Monday, January 14, 2013

Debt Management | Putting Back Control on Your Finances



Debt has become an integral part of our modern lifestyle. As we keep on spending we find ourselves swimming in the pool of debt. But before we proceed , did you know that, An article in The Independent on Sunday recently put the growing consumer debt burden within the US at $1 Billion.US residents seem to enjoy a strange relationship with debts. While they cannot do with a large debt load over their shoulders, they also cannot do without incurring them for long. Americans are sure to rank highly when it comes to spending, often resulting in financial crisis.

Debt management helps you to manage your funds and also protects you from the humiliation of debt struck conditions. Debt management is a set of techniques and processes through which an attempt is made to give a break to the reign of debts. Debt management is just a simple common sense method, which involves some proven steps to take care of debts in a more systematic way. Debt management aims to strike at the roots of debt, instead of simply countering the after effects of debts. When debts are not allowed to increase, the use of debt consolidation loans and other short-term debt management techniques like debt counseling become redundant. Debt management is controlling and managing debt responsibly by reducing or eliminating debt and creates a cash flow that keeps you out of debt. To completely control your debt you need to make a budget, reduce expenses and focus on paying debt this is the essence of debt management. 

Debt management requires that you keep good records and stick to your budget so debt doesn't get out of control. Try to cut expenses and remember to always live within your means. Debt management is open to all: good credit people, bad credit people or people with bankruptcy,
There are various tools available for debt management. 

Debt management on a smaller scale is known as debt counseling. It involves various debt management techniques-expenditure should be restricted proportionately to the income. Debt management technique  includes non formal  negotiation with lenders to  get your interest rates lowered, late payment penalties cancelled or suspended, and you loan may  be extended so you have longer to pay it off.  If there is shortage of funds at the borrowers end and he is simply not in a position to pay, then discuss it with the lender. Ask the lender for the payment options, If the situation is very tight, the borrower can explain it to the lender and he  will be more than willing to help, since he is interested in recovering his amount. This will help a lot in avoiding  any late payment penalties.

Another important tool for debt management is debt consolidation, this loan helps in consolidating the existing debts of borrower to one loan making  the repayments affordable by  lowering the interest rates and more manageable. Another technique for debt management is debt consolidation mortgages that include certain debts in an existing mortgage.  The advantage of this method is that debts are settled at the rate of a mortgage. Home equity loans put a convenient method of debt management. Since home equity loan is secured, it provides cheaper finance. Whatever be the method of debt management adopted, it must be effective towards debts. The ultimate aim of debt management must be to find a long lasting solution for debts.

Debt management processes in are similar to those followed all over the world. A sincere effort at debt management in will essentially involve keeping ones finances under control, taking the  right debt from the right lender, never missing any installments, avoiding any late fees and if needed, consolidating  the debt in the most efficient way.

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