GETTING OUT OF DEBT
Reasons Debts Go Unpaid
Loss of income
  • Unemployment
  • Illness
  • Death
Overextension
  • Poor money management
  • Emergencies
  • Illness
  • Death
  • Failure of relationships, divorce
  • Materialism
  • Need for instant gratification
Defective goods and services
Fraudulent use of credit
Reducing Your Debt Load
There are two effective ways to change your debt load and debt/income ratio:
  • Cut spending
  • Bring in more money.

Cutting spending can be the fastest way to reduce the debt load, unless additional work and income is readily available. Some have equated cutting spending with surgery for your money management. But as you heal with better financial health, you'll probably also notice that your attitude, relations with others, emotions and sense of humor start getting better too.

Recognize that you don't have to continue to add to your debt load with additional purchases. Remember, you may have found a terrific bargain on a stereo, but if you don't pay it off for three years, the money you "saved" won't matter.

Avoid "impulse purchases". You'll be surprised at what a difference this can make.

Cut down on eating out. The cost of dining out for a week compared to a week of meals bought at a grocery store and cooked yourself should quickly show you how fast you can reduce your debt load by taking small steps now. A little bit every day is a great start on your financial fitness program.

Think about ways to bring in additional money - either an extra part-time job or a better paying primary job. There is more than one way to change your debt load!



© Copyright 1996 - , Visa International. All rights reserved.