How To Pay Credit Card Debt

Use The Debt Snowball Method

Once you use these other tips to take control of, free up, or make more money, its time to start using that money to pay off your credit card debt. Right away.

Use the debt snowball method and start paying off your credit cards smallest balance to largest. Okay, we know youre thinking all about those interest rates right now. But what you really need is a win. You need one of those credit cards gone. Quickly.

The debt snowball method is all about building your motivation and momentum by attacking one credit card debt at a timeand going after the one you can get out of your life soonest first. That quick win is super inspiring and key to getting out of debt.

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The purpose of this section is to describe how unsecured creditors, more specifically large creditors, attempt to recover monies owed to them. The comments contained in this section might not apply to small creditors like your dentist, veterinarian, or lawn care company, nor to governments, which often have extraordinary powers when it comes to collecting monies owed to them.

For the first three to six months that your account has not been paid, staff at your creditors in-house collection department will attempt to call you requesting payment of your . During this period, they will likely mail you written notices demanding payment. If you do not pay your account, they will proceed to more aggressive methods.

Reduce Your Bills And Cut Down On Spending

With a budget in place, you’ll be equipped to consider areas where you can cut expenses back and reallocate that money toward your debt.

Start by looking at your recurring bills, which you may be able to cut without consistent effort. For example, Experian’s Bill Negotiator service can help by connecting with your service accounts or reviewing a recent bill and negotiating with your providers for a lower rate.

You may also be able to negotiate certain utility bills, especially if there are multiple providers in your area.

In addition to looking at your recurring expenses, take some time to also cut back on your discretionary spending. This may include spending less money on eating out and entertainment, cutting subscriptions you don’t use very often or even sharing certain subscriptions and other costs with family members to cut how much you pay each month.

To get an idea of what’s normal spending, you can review the average household expenses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s important to note, however, that each household is different, and only you know how to appropriately spend less and save more given your circumstances.

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Save A $1000 Emergency Fund

If getting rid of those credit cards freaks you out because you use them as an emergency fund, then get yourself an actual emergency fund as fast as possible.

Save $1,000 quickly. Leave it in savings as a buffer between you and those life happens moments. And trust us, its way better than a credit card. If you have an emergency and pay cash, you wont be charged interest. Boom.

Your Creditor Can Also Sell Your Outstanding Account To A Collection Agency Or Debt Purchasing Firm

The creditor that originally provided you with goods, services, or credit can be described as your original creditor. It is possible to have a creditor who is not your original creditor. This situation arises if your original creditor sells your outstanding account to another firm. In the event that your outstanding account is sold, the debt buyer steps into the shoes of your original creditor.

As a general rule, accounts outstanding for less than six months are not sold. And, the major chartered banks in Canada rarely sell their outstanding accounts, regardless of how long the accounts remain unpaid.

If you owe monies to a non-bank creditor, the odds that your outstanding account will be sold typically increase as your account ages. A handful of creditors in Canada sell their accounts when they are only six months in default. However, the majority of accounts in Canada that are sold to a debt buyer are more than three years old.

Unpaid consumer accounts are a commodity like fruit: the older the accounts, the less they are worth. When a creditor sells debt that is more than three years old, the debt might be sold for less than a penny on the dollar.

There are two categories of debt buyers:

• Collection agencies
• Debt purchasing firms

Some collection agencies, aside from their primary business of collecting accounts on behalf of other creditors, also purchase inventories of overdue accounts.

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Why Credit Card Debt Is So Dangerous

When it comes to debt, credit card debt is often the most nefarious.

Credit card issuers can lure you in with a low introductory APR and gleaming credit line. But that introductory APR offer will eventually expire. When it does, you can find yourself staring at an overwhelming pile of debt if you didnt manage your new credit card account the right way.

The reason revolving debt can be so overwhelming is because rates are typically really high. So, if youre just making the minimum payment each month, it will take you a long time to pay off your balance possibly decades. During that time, youll also pay a lot of interest.

Lets say you charge $8,000 on a credit card with 17% APR, and then put it in a drawer, never spending another cent. If you make only the minimum payment on that bill each month, it could take you almost 16 years to pay off your debt and cost you nearly $7,000 extra in interest .

Your Credit Card Debt Questions Answered

Your credit utilization ratio measures the amount of credit youre using compared to your cards credit limit. If you dont carry a balance, your credit utilization is 0. A high utilization rate may indicate youll have a hard time paying your credit card balance on time, so a lower utilization rate is better for your credit score. You should aim to have a credit utilization ratio of 30% or less. Anything higher can damage your credit score. Not using your card enough can also affect your credit score because lenders wont be able to measure your creditworthiness.

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How To Pay Off A Credit Card Debt When You Have No Money

If theres one question Im constantly asked more than any other its, How can I pay off credit cards when Im thousands of dollars in debt? At some point it feels like a horrible comedy, doesnt it?

Guess what? You need professional help! Believe it or not, youll partly get help from the credit companies themselves. They work with credit counseling and debt settlement agencies to help you get out of debt.

They freeze late fees and penalties and can roll everything into one monthly payment. The credit card companies are motivated to help you for one simple reason. They realize that you might be so far in debt, they wont get any of their money back.

So they cut off their profit margins to get you back on your feet. That way they can recover some of their money. However, they only do this by working with agencies they trust and in a very structured program.

These programs have been around for decades and have helped millions and millions of Americans. You heard me right millions! Get the whole story below and if you need help, call Debt.com today.

The Debt Snowball Method

With the debt snowball method, youll focus on paying off your smallest credit card balance first, then youll work your way up to your larger balances.

Follow the steps:

Step 1: Continue to make the minimum payments on all your credit cards.

Step 2: Use your extra money towards the credit card with the smallest balance.

Step 3: When the credit card with the smallest debt is paid off, move on to the card with the next smallest debt.

Step 4: Continue this process until all your debts are paid off.

The benefit

The snowball method can be a good option for those who have several small credit card debts to pay off. This method lets you see progress faster, but you may end up paying more overall since youre not considering your cards interest rates.

If you have money saved away for a rainy day, you may want to consider using some of your savings to help pay down your credit card debt. If your interest debt is higher than the amount of interest youre earning in savings, youre better off using some of your savings to lower your debt because carrying a high interest on a high balance will cost you more.

Carrying credit card debt can negatively impact your financial future. Paying it down means youll save on interest, improve your credit score and have more money available to put away for emergencies or an important savings goal.

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Consider Nonprofit Credit Counseling Or Financial Assistance

Credit counseling agencies do a lot more than just create debt management plans. If you’re having a hard time making heads or tails of your debt situation, a .

For example, they can review your debt situation, help you create a budget, explain your options, review your credit report with you and also provide some educational courses. Many agencies do all of this for free.

If your financial situation is dire, you may also consider seeking financial assistance. This may come in the form of rent relief, food stamps, legal aid and other assistance programs from federal and state agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations. You can use the 211 network to find programs in your area.

The Debt Avalanche Method

With the debt avalanche method, youll start paying off your credit card with the highest interest rate, then youll work your way down to the next card with the highest interest rate.

Follow the steps:

Step 1: Continue to make the minimum payments on all your credit cards.

Step 2: Use any extra money to pay off the credit card balance with the highest interest rate.

Step 3: When the credit card with the highest interest rate is paid off, move on to the next highest interest rate card.

Step 4: Continue this process until all your credit card debts are paid off.

The benefit

The avalanche method can help you pay less interest and get out of debt faster since youre working towards paying down your higher-interest accounts first.

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Bottom Line: How To Pay Down Credit Card Debt

With the labor market improving, wages rising and bigger emergency funds in many peoples bank accounts, the present moment could be a great opportunity for you to pay off all your lingering debts or at least to start paying down your balances.

It might not be quick or easy, but many people who succeed at sticking to a debt management plan say the feeling of relief once they become debt-free is worth the effort.

If you have a lot of credit card debt, theres no time like the present to work on getting rid of it.

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Why Being Debt Free Is Important

Credit card debt can impact your overall financial health in several ways. Your balance may grow larger over time because of interest charges. If youâre making only the minimum payment each month, it could take a long time to fully pay off the debt. Plus fees for any late or missed payments can add up.

A large credit card balance can also negatively impact your credit, since credit scores are partially based on your . And using too much of your available credit can push you past the 30% utilization rate experts recommend.

Another perk of paying off your credit card debt is potentially having more room in your budget for saving money and rewarding yourself every now and then.

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Make An Extra Monthly Payment

Youre probably in the habit of monthly billing cycles, but you dont have to wait until your payment due date to pay down some of your balance, and you arent limited to making just one payment each month.

If you get paid every two weeks or bimonthly, making two payments a month might be feasible if youre paid more often say, you get a weekly paycheck or youre a tipped worker you might want to consider jump-starting your debt-management plan by paying weekly.

Another advantage to making more than one monthly payment is if you use that money to pay down your credit card balance as soon as you earn it, you wont have the chance to change your mind later and splurge on something else with those funds.

Just make sure that the total amount of money you pay by the due date on your credit card statement is at least as much as your minimum payment, because late fees and penalty rates still apply if you fail to do so.

Heres another hot tip: Lowering your debt quickly can also improve your credit score by lowering your credit utilization, which can make it easier to qualify for a balance transfer credit card .

Ways To Pay Off Your Debt

You can start paying off credit card debt by choosing a strategy, reducing your spending and making a few key changes.

Choosing a Debt Payoff Strategy

Creating a plan can help you figure out what works best for you and even help provide motivation. There are two basic strategies that can help you reduce debt:

• Pay off high-interest debts first. Using a strategy sometimes called the avalanche method, youâll make the minimum payments on all your debts, but put extra money toward the balance with the highest interest rate. This can help you save money in the long term because high-interest debts are more costly.
• Pay off the smallest debts first. If you need to build momentum in your debt payoff plan, the snowball method might make more sense. With this strategy, youâll again make the minimum payments on all your debts. But then focus on putting any available money toward paying off your smallest balance first. Once youâve paid that off, you can dedicate any funds that have been freed up to your next smallest debt and so on.

Reducing Your Spending

When you reduce spending, you can put more money toward debt and potentially even save money on interest. Here are some ways to track your spending and cut down on expenses:

Switching to Cash Only

Consolidating or Transferring Your Credit Card Debt

Itâs also a good idea to check whether the card charges any fees and understand the cardâs terms and conditions before you apply so you can make a fully informed decision.

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Automate Your Minimum Payments

To keep your credit card accounts in good standing, you want to make sure you at least pay the minimum amount due on your bills on time each month. This will help protect your as payment history is the most important factor in determining that important 3-digit number.

To make it easy, automate these payments so the money is taken out of your account every month on time and you don’t have to think about it.

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How Do I Pay Off Debt With Bankruptcy

When youve reached your limits and have nowhere else to turn, bankruptcy can offer a fresh start. You should only use it as a last resort, however, because bankruptcy can devastate your credit.

Bankruptcy cant be encompassed in a few short steps, but the general process is:

• Step 1: Examine your debts, and determine your ability to repay them over time.
• Step 2: If you think your debts are insurmountable, and youve decided bankruptcy might be the right response, research bankruptcy attorneys in your area.
• Step 3: When you find the right attorney, he or she will instruct you on what to do. Youll need to submit comprehensive documentation of your debts, credit cards, loans, bank accounts, and other financial products, along with information about your assets and personal property. And more!
• Step 4: The attorney will collect your information and file the bankruptcy with the proper authorities.
• Step 5: If filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, youll need to make monthly payments for a period of 35 years.
• Step 6: When the bankruptcy is discharged, the included debts will be written off by the creditors, and youll no longer be responsible for them. Depending on the type of bankruptcy, it could be discharged within 34 months of filing or 35 years .

There are two types of personal bankruptcy:

• Chapter 7, which often requires you to surrender some of your property
• Chapter 13, which allows you to keep your property

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