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How To Calculate Your Debt To Income Ratio

By , About.com Guide

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What Your Debt To Income Ratio Means

Your final result will fall into one of these categories.

36% or less is the healthiest debt load for the majority of people. Avoid incurring more debt to maintain a good ratio.

37%-42% isn't a bad place to be. If your ratio falls in this range, you should start reducing your debts.

43%-49% is a ratio that indicates likely financial trouble. Start paying your debts now to prevent an overloaded debt situation.

50% or more is a dangerous ratio. You should be aggressively paying off your debts. Don't hesitate to seek professional help.

Example

In our example, Sam's debt to income ratio is 38.5%. This isn't a bad ratio, but it could become worse if Sam increases his monthly debt payments without increasing his income.

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