Pay Off Your Debt
By LaToya Irby, About.com Guide
How's Your Debt?
How do you know if you have too much debt? Sometimes there are signs, like difficulty making debt payments. Other times it might not be so obvious. Part of managing your debt is knowing where you stand.
- Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
- Secured vs. Unsecured Debt
- Do You Have Too Much Debt?
- 10 Signs You Have Too Much Debt
- Tally Up Your Debt
- Calculate Your Debt-To-Income Ratio
- 5 Spending Habits That Lead to Debt
- Are You Headed For Credit Card Debt?
- 3 Reasons to Go Into Debt
- How Debt Affects Your Credit Score
- The True Cost of Debt
Stop Adding New Debt
Before you can pay off your old debt, you have to stop adding new debt. Resisting the temptation to add new debt isn't always easy. Eliminating the need and desire for debt will put you on the right track to stop your debt from increasing.
- How to Manage Your Debt
- 9 Reasons Debt is Bad For You
- Spending Habits That Lead to Debt
- 10 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Debt
- Stop Impulsive Credit Card Purchases
- Control Emotional Credit Card Spending
- Why You Need an Emergency Fund
- Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
- How Clutter Contributes to Debt
- 15 Ways to Avoid Payday Loans
- Use a Budget to Manage Debt
Make a Debt Plan
Getting out of debt is impossible without a plan. It helps to write your plan down - that way you won't forget it. Even a mental plan is better than no plan at all. Find out what goes into a successful get-out-of-debt plan.
- 7 Steps to Getting Out of Debt
- Prioritize Your Debt Payments
- Best Order to Pay Credit Cards
- Best Credit Card Payoff Calculators
- Make a Get-Out-of-Debt Plan
- Debt Plan Worksheet
- Track Your Debt Payoff Progress
- How to Pay Off High Interest Rate Debt
- Set Debt Payoff Milestones
- 5 Factors That Affect Debt Payoff
Get Out of Debt
Debt isn't a black hole. There's a way in and there's a way out. The hard part is finding that way out. Once you've put together a solid plan, getting out of debt isn't as hard as it seems.
- Declare Your Independence From Debt
- 5 Habits to Change Before You Pay Debt
- Ways to Reduce Your Debt Payments
- 6 Options for Repaying Debt
- 5 Stupid Ways to Pay Off Your Debt
- Two Ways to Pay Back Credit Card Debt
- Student Loan Repayment Options
- Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
- Beware Taxes on Cancelled Debt
- Debtors Anonymous for Debt Addiction
- 77 Ways to Get Money for Debt
- Debt Diet eCourse Week-by-Week
- 10 Ways to Get Out of Debt
- 15 Ways to Make It Easier
- Handle High Interest Rate Debts
- Dealing With Debt During Divorce
Dealing With Debt Collectors
Dealing with debt is painful enough. Having to deal with debt collectors is much worse. Fortunately, there are laws and tactics that can help you keep debt collectors from ruining your life.
- What is a Debt Collection?
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- How to Deal With Debt Collectors
- When Can Debt Collectors Call
- Stop Debt Collector Calls
- When Collectors Ignore the Cease & Desist
- Make Collectors Prove You Owe
- Tactics For Paying Off Debt Collectors
- The Statute of Limitations on Debt
- 15 Things Collectors Can't Do
- Reporting Debt Collector Violations
- How to Attack Zombie Debt
- Can Debt Collectors Garnish Wages?
- Time-Barred Debts
- Can Collectors Contact Your Employer?
- Keep Track of Debt Collector Communication
- What Happens If You Don't Pay?
Debt Help Companies
Where there's a problem, you can count on there being a business to solve that problem. Debt is no different. If you're interested in hiring a company to help you with your debt, make that company will help and not hurt you.
- Consumer Credit Couseling Basics
- How to Choose a Credit Counselor
- How to Find Legitimate Debt Counseling
- What is a Debt Management Plan?
- The Dangers of Debt Settlement
- Debt Management Company Watchouts
- Is Debt Consolidation the Answer?
- How to Choose a Consolidation Loan
- Settling Your Own Credit Card Debt
Filing Bankruptcy
When you have more debt than you can afford to repay, bankruptcy is a viable solution. Bankruptcy isn’t for everyone and it has long-lasting – sometimes lifetime – consequences for those who choose to file. Get the facts about bankruptcy before making a decision.