How To Get Out of Credit Card Debt
"Today, there are three kinds of people: the have's, the have-not's, and the have-not-paid-for-what-they-have's. ~Earl Wilson"
Credit cards are truly one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Unfortunately it has also become one of mankind’s greatest curses.
Most credit card companies in the Philippines charge 3.5 % interest rate per month. That is about 42 % per annum. If you do the math, your present outstanding balances will double every 2 years. If you owe your credit card company P 10,000.00, in 2 years time it will become about P 20,000.00.
The best thing that you could do right now is to pay all your credit card debt immediately. That is if you have the money to do so. But what if you owe your credit card company P 100,000.00 or even P 200,000.00 what should you do ? What if you have multiple credit card debts? The following are probably the best steps that you could take in order to rid yourself of this credit card debt mess.
1.) Get a loan with a lower interest rate – Some lending institutions and even banks offer an interest rate of 0.99 to 1.5 % interest per month. This is much lower than what the credit card companies charge. If you can secure a loan with a lower interest rate, especially a diminishing one (Hard to get by these days, by the way if you don’t understand the difference between diminishing rates and straight rates or fixed rates this will be discussed in another post) use the loan to pay off your credit card debt, and resolve to never ever again use your credit card except if you can pay it within 30 days. That way you won’t be charge the monthly interest. By borrowing at a lower interest rate you will minimize your losses due to interest. If you can borrow from somebody at 0 % interest (A rich old uncle perhaps), that would be so much better. If you have several credit card debts, borrow enough to pay all of your credit card debts. This way you can focus on paying only one debt and one interest rate. In financial planning this is better known as “debt consolidation. “
2.) Secure a balance transfer – Most credit card companies have a wonderful feature called “Balance transfer.” When you transfer your balance from other credit cards they will only give you .99 percent interest per month. This is already a steal deal. Balance transfer are payable in certain terms like 12, 24 or 36 months. So let’s say you owe your PS BANK Master Card P 100,000.00. If you have another credit card with let’s say CITIBANK and your credit limit with CITIBANK is also P 100,000.00, you could transfer your balance from PSBANK to CITIBANK. Instead of 3.5 % interest per month, Citibank will only charge you 0.99 % per month (About 12 % per annum). What Citibank will do is that they will add the monthly interest and then divide that with the term that you wish to avail of. For example of you wish to pay off your debt within a year the computation would be: interest times principle + principle divided by 12. So that would be 12 % x P 100,000.00 + 100,000.00 / 12 = 9,333,33. You will only have to pay P 9,333.33 per month. If you say that you will just pay P 9,333.33 per month at 3.5 % per month anyway that is based on “diminishing interest” (This means that your interest goes down if your principal goes down)as opposed to paying a “fixed interest” you will still end up with P 14,822 in debt at the end of the year. If you pay a fixed interest of P 9,333.33 at the end of the year you will end up with zero credit card debt. (I would love to post the table I made, but unfortunately I cannot do it here so just email me if you are interested)
But if you pay only the “minimum” per month, what will happen to your credit card debt ? You will see that at the end of 12 months you still owe your credit card company P 92,585.00. (This will be discussed in a different post) That is why it is not wise to pay only the “minimum.”
There are several things to remember about “balance transfer”:
1.) Balance transfer is subject to approval by your credit card company.
2.) The maximum amount you can avail of for balance transfer is your credit limit. Let’s say you have P 100,000.00 and you used up P 50,000.00 more or less you can balance transfer about P 50,000.00. However take note, this is not guaranteed. This is still subject to approval by your credit card company.
3.) Make sure you pay the fixed monthly installment. In our illustration above, pay the P 9,333.33 religiously, otherwise it will be made subject to the 3.5 % monthly interest. Don’t be tempted to pay only the “minimum” since you will be charged with 3.5 % interest over and above the 0.99 % interest. (This is double jeopardy !)
4.) It is advisable not to use your card when you are using it for balance transfer in order to avoid confusion and to make sure that you can make a priority to pay the installment for balance transfer instead of paying other credit card debts.
5.) Resort to balance transfer only when you cannot avail of the first option. The first option (Get a loan with a lower interest rate) is still the best.
Author Bio
Zigfred Diaz is a Registered financial & Real estate broker. He is also a practicing lawyer & a law professor. Recently he has involved himself with internet marketing. If you would like to know more about investments, how to handle your money, take charge of your financial future and earn extra income visit his blog at www.moneysmartpinoy.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
More Resources
Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exitingMore Loan Information:
Related Articles
Short Term Loans...are they right for you?
With less than a week before she was to receive her next paycheck, Roni was faced with a problem that millions of Americans experience at some point in their lives: bills that are due and not enough cash available to pay them. Faced with a dilemma of late fees and a lower credit rating, many consumers with no options left turn to credit card advances as a stop-gap resolution for their problems.
Should You Get A Pay Day Loan?
Whether you have good credit, bad credit or no credit, you are still eligible for pay day loans. Pay day loans come in all shapes and sizes.
Secured Loans vs. Unsecured Loans - Choosing Between the Two Diverse Ends
Often in our search for finance options, we are led into a crossroad where we have to make a choice between secured and unsecured loans. Both are equally alluring and put the borrower in a difficult spot.
Bridge Loan
A buyer of a new home may find himself or herself in an awkward position when he or she is unable to come up with the promised down payment on account of the existing home not being sold before closing on the new home purchase. This puts the deal to buy the new home in jeopardy.
No Credit Check Payday Cash Advance Loan - Benefits to Using a Payday Loan
No Credit Check Payday Cash Advance Loan - Benefits to Using a Payday Loan Online if You Have Bad Credit HistoryAn online payday loan can help you rebuild your credit if you have a bad credit history. With no credit checks, you can be approved for a cash advance to keep on track with your bill payments or survive a financial emergency without ruining your credit score.
No Faxing Cash Advance Loans - 3 Reasons to Use A No Fax Payday Loan Company
No fax payday loan companies save you time with your application, grant instant approvals, and allow access to easy cash. Faxless applications eliminate the review by personal by relying on databases.
What is a Personal Secured Loan?
A personal secured loan is the generic term for a loan. In simple terms a personal secured loan gives security to the lender on the loan other than a simple promise to repay the loan.
Secured Loans - UK Overview
Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far easier to borrow money. The rising popularity of consumer finance has also been aided by the wide variety of deals and the low interest rates available these days.
Poor Credit Car Loan - Get Approved Online
Poor credit doesn't have to stop you from getting a car loan. In fact, car loans are one way of rebuilding your credit history.
Alternative Venture Finance: Federal Grants and Loans
While most companies seeking venture capital initially think about angel investors and venture capitalists, a large alternative source of financing is federal grants and loans. The two largest federal grant programs are run by the Small Business Administration (SBA), and by Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs).
A Personal Loan And Your Rights
You can use a personal loan for many different things including, but not limited to, paying off bills, taking a vacation, buying a car and much more. Interest rates on a personal loan will vary, depending on your credit rating and the institution you are choosing to get your personal loan from.
A Beginners Guide to Online Loans
If you're just beginning to look at online loans, you might feel that you're getting in over your head.Online loans have been growing in popularity in recent years, due in no small part to the ease and convenience of being able to apply for online loans from the privacy and convenience of your home at any time of the day or night.
What is a Home Loan?
A Home loan is the generic term for a loan. A home loan uses your home as security.
No Credit Check Personal Loans - If You Need Fast Cash, A PayDay Loan Online Is a Very Quick Process
Online payday loans can get you fast cash through a very quick process. By processing applications online and depositing money into your checking account through direct deposit, you can have your cash advance within hours.
Student Loans Are The Life Preserver Of The Education System
A loan is the reason many students are able to go to collegeand not have to worry about money until after they'vegraduated. There is a lot of paperwork involved in theapplication process of a loan, but once you've completed itand been accepted, it will have been worth it.
What is Credit?
Ever wondered what is credit? Credit is more than just a plastic card you use to buy things - it is your financial trustworthiness. Good credit means that your history of payments, employment and salary make you a good candidate for a loan, and creditors - those who lend money or services - will be more willing to work with you.
A Guide to Finding an Adverse Credit Homeowner Loan
If you're searching for an adverse credit homeowner loan, you might not know where to turn. After all, it seems like no one wants to give you the time of day if you have less than perfect credit, much less give you a loan.
What is a Bad Credit Personal Loan?
A UK Bad Credit Personal Loan is a loan designed for the many people with a bad credit rating. A bad credit rating can make your life a misery.
About Personal Loans
What are personal loans? They are unsecured loans that a borrower obtains for various purposes. This type of loan is often used to consolidate outstanding debt into one monthly payment, but it can be used for other things such as paying for a wedding, a vacation, or something similar.
Where to Look for a Fast Homeowner Loan
If you're looking for a fast homeowner loan, you might not know where to begin your search.Some banks and finance companies can take weeks to make loan decisions, and if you need a fast homeowner loan then that's time that you can't afford to spend waiting.