Best Credit Card Debt

What is the best solution for credit card debt?
I am way in over my head, I have 6 credit cards and I'm over $40,000 in debt. I have tried to take out a loan at the bank to consolidate but i got turned down. I need HELP!

You have heard it before. Pay minimum on all your cards. Take the smallest amount you ouh on one and double or triple the payment. When it is payed off cancel that credit card. Then take on the next in line. Put the money you were paying on the one you just paid off and apply it plus the payment you were making on that card. The hard part is the first card, after that it begins to gain speed. The main thing is not to use the cards any more, leave them at home. If you do not have them you can not use them. And to cancel them as soon as you make that last payment.

2008-07-10 16:57:57 by Twin father

Rewards from credit cards are often used to scam people into getting the credit card and rarely turn out to be as good as they promise. Use credit ...

Hi All. I'm a recent college grad who is fairly new to the workforce and is ready to get rid of her credit card debt!! I was fortunate enought not to borrow much in student loans (a total of about $9,000), however by grad time I owed about 9 thousand in credit card debt. Now I am ready to get rid of this burden. I know that this sounds horrible, but my situation was very different than that of the average student. I am a mother and was raising my daughter the whole time during college. Instead of working full time I focused on my studies and only worked part time. Needless to say this made everything harder but in the end it was worth it. Also, I'm not looking for an overnight solution. It took me six years to accumulate this debt so I know it wont disappera overnight. I'm just looking for the best way to go about it. Please help!

The amount of people throughout the United States who find themselves in debt continues to rise. For you, raising a child while being a college student made your financial a difficult one. For most, however, debt is the result of extraneous spending, poor money management, or both.

Below is a list of ten tips to getting out of debt. Some are easier to follow than others, but all are designed to help alleviate the problem - so take comfort in the fact that you can solve your debt, though it will be a tough process...

Ten peices of advice from allbusiness.com:
1. Create a realistic monthly budget for your expenses. List all monthly bills and necessities and make sure they are covered by your monthly income. Allow only the money remaining after the bills are paid to be spent elsewhere. Stay within your budget guidelines.
2. Pay off the balance on the credit card with the highest interest rate first (unless the balance on any card exceed 50 percent of your credit limit). First, pay all balances to below 50 percent of the card limit because balances above this level cause your credit score to diminish. Then pay off the balance on the credit card with the highest interest rate. If the account was opened within the past year and you have additional older accounts, close it after it is paid off. Next month do the same with the card that has the next highest interest rates. Continue until you reach the credit card with the most favorable terms (i.e., low interest rates). Use this as your preferred account. You need only four open accounts to establish a positive credit history.
3. Learn to use cash instead of credit cards. Have one primary credit card and use it only for emergencies or major necessities, such as a new refrigerator if the current one stops working. Put your credit card in a safe place, not available for everyday use. Also, do not accept increases on your credit card limit above an amount you can easily pay off in three months.
4. Use direct deposit for your paychecks. Also have a limit on how much you will allow yourself to withdraw each week and month.
5. Cut down on your discretionary expenses. This includes dining out, overusing your cell phone, and other such unnecessary expenses.
6. Evaluate your living situation. Your housing costs should be no more than 33 percent of your household income, including mortgage payments, property tax, and both property and homeowner's insurance. You can shop around for lower insurance rates, refinance your home mortgage, and look for more economical utility plans.
7. Avoid borrowing money to get out of debt, especially consolidation loans. Many people think this is a way of helping them get out of debt. However, consolidation loans are simply a means of combining debt. You could end up losing everything because you’ve tied it all up in one loan. If you must borrow, see if a friend or family member can lend you money, since the interest rates should be low or nonexistent.
8. Contact your creditors and try to work out repayment plans. Many creditors are willing to work with you in a manner that will help them get their money without having to resort to debt collectors.
9. Become a savvy shopper. Look for deals, bargains, and savings. You’d be surprised at how much you can save if you take the time to shop around. Check out the price comparison Web sites such as Shopping.com and BizRate.com.
10. Look for extra ways to make some money. From part-time work to a garage sale to taking in a boarder, there are many ways to bring in some additional income.

If all else fails, seek out help from a debt reduction specialist or counselors [see link below] who can help you formulate a plan for getting out of debt and staying out. Just make sure that you check out the service in advance. Many companies are simply taking advantage of people in debt and charging them high service charges.

For MSN Money's take on credit card debt, follow this link-
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Bank ing/creditcardsmarts/P74808.asp

For more advice, these are also helpful allbusiness.com links-
Should I Borrow Money to Get out of Debt: http://www.allbusiness.com/3915481-1.htm l
To Get Matched with a Relief Specialist:
http://www.allbusiness.com/3776688-1.htm l

Good luck in climbing out of debt. Try to modify your personal finance outlook in doing so, and you should be well on your way.

2007-06-05 10:19:01 by true blue

Price: $19.95

I have racked up about $10,000 in credit card debt stemming from college and medical expenses. What is my best option as I am still a student and working with a very limited budget? Are there hidden catches to debt consolidation companies; if so what?
What is the best way to negotiate with creditors to lower the debt?

i say do it your self -- down size your life style to the bare bones and only buy what you need now what you want -- than take the credit cards and start paying they down with each getting the required payment and the highest interest receiving any money that is left over from your new life style!!!

2007-10-02 16:11:30 by A Phi Football Fan

Price: $6.99

We started a program with "Consumer Credit Counselors" This progarm has us pay the Consumer Credit Counselors, then they pay the credit cards every month. All they do is lower some of the interest rates. They don't negotiate amount owed. The payments are too high for us, so we looked into other alternatives. We found one company that will do it differently for less. They have you pay into an escrow account, and they pay off each credit card individually. They say they negotiate lower balances and interest rates. The payment would be lower and the payoff time cut in half. Does anyone know of any reason we shouldn't do this? Are there any other better ways? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET CONSUMER DEBT RELIEF with no loans?

I am not saying that debt settlement/negotiation is the wrong way to go. However, it will damage your credit further.

If you choose to settle on your debts, you can do this without paying enormous fees to a debt settlement company. Keep in mind that any forgiven debt of $600 or more is automatically reported to the IRS, in which you would owe taxes on it as a form of income.

If you can continue to make the payments on your current plan, then that is likely the best option for you. If you are having trouble, give your credit counselor a call to discuss possible changes to your account.

2006-08-16 09:02:29 by boxbeatle

I have about $18000 in credit card debt. I always make my payments on time and i am in good standing with the companies. Although I am finding it hard to reduce the balance, I really just keep up with the interest. I am going to be coming into a lump sum of money, enough to pay it off, however i would like to negotiate it down. What is the best way to go about doing this. I live in ontario.

You are better off to pay it off completely. It looks better on your credit report that you paid the debt in full. If you want to settle the accounts it will weaken your credit, but the benefit would be that you will keep thousands in your pocket.
http://www.creditwish.com/debtrelief.htm l

2008-06-14 14:14:35 by bikeguy