Debit Consolidation

Debit Consolidation

Debit Consolidation and Mental Readiness

Advice for Consolidating Debits | 1 Comment →

You’re probably asking yourself, what’s the point of a debit consolidation loan, then? Well, there is a point, and that’s what we’re going to get into in this article series, but first we need to set expectations. I have found over and over again, that if people enter into the world of beating back their debit and living on what they make with the wrong expectations they will fail. Paying off debits is as much about attitude as it is about math and hard work. You need both. If you work hard but don’t have the right mindset, you will invariably fail. If you have the right mindset but your work ethic is poor, you’ll end up in the same boat.

The right mindset for a debit consolidation loan starts with deciding once and for all that you’re going to live within your means. And that must translate into a willingness to do whatever it takes to get there, including selling your house, your cars, canceling your $100 a month cable package, high speed internet, and never eating out again. Sadly, these changes are shocking and unthinkable to many people, and they’re not willing to commit. Most of the time it’s out of fear of the unknown or a fear of change. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid, but remember, there are billions of people all over the world that live with much less than you do, and chances are they’re happier.

Think about a life with basic cable and dial up internet. Now imagine it without the gnawing feeling that you have in your stomach when you think about paying your next bill, or where your next mortgage payment is going to come from, or how much time you have left on that no interest for 12 months deal you bought a TV with that you couldn’t afford. The bottom line is that if you don’t have to constantly worry about money, you will be much, much happier. You’ll sleep better at night, and you’ll be able to afford debit consolidation. You won’t worry about keeping up with your friends or neighbors, because you’ll know that they wake up every day wondering the same things that you used to, and it tears them up.

Debit Consolidation Loans

Debit Consolidation Programs | 1 Comment →

A large percentage of the calls that I get are people looking for advice on debit consolidation programs.  People seem to think that they’re some sort of silver bullet that will magically make their debit quickly disappear, and they’ll come out on the other side healthier and wealthier.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.  As a matter of fact, in many instances people who are not ready to drastically change their lifestyle come out in worse condition that when they entered the program.  Think about getting a big loan that pays off all the rest of your debit, then racking up the same amount of debit 9 months later.  Now you’re in the same position you were a year ago, except you have another big payment on a consolidation loan that you never should have gotten in the first place.

What I usually do is ask people to come into my office and sit down for a financial planning session.  Nothing formal, just a chat to find out what their situation is, and see if they’re a good candidate for a debit consolidation loan.  Things I’m looking for are a willingness to change, attachment to expensive personal property, lifestyle, and circumstances that lead to the debit problems in the first place.

People who have jumped from credit card to credit card, wracking up debit and moving on to the next one when the previous one is maxed out are not good candidates unless they’ve already shown actual progress towards changing their lifestyle.  That means living on a budget, cutting up their cards, selling expensive assets and so on.  If people haven’t already show this willingness, they’re more likely to just treat the consolidation loan as another source of credit and fail to pay that off as well.  The money that they save in monthly payments will just be transferred to another maxed out credit card’s minimum monthly payment, and the cycle will continue.

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