Archive for September 2018

0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Do you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month? If so, you are likely paying hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in interest year after year. You should consider transferring your balance to a 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card.

Most people want to pay off their outstanding balance but feel stuck due to the interest rate that is applied to the credit cards each month. 0% balance transfer credit card offers provide a way to eliminate a credit card debt very quickly and can provide HUGE savings over keeping a balance on a high interest card.

Here is how it works:

Suppose you transfer a balance of $5,000 from a card that has a 21.99% interest rate. You apply for a 0% balance transfer credit card. This offer comes with a 3% balance transfer fee, but it also provides 0% for 18 months.

Upon acceptance of your application, the 3% balance transfer fee ($150) will be applied to your balance on the new credit account making your total balance owed equal $5,150 ($5,000 balance that was transferred PLUS the $150 balance transfer fee).

Now comes the good part! You now owe 0% interest for the 18 month period – as long as you make all of your payments on time, of course. By taking 15 minutes to do a little research and apply for a 0% interest card, you can eliminate hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest and accelerate your debt freedom date.

We keep a running list of these credit cards HERE on the I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. website.

========================================================================

Want more tips like this one?  Subscribe to the Monday Money Tip Podcast HERE.

Calculate Your Debt Freedom Date

Do you know the date of when you will be debt free? The 8th wonder of the world is compound interest and it will work against you every single day that you pay interest to someone else! Interest payments have the power to keep you broke. I have yet to hear a person who is living a fully funded life tell me that their car loans and credit cards were the reason they became wealthy. So what should you do about your debt? You can start by calculating your Debt Freedom Date by using the calculator found HERE on our website.  

You will document every debt you owe including the name, balance and the minimum monthly payment. You will be able to see just how close or far away your debt freedom date is. This is so empowering because once you know, you can make changes in your lifestyle to move that date closer and closer to you.

Our team has conducted research to document the steps people have taken to speed up their climb to debt freedom:

  1. Reduce Interest Rates: Many people with substantial consumer debt do not realize that 50% to 75% of their payments are merely going to the lender as interest payments – greatly reducing their ability to lower the debt. If you have high interest rate credit card balances, consider transferring them to a 0% interest balance transfer credit card. If your mortgage interest rate is higher than those listed at BankRate.com, consider refinancing.
  2. Pay Raise: Are you being compensated fairly? Few things speed up debt elimination faster than receiving additional income from your current job.
  3. Tax Refund: A tax refund might be an “interest free loan to the government” but it also represents an opportunity to force yourself to save money which can be used to impact debt in a big way.
  4. Bonus: Do you receive an end of the year bonus? Use it the same way you would as a tax refund by throwing it towards that outstanding debt.
  5. Found Money From Better Budgeting: When I started preparing and living by a budget, it literally transformed my finances. I freed up hundreds of dollars each month that was disappearing in the form of “miscellaneous ATM cash withdrawals” and impulsive purchases.
  6. Sell Some Possessions: Sell the boat, motorcycle, extra car, and collectibles. Eliminating possessions will free up space, eliminate stress, and greatly speed up your debt freedom date.
  7. Work Overtime: If you have the chance to earn additional income by working extra hours, you can use this money to speed up debt reduction.
  8. Extra Job: If you do not have the opportunity to work overtime at your existing job, obtain a second job – or start a small side business. The key here is to focus on something short term and commit to putting all additional money earned towards debt.

However you decide to eliminate your debt faster, the first step is knowing your debt freedom date. Calculate yours today!

========================================================================

Want more tips like this one?  Subscribe to the Monday Money Tip Podcast HERE.

Types of Debt

Do you feel like you are drowning in debt? Like the payments are consuming your entire paycheck and you can never get ahead? Or worse, there really is not enough money to pay for basic living expenses and cover the debt payments you owe? If you are in a situation where you do not have enough money to pay for everything, I would suggest prioritizing in this order:

  1. Housing
  2. Food/Prescription Medicine
  3. Transportation
  4. Back Taxes
  5. Secured Debts
  6. Family & Friends Debts
  7. Unsecured Debts

As you can see, your debts would actually be addressed last. So many people are so terrified of creditors that they make sure these payments are made first. I would suggest the opposite. Once you have your basic living expenses covered, it is then time to decide which debts are going to get paid.  At this point it is very beneficial to have an understanding of the different types of debt and how they operate.

The first type of debt you should focus on paying back is secured debt. This is debt where the lender can come take something – like a car, boat, motorcycle, tractor, etc. If the lender repossesses the item, they will sell it at a wholesale auction and then come after you for the difference.

The next type of debt I would suggest paying off would be debt to family and friends. I feel this is important because unpaid debts to family and friends have been the cause of relationship issues. It is essential to pay back these debts to avoid these problems!

The last type of debt to pay is unsecured debt. These are the debts that are screaming at you the loudest to pay: credit cards, student loans, signature loans, etc. Why are these creditors the loudest? Because there is nothing they can come take from you! The debt is not attached to anything that they can come and repossess. This is why creditors will play on your emotions to get you to pay them before anything else. I have met so many people who are up to date on their credit card payments but behind on their house payment. I do not want this to be you! Pay your secured debts first!

So go back to your spending plan and make sure that you have all of your priorities in order. If you cannot make all of your payments this month, make sure you are prioritizing and paying the most important first.

========================================================================

Want more tips like this one?  Subscribe to the Monday Money Tip Podcast HERE.