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Showing posts with the label pay down debt

Best Way To Get Out of Debt

When it comes to getting out of debt, the best way to do so is to formulate a plan and stick to it. There are a number of steps one should take to ensure that their debt is eliminated quickly and one remains financially secure.  The first step one should take is to create a budget. Although budgeting is a tedious task, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that one is aware of their financial situation and stays on track with their payoffs. By tracking income and expenses, one can identify how much money is available for debt payment each month.  The next step is to list out all of one’s debts, ranging from credit cards to student loans. It is essential to compile the amount owed, interest rate, and minimum payments due. This will provide an overview of one’s total debt and what they are required to pay every month. Additionally, this will help to identify debts with higher interest rates as paying them off should be prioritized. Once one has identified all of their debts, they...

What Is Debt Snowball Strategy?

Debt snowball strategy is an innovative debt repayment strategy that encourages people to pay off their debts as quickly as possible. It was developed by U.S. investment advisor and Radio Show host Dave Ramsey. Basically, it is a method of assigning varying amounts of funds to multiple debts, with the goal of paying the smallest debt off the quickest. The strategy follows four steps to help borrowers tackle their debt. The first step is to list all debt in order of size, starting with the smallest. This “snowball” progresses to the largest debt payments. The second step is to make the minimum payments on all debts except the smallest one. The minimum payments should be made on time and in full. The third step is to pay as much as possible towards the smallest debt. The fourth step of the debt snowball strategy is to repeat the process with the next smallest debt once the first one is paid off in full. This way, the larger debts that used to seem impossible to pay off suddenly become la...

Should I pay down my debts or save for retirement?

A careful and focused approach to budgeting is essential to ensure comfortably navigating life’s unexpected events, while not losing sight of future financial goals. Debate rages when it comes to deciding whether to pay off existing debt or saving for retirement. On one hand, carrying debt often leads to paying higher interest rates and incurring additional service charges. On the other hand, securing retirement funds helps avoid financial instability in later years of life. When deciding whether to pay down debts or save for retirement, it is critical to consider personal income and expenses. If income is limited and debt is relatively high, paying off those debts may be a more prudent decision. Accruing compounding interest on large credit card balances can dig a much deeper financial hole for the consumer to climb out of. In addition, the consumer may be able to lockdown lower interest rates on secured debts, such as a home mortgage, via a personal line of credit. By reducing or eli...