Common Debt Reduction Options

The average amount of household credit card debt in the US was almost $16,000 in the middle of 2012. With economic factors, many people have only seen their debt go up since then. It’s extremely common for individuals and families to feel overwhelmed by their debt and it’s often difficult to see a way out, but there are debt reduction strategies that work without massive amounts of extra cash on hand.

Debt Consolidation

A possible way to get your debt under control is to consolidate multiple accounts into a single loan. With competing information published online and elsewhere, the question is debt consolidation a good idea? constantly gets asked. Whether or not this is a viable solution for you depends on which debt consolidation option you choose.

There are three options when it comes to consolidation: (1) finding a company that will provide loans to consolidate revolving credit accounts, (2) using equity in your home to refinance and pay off other debt, or (3) you can work with a debt consolidation company to negotiate a lower interest rate with your creditors (and hopefully a lower monthly payment). Benefits of consolidation include:

• A single monthly payment that helps you budget and keep track of finances
• Lower interest rates that save money on debt payments in the long-term
• A reduction in the amount you have to pay each month

Since consolidation can impact your credit report, leave you without open credit accounts or create a future situation where you are upside down on your mortgage, you do want to be careful. With that in mind, opting for option #3 typically makes the most sense for people. However, make sure you weigh all the options, read the fine print and understand the possible impact on future finances before you opt to consolidate.

One Bill at a Time

Another strategy that personal finance experts often talk about is paying down debt one bill at a time. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they need a large lump sum of money to make a dent in debt. All you need is a little extra money each month. Imagine a simplified model where you owe the following:

• $500 on a store account with a $50 minimum payment,
• $1,000 on a credit card with a $75 minimum payment, and
• $8,000 on a car with a monthly payment of $200.

Perhaps living expenses run $1,000 per month. When you throw in those monthly payments, you need $1,325 just to pay bills and living expenses. For this hypothetical situation, consider that you bring home $1,500 per month, which is $175 more than you need. You could decide to spend $50 on entertainment and extras, save $75 and use the remaining $50 to pay extra on debt.

That $50 may not sound like much, but if you use it to put $50 a month extra on the store account, you could pay it off in less than ten months. Then, you have $100 extra because you no longer need to pay the minimum on the store credit card. Putting that money on the credit card each month allows you to pay it off in less than a year. Now, you have $175 extra to pay on the car every month. It becomes a snowball effect!

Whether you consolidate or attempt to tackle debt one bill at a time, making a conscious decision to reduce your debt is a valuable choice for the future. Do not get discouraged at the time it takes to get your finances in order. Just work each day to make better choices, save money and reduce debt.