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.