It is no good just saying to yourself "I'm in debt" and worrying about it or wondering what you can do about it. You need help and you need to take action now!
If you're saying to yourself "I'm in debt" and worrying about it or wondering what you can do about it then you need help and you need to take action now! Debt is like a lot of life issues - they don't get any better if you just ignore them. Tackle the problem head-on now and you will be glad you did in a few years time.
I'm In Debt - What Should I Do?
The first thing you need to do is work out how much debt you have. Gather together all of your credit agreements and credit card statements and write down a list (or put it in Excel) of all your outstanding debts, with the current balance (if you know it) and the monthly repayments.
Next get your bank statements and write down a full budget of all of your regular monthly expenses (this is the easier part) and try and identify as much of your other spending as you can (food, entertainment, clothes, gadgets etc).
From the bank statement or recent pay advice get your total income from all sources (including benefits/second jobs etc.)
What Next?
Take a look at your budget and compare your total outgoings with your income - is there money left over that you could use to pay off your debts or is there a deficit that is being funded by increasing debt? Start thinking about how you could reduce your expenses. If you have a serious deficit that you cannot eliminate then you will need to seek qualified debt advice.
How to Say Go Debt and Really Mean it!
Is there a way to just say "Go Debt!" and make it all go away. Unfortunately it isn't as easy as that but there are things that you can do.
If You Have Money Worries Then Confront Them Head-On
Don't delay in dealing with your money worries. Tackle them today.
Debt Can Be a Positive Or Negative Force - Which is it For You?
Everyone is now saying that debt is a bad thing. Is it that simple?
