It’s no secret that credit card debt has become a major problem facing our economy today. If you’re one of the millions of consumers suffering from major credit card debt, then you’re probably desperate to get your massive bills under control.
But the options seem limited; you probably think that it’s almost impossible to make your paycheck stretch enough to get a handle on all of your debt. It can be easy to let credit card debt take over your life – don’t let it! Whether you had an accident and had to live off of your credit cards for a few months, or just weren’t smart with your debt, there are ways that you can control your debt and pay it down – without asking your boss for a 50% pay raise! Here are the best tips for credit card debt consolidation:
* Put down the credit card: It may seem like common sense, but if you’re still charging purchases, you will never escape your credit card debt. Hide your credit cards and use your debit card to make your everyday purchases – you’ll soon spend well within your budget!
* Cut down on luxuries: Do you eat out for lunch everyday? Do you absolutely have to have that four dollar latte every morning? Luxuries like these are exactly that – luxuries. When you’re trying to get rid of credit card debt, you have to give up a few unnecessary luxuries. Try bringing your own coffee to work, or make lunch at home. The peace of mind you’ll have once your debt is gone will definitely be worth it.
* Look into a balance transfer: If you’ve been carrying a hefty balance on your credit cards, you may as well be flushing fistfuls of cash down the toilet. When you carry over a balance on your card month after month, your interest rate skyrockets, which puts even more pressure on your wallet. Consider a balance transfer to a low interest rate credit card, which will help save you hundreds of dollars in interest; not to mention make it much easier to pay down your credit card debt.
A balance transfer is a viable option for many individuals, but a warning about low interest rate cards: make sure that you’re not buying into an introductory offer. It can be a real kick when your down if you see your credit card balance shoot up once the balance transfer offer period ends!
* Try consolidation loans: Many banks will offer you private debt consolidation loans to help you pay off that credit card debt. But make sure you’re not charging anything to your cards while paying off the consolidation loans, as you’ll just be digging a deeper financial hole.
* Make extra payments: Many people pay only the minimum payments on their credit cards, but this prolongs the life of your debt – not to mention the hundreds of dollars that you’re throwing away on interest alone. Pay more than the minimum payment, or if you can, make small extra payments throughout the month. You’ll see your debt shrink in no time.
Here’s another tip for making extra payments: use the money you previously spent on unnecessary luxuries towards your credit card debt. For example, if you spent four dollars a day on your large coffee for a month, that’s $120…for some people, that’s like another credit card payment! If you budget your monthly expenses based on what you need – not what you want – you’ll find the money to make those extra payments.
* Dip into your savings account: This suggestion may seem a little shocking, but if you’re drowning in credit card debt, it’s worth dipping into your savings to alleviate the debt. However, if you can possible avoid it, try not to cash out your 401(k) or any other retirement savings you may have.
* Borrow against your life insurance policy: If your life insurance has cash value, borrow against the policy. Again, this suggestion may seem a bit shocking, but you need to get rid of that credit card debt! However, make sure you pay back the loan, as any leftover debt will paid off by using part of your policy. This may seem insignificant now, but your grieving family will thank you for it.
* Get a home equity loan: If you’re a homeowner, and have accumulated equity over the years, consider a home equity loan (HEL) in the amount needed to pay off your credit card debt. Home equity loans often have lower interest rates than those of credit cards, so you’ll be trading off your debt at 18% interest rate for one at 6%. Just using this method you’ll find you have extra cash to pay your debts off.
But before you take out a home equity loan, make sure you’ve learned your lesson regarding credit card debt. Don’t take out a loan, and then continue to use your credit card to make purchases – you’ll only further bury yourself with debt.
* Talk to the credit card companies: After all, they’re human too! If it seems like you’ve tried everything to get your debt under control, with no success, try taking your case to the credit card companies. Let your creditors know your situation. Maybe you still haven’t recovered from that accident, or you had a huge unexpected purchase to make; regardless, ensure you mention the word bankruptcy in the conversation. The last thing credit card companies want to lose is their money, so they’ll often renegotiate your interest rates and debt balance in order to protect their assets.
You could also use this credit card calculator to find out how long it will take to repay your credit card.
* Go to credit counseling: Credit counselors are often a great resource for consumers looking to reduce their credit card debt, as they can help cut down your debt balance by more than half. This is often the last step taken by individuals before declaring bankruptcy, and one of the most successful.
If your stressed out and it seems like you are up to your eyeballs in debt then don’t panic, it is possible to get yourself out of debt without working 3 jobs or going bankrupt. Just follow these tips, and you’ll be debt-free in no time; but beware! Make sure you’ve learned your lesson, or else you’ll repeat the debt cycle again and again.
Watch the video related to credit card
www.billcphd.com – Part 1 of 4 of a PBS Special featuring psychologist Dr. Bill Crawford on a new approach to dealing with difficult people and/or conflict resolution
Help answer the question about credit card
Closing a credit card account that is inactive? How much will it affect my credit report?
I’ve had this account for about two years, and I haven’t used it in a long time, and I’m thinking of closing it but I don’t know how it would affect my credit report. This is a secure credit card, with only a $300 limit. I have two other credit cards that I use a lot more often and I’ve been very responsible about paying bills on time.
That is acceptable, but it's easier if you go online and apply for really any type of credit card that you want. Some companies will not want to give you a card unless it is secured if you don't have any previous credit. You're best bet it to try a department store first, even though their interest rates are the highest. This way once you get a card and make a purchase, you can pay it off quickly. Keep doing this and your credit will be established. jsut don't go overboard and end up like the rest of us who are in debt up to our ears.
The credit card company won't know you're planning to leave the country! Even if they did know, they can't stop you, unless they first sue you and get a court order saying you can't leave. But it is highly unlikely that any judge would grant such an order for a credit card debt.
Yes, they could sue you in court for the debt. They would have to serve you with the court papers before they could have a trial.
The sure-fire way of NEVER being turned down for a major credit card would be to apply for secured credit card. Basically what type of card this is, is that you give them money up front (say you ask for a $500 limit), and everytime you use that card, the money will already be in your account with that card and it will just come out. This secures to both the credit card company and to yourself that the money will always be in there, therefore there will never be any over-ages, late fees, and the the like and will guarantee you a strong credit building account. I hope that my answer has helped you.
That’s the problem here…they trap people in corner so people has no any other option other than credit. It’s not that easy for majority of people just to find another way to make money. They try but they fail in the end, because the system is built that way to force people be in debt, be slaves, work 40-50 hrs/week, still people struggle. Blame the greedy who created the system to trap people.
burn your cards. file bankrupcy. wipe them out.
Well since people are complaining about the interest rates being too obscenely high, then they must find other ways to make there money.
Stop applying for the cards, you will only be denied. You will have to start building your credit rating with secured credit. Make sure the banks report to the credit bureaus, otherwise it does no good.
Go to the bank you do business with, ask them if they have a secured credit card, if they do open a new account with $300 – $500 tell them you want a secured credit card against that account. Use the card for small purchases like gas or food and pay the card off entirely each month on time.
Also you can take your savings account and save until you have $1,000. Tell your banker you want to take a installment loan out against the savings account. Take the money you receive and put it in your checking account to repay the loan. Pay it off in 12 months. Lenders like to see a mixture of credit, revolving, installments, personal loans.
After a few months you can try for an unsecured card again. Retail store cards and gas cards are normally easier to get.
It takes 24 months of consistent on time payments to build a good credit rating.
Congrats, on your cleaning up your debt and your credit score. What you want to do is compare credit cards and the good news is there are many internet sites that will allow you to.
Check http://www.creditland.com, http://www.bankrate.com, http://www.credit.com On these sites you can look and compare the credit cards that have no annual fee and a low APR. Also if you belong to a credit union, they have excellent rates. You may also consider doing a search for LOW credit card rates in search engines. USA Today does a comprehensive list every year.
I hope this helps you out.
Good Luck
Definitely NOT Bank of America.
They recently upped peoples APR without any explanation or reason; it was all over the news. Try a company that's a little less shady. There are plenty of horror stories of what this company has done to their consumers.
The money in your savings account would not be available while using your debit card making normal purchases unless you have selected an overdraft protection program and the funds are not available in your checking account. I highly recommend adding this to your account, in the event that you make a purchase that is greater than the amount available in your checking account, the bank will use money from your savings account to cover the purchase. This way you don't aquire all those overdraft fees or have bounced checks (while writing checks). Pay close attention to your funds! Alot of debit cards can also be used as a credit card. Its basically the same thing in this case, where in both cases the monies will be deducted from your checking account, debit takes the funds immediately while credit will take sometimes up to 4 days to completely withdraw. The difference between your debit card, and a credit card, would be that credit cards are an open balance of money availably ready to be lended from banks, purchases using a traditional credit card also incrue interest on the amount you spend. (you have to pay back more than you spend) Debit cards are attatched to your bank account and will just deduct money from your account to pay for the things you've purchased
And though you didn't ask for it… After you've accrued a larger sum of money in your savings account, speak to your local financial director and check into special savings account that give you back more money for allowing the bank to use it, such as locked savings accounts and bonds! 
A credit card can be a really good thing to have, or it can be a nightmare. Try to find one that charges no annual fee and that gives you some kind of reward…airline miles, cash back, something. Then…and listen closely…PAY IT OFF IN FULL EVERY MONTH!! You do that, no problem. you start missing payments, then you can quickly get in over your head.
They may occassionally send you the most boring looking documents you have ever seen in the mail. Read them. The credit cards can change the terms of your agreement, and these boring looking notices are the only way they tell you. If you use the card after theyhave sent out the change of terms, you have accepted the new terms.
Good luck.
there are a couple of ways you could start building credit, you could get a small personal loan which you might need a cosigner or the best way will be getting a credit cards, you could get a credit card and use it for your every day expenses but make sure you pay in full at the end of the month that way it will show pay in full everytime the credit card company reports to the credit beuros. At the begining you will only be approved for the lower end credit cards but once you build credit in about 6-9 months you should be able to apply for a better card with better benefits such as free miles or cash back. Check out http://www.fastcreditcardapprovals.com and go under bad or no credit section and you will find a few choices. But if you are a student apply of a student credit card these cards have no annual fees and low rates.