There are different reasons for why a person might submerge himself/herself into debt—a sudden death in the family, loss of job and income, worsening health conditions, going through a divorce, and so on. Even without these unfortunate circumstances befalling a person, they may still get into a seemingly endless trench of debt thanks to the inability to manage cash wisely and the lack of discipline. Fortunately, it’s never too late to rescue yourself from the financially gloomy position you’ve put yourself in. Here are five ways to make a financial comeback from your debt trench.
Know Your Options
Knowing what your options are can drastically affect the outcome. Being limited with only one option can impede your progress of achieving the goal, which ultimately is to get out of that proverbial hole. Recovering from debt generally has three possible solutions: pay off any outstanding accounts, settle it, or file for bankruptcy. The latter, obviously, is something you should only consider if worse comes to worst. Debtors basically start to build a new credit profile within 24 months of settling their last unpaid account/s. The amount of time to recover from any of the three debt relief options will vary.
Create a New Budget Plan
If you had a previous budget plan before you got yourself into financial debt, it’s time to wipe the slate clean and create a new budget plan that will fit your present circumstance and future financial goals. Write up a list of monthly expenses and compare it to your income. Take into account unforeseeable expenses into the monthly budget plan to cushion future financial blows. Include recurring expenses, such as therapy sessions and medication.
Trim the Fat
Proactively seek to lower monthly expenses. Cancelling magazine or channel subscriptions can free up substantial cash that can be used to repay outstanding debt and possibly grow passive income in the form of interest. Other ways you can trim expenses is to switch to generic store brands instead of pricier gourmet brands. Keep in mind that your lifestyle doesn’t have to take a drastic step back just so you can have more savings. Conducting extensive research and making regular self-assessments can continuously reduce expenses.
Boost Your Credit Score
Poor credit score leads to higher loan interest rates or even rejected loan applications. A rejection from traditional loan options will force you to take on less conventional credit lines, like payday loans, which only give you more debt to worry about in the future. Boost your credit score through proactive monitoring or by signing up for a credit monitoring service. Check your credit reports and dispute any inaccuracies that may be impeding your credit repair goals.
Capitalize on the Right Credit Tools
Debt isn’t always a bad thing. Some debt options can work to your advantage if intelligently utilized. For instance, applying for a secured credit card instead of a traditional credit card gives you a safer line of credit in the event that you cannot pay the principal amount.
With a secured credit card, you give the lender a security deposit in exchange for a line of credit. If you default on the credit payments, the lender takes the cash from your security deposit thus limiting the effects to your credit score.
Coming back from debt can seem like an insurmountable challenge, but with the help of these five tips, you’ll be able to gradually improve your financial situation while also permitting yourself to a healthy and normal financial lifestyle.
Try these tips out and let me know what you think. What other steps do you recommend in dealing with debt?
