you may want to look into. Continue reading
The Dangers of Paying Off Debt With a 401(k) Loan
If you are in debt, there are many aspects of paying off that debt with a 401(k) loan that are very alluring. For instance, you will likely receive a very low interest rate on your loan, around 4.25%, and a lower interest rate means a lower monthly payment. The fact that you can borrow any amount (less than a quarter of your balance or $50,000) as long as you have money in your account does not help dissuade many borrowers. Despite these two facts, there are other factors that make this a poor choice to manage your debt. For instance, if you take out a 401(k) loan and decide to switch jobs (or are laid off), your employer will likely require you to repay the loan within sixty days. If you do not meet that deadline, the outstanding balance will be considered a distribution on which you will owe tax, and if you are under fifty-five a ten percent penalty will be tacked on as well. Additionally, some plans do not allow you to contribute to your 401(k) while a loan is outstanding, which results in two things. First, you will end up with a lower account balance at retirement, and second, since you will not been making contributions, your taxable income amount will increase, thus meaning you will pay more taxes. Continue reading
A Debt Recovery Agency Can Mean Headaches for Debtors
Are you deep in debts and being contacted by different agencies trying to get you to repay your debts? If you are, then you could have a debt recovery agency contacting you on behalf of the company, whether it is for an unpaid credit card bill, medical expenses, student loans or any other debt you may have accrued. Continue reading
How Do I Avoid Bankruptcy?
Declaring bankruptcy is often a bottom of the barrel, last-ditch solution when your financial situation has become so severely impaired that you do not have any hope of immediate recovery and repayment of debt under your current arrangements. Declaring bankruptcy can destroy your credit history, cause you to lose your property or other assets and make receiving future loans difficult, so it should be taken seriously. It is not a free pass, either – you will still be responsible for repaying as much of what you owe as possible, and using every possible asset you have to fulfill your obligations. If you fear that you are coming perilously close to these unfortunate circumstances, you should immediately meet with a reputable financial counselor to discuss other options. Continue reading
TASC: The Association of Settlement Companies
The goal of TASC, The Association of Settlement Companies, is to bring together the interests of consumer debtors, debt settlement companies, and the government to improve the overall industry of debt settlement. This group was created in 2005 and has since worked to level the playing field between all three of the above units. TASC has also helped stop legislation in many states that would have prevented or seriously hindered the ability for debt settlement companies to operate in favor of the debtor. Continue reading
Are You Building the Capital of Brazil?
Twenty years ago, while Germany was just starting to undertake its massive pay-off of debt interest from the First World War, Brazil also faced an overwhelming problem: 80% inflation. Chana Joffe-Walt of NPR’s Planet Money team wrote a story about how the Brazilians used a creative system of making fake money real to stabilize their currency and reduce inflation. She contextualizes the problem with a carton of eggs: if you buy them at $1 to bake your birthday cake, they’ll cost $1000 by the time your next one rolls around. Continue reading
Don’t Get Scammed by Amazing Debt Settlement Claims
Ever hear of a deal that sounds too good to be true? That is probably because it is. Many people turn to debt settlement to solve credit and debt problems. They believe this is the answer to all of their questions, but be wary of which solution you choose. Continue reading
Avoid Questionable Free Debt Advice
“Free debt advice.” While this is surely one of the most widely advertised three-word phrases across different forms of media, it is also one that should be regarded with extreme caution. The volume of Americans who find themselves in dire straits has spawned a wide array of unreliable sources of debt relief counsel that play upon desperation to resolve personal financial problems. Consequently, there are an unending number of entities which claim to offer debt reduction advice at no cost. Many websites which claim to offer free advice in actuality refer web surfers to debt settlement options which have complex and extensive costs. Given the lack of accountability that exists among many of these groups and the dubious nature of many who advertise “free debt advice”, it’s important to know about recommended options. Continue reading
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