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Personal Finance
Home > Personal Finance > Topics:  Budgeting
How to Get Out of Debt and Manage Your Money

Submitted by: Tip Hero  04/22/2011 1:56 PM
 
Spending more than you earn is a big no-no. That's how debt grows and grows to the point where you feel like you will down in it. However, if you call upon certain techniques, you can begin to manage your money, control your financial situation and start your journey on the road to getting out of debt. Here are a couple of ideas to help you get out of debt faster:



Pay Off Your Highest Interest Loans First


To work toward eliminating your debt faster, figure out an actual amount that you can afford to use toward paying down debt monthly. Make the minimum payments on all of your debt every month save for one. On the debt with the highest interest rate, pay as much as you possibly can (whatever is left over in the amount you've set aside for paying down debt). When that debt with the highest interest rate is paid down, move on to the card with the next highest interest rate.

This method will ensure that you pay the lowest amount of interest in the long run. Also, as you pay off cards and loans, the amount of money that goes to each one will grow because you'll have fewer payments while paying the same amount of money monthly.



Track Your Spending


The more debt you have, the more you should put aside each month toward payments. Tracking your spending will show you where your money is going. What unnecessary spending is there? Are you wasting money? Track your spending to determine how to set up your budget, and continue tracking your spending to ensure you are staying within your budget.



Check out more great advice from Canadian Finance Blog's How to Get Out of Debt When You Can't Manage Your Money.
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Comments:
 
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Paying off the highest interest loan first has some merit. But, if you have a bunch of small debts, it is worthwhile to put some effort into paying off the smaller ones faster and getting them out of your life. With them cleared away, it is easier to concentrate on the big stuff. Although it may seem counter intuitive, the end result is that the minimum monthly payments on the smaller loans now add up to a bigger payment to throw at the bigger high interest loan.

Also; with credit cards, the minimum monthly payment declines as the balance declines. But don't follow the lower payment. Make a plan and pay a level amount each month until the card is paid off.
 
Posted by gordon on April 25, 2011 4:17 PM
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Another thing, if you have a credit card with split-interest (i.e. you picked it up to transfer high interest to a low interest card but new purchases are high interest) it is no longer legal for credit card companies to pay the older debt first. After the minimum payment requirement is met, all additional money you send has to go on the high interest first. Good to not use the card but, if you do, send enough extra money to cover that purchase or more.
 
Posted by Sinea on April 28, 2011 3:29 PM
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