What is a good way to get out of debt and stay out of debt?

Question

My husband and I have a $1000 credit card and a $2000 loan. We also have two vehicle payments and a house payment so we are limited on money. Should I concentrate on paying off the loan first or the credit card? They both have the same interest rate and both have the same monthly minimum due which is $40. Can anyone give me some advice about what to do and how to do it?

Answer 1

First, get rid of the credit card.
Stop paying the minimum on the card, pay at least twice that.
Once the card is paid off, start making extra payments on the loan.
If you can, pay more on both at once.
Don't take out any more loans, and don't use credit to buy things.

Answer 2

I see that you are a homeowner. If you have enough equity in your home to cover the cost of paying off your credit cards, personal loan, and car payments, it would probably be a good idea to look at a home equity loan. By combining all those items into a home equity loan, you will find your payments will lower, and the interest you pay on a home equity loan is tax deductible, whereas the interest you are paying on your other loans is not. If you are able to get a home equity loan, I would recommend not taking out all the equity in your home unless you live in an area that is still growing. Also, depending on the terms of your current mortgage, there may be some options that can help you reduce your monthly payments on that as well if you were to refinance it.

A common misconception with people is that debt is a bad thing. Granted, if you have a lot of debt it is, but in your situation your debt load is pretty small. It is definitely a good thing to have a mortgage, and I would advise against getting a short term loan or applying extra money to your principal every month. Even Bill Gates has a mortgage! The reason being is that if every month you are applying your extra money to a mortgage, a dollar you put towards your mortgage is still worth a dollar. Now let's say you refinance your mortgage, roll all your debt into it, and you save yourself $200 a month. Many people would take that $200 savings and apply it to the mortgage to pay it off faster. At the end of 5 years, you'll have paid down an extra $12,000 and have that extra equity built up in your house. Now let's say that instead of applying that $200 a month to your mortgage , you invest it into your 401(k) at work. For this example, we'll say your company matches $.50 on the dollar of your contributions. The company match alone over 5 years would be $6,000, plust the $12,000 you put in. Now you have accumulated $18,000 in wealth. On top of that, an average 401(k) sees a return of 8% per year. At the end of 5 years, the value of your 401(k) would be about $22,800.

As you can see, taking $200 a month and investing it as opposed to paying off your debt can earn you an extra $10,000 in just 5 years. If you keep that pace up for 30 years (the life of a mortgage), you'll have a nice chunk of change built up for when you retire.

Answer 3

A good approach might be to solve the problem at its source rather than merely treat the symptoms. Once the patient is cured, the symptoms will disappear by themselves. Our WAY OF THINKING ABOUT MONEY. Work on fixing it. Find good information to replace the information you are currently using. Replace "buy now, pay later" with "if we can't pay cash for it, we don't need it so badly." Replace "work for the Man" with "take charge of my life and BE the Man." Begin to treat your life as a business and document all investments/expenses. Document all income. Place a value on your time. Get educated about how money is being made in the growth industries. For example, health and wellness, energy drinks and dietary supplements, consumables and convenience ordering via the Internet. There are opportunities out there to start associating with people in YOUR LOCAL AREA who have paid off all their debt starting right where they were. They generated a part-time income starting with a little bit, then kept on keeping on and expanded it. But they had to be willing to CHANGE. If you were a plumber wanting to be an electrician, don't you think you'd have to re-learn a few things? For the meantime, pay something on each payment, even if less than minimum, if money's that tight temporarily, and concentrate on paying the ones that affect your day-to-day consequences the most (like, try not to let car get repossessed), but focus on ATTITUDE and correct information. Read a book entitled, The Cashflow Quadrant, by Rober T. Kiyosaki, and visit his web site www.richdad.com. Correct information, for example, in the U.S.A., there is no shortage of opportunity to learn, grow, and earn extra income and better your situation. Bad attitudes do not qualify, however. Here's the link !! Click on Opportunity, Click at the bottom of the paragraph on Contact Me. .

Answer 4

Focus on the small one first, when that is paid off it will look like you accomplished something.
As far as credit cart and the minimum payment? Are you aware of the money you are wasting by just paying the minimum? What ever you bought is going to cost you more because all that money is going to interest.

Answer 5

There is good advice in the answers. Before all those, however, get into the mindset of not spending. Basically, you have to have more income than expenses to get out of debt. So, if you don't spend it, you don't have to earn it. Use the credit card no more and pay off the maximum you possibly can.

Answer 6

Make a budget and stick to it. List every expense you have: mortgage, insurance, gas, elec, etc. Pay attention to how much is left over and don't forget that you need to have some savings.
See a debt consolidator or talk to your bank about paying off the debts. Some places will settle with you for less than you actually owe. After that, decide to never get into debt again.

Answer 7

One word--Consolidate. That way you have just one payment going out. Pay as much extra as you can each month to get it down faster. Maybe consider an extra part-time job where the full check goes to pay down the debt. Don't use anymore credit cards.

Answer 8

Debt And Consolidation A Path Towards A Debt Free Life
By: Talbert Williams
Start with the smallest debt and once it is paid then roll its payment value into the next one. You can also use this web site for more information about debt and finance.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

before pay the debt, save 1000-2000 cash for emegerncy in case your car broke down, house need to be fix, you guys have doctor appointment
control your speding, spending less than you make, so pay minimum on the loan 2000 first, whatever you have left, pay down the 1000 loan first, like the snow ball effect, after paydown the 1000, put the whole thing to 2000 loan, should be fast in no tme.
cutting down cable bill, latte, eat out every day, cook for him and you, fantsy stuffs,cloths, cars, all material item make you poorer not richer.
In the meantime, learn how to invest the right way

Yes you could learn invest by yourself. it is your money, you should know how to do with it. for starter check this site out.

http://www.pathtoinvesting.org/index_fla...
http://www.stockcharts.com
http://www.streettalklive.com>... university. a lot amount of information. It will serve you well
I accumulate in good amount in 401k at the young age.I could share with you. when consider invest in stock market. you should consider basic 3 things:

fundamental analysis==(economic data,finincial health, management, business model, competetion)>>what to buy

technical analysis==(chart+indicator)>> when to buy

Sentiment/schycho analysis==>>mood of investor, Contrarian point of view.
Market cycle===>> check out book Trader Almanac by jeff hirsch will give you inside stuff
When you combine 3 thing, It is one of the powerful knowledge goinh with you for the rest of your live

At the age of 32. my 401k is amassed 73,000.00 and 30000.00 in taxble account. by follow simple rule