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Quit Making Excuses. Be Debt-Free

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Quit making excuses when it comes to eliminating debt.
Making excuses only keeps you in debt.
Excuses are one of the most available of commodities. Easy to find. Easy to use. But if they are what’s keeping you from becoming free of debt, ditch them and get on with making your personal finances more healthy.

Sometimes, it’s attitude more than finances that keep you shackled to debt. Some self-examination of your beliefs may convince you that you can do better. Here are five common reasons that people stay debt-bound:

I Deserve It

This attitude leads some people to opt for a pricey vacation or a new car of electronic gadget (on credit, of course) that would require only a swift glance at the budget to see it is clearly out of reason. What you’re really saying is “I deserve to be in debt.” And it’s true. The result, however, is more stress, less savings and planning for retirement.

I Don’t Know Where To Start

If you don’t want to look honestly at your debt and accept responsibility for it, this may be the point at which you stop trying. It can be overwhelming to see what a mess you’ve created. But there are some options to consider. Debt consolidation may give you some more wiggle room. Balance transfer credit cards may offer lower interest. Or go to an expert for help. You have to be willing to face the magnitude of your debt load, but keep always in mind that things will be better if you get a handle on it.

I’ll Deal With It Later

The procrastination approach is just another excuse. Waiting for a better job, for your rich uncle to die and leave you wealthy – whatever allows you to delay the process will do just that – delay the process. This is one of those situations in which there’s no time like the present to act. It falls into the same category as the “I’ll diet next week, as soon as the company party is over” delaying tactic.

I Only Need To Make The Minimum Payment

Paying as much as you possibly can on credit card or other debt is a wise move. They longer it takes to pay off a balance, the more interest you pay and the longer you are burdened with the debt. Don’t look at your monthly statement and focus on the lowest figure that catches your eye. Adding a little extra to each payment, even if it is a small amount, will erase the debt faster. And of course, adding to the balance faster than you pay it off will leave you scrambling forever. You damage not only your current financial state, but may rack up less-than-satisfactory credit reports.

I’m Not Responsible

Placing blame on other people or circumstances, even emergencies, is the ultimate excuse. It allows you to refuse to accept responsibilities for your actions. Emergencies happen to all of us and do, inevitably, require changes in financial arrangements. Many creditors recognize genuine budget stress and will cooperate. But too often, debt is caused by trying to live like an upper-class family on a middle-class paycheck. When you get serious about debt reduction, you may have to steel yourselves to bypass your favorite high-end shopping outlets, avoid friends who tend to encourage free spending, and economize on things like eat-out lunches and high-cost entertainment. The best thing you can do is accept that your debt is your debt and you are responsible for it. Getting control of it may be the best feeling you’ve ever had.

5 Excuses Keeping You From Being Debt-Free

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The only solution to debt is to stop the leakage and resolve to get rid of it.
The only solution to debt is to stop the leakage and resolve to get rid of it.
There are many reasons why you may be stuck in debt and they’re not all necessarily related to the state of your finances. In fact, your money woes may be exacerbated by your mindset. Your beliefs are often what guide you, and if you’re carrying around problematic ones, you’ll have a much harder time getting debt-free.

Here are five excuses that could be keeping you in the red.

I Deserve It

One of the most common phrases debtors bandy about is “I deserve it,” Jeff Jones, a Certified Financial Planner in Huntsville, Ala., wrote in an email. “It’s an excuse and that transcends financial matters … but this usually comes at the expense of a larger, long-term goal.” This mentality, for instance, enables people to reward themselves with a lavish vacation (on credit) or a new car (and the payment to go with it), Jones added, when instead you should be thinking about becoming debt-free or saving more for retirement.

I Don’t Know Where to Start

Facing debt is overwhelming. It involves owning up to whatever got you there in the first place and taking responsibility for paying it off. Add to that the sinking feeling that comes with realizing how much you owe and the whole thing starts to become one sad situation that seems insurmountable. How will you ever get out from under this mountain of expenses? Fortunately, there are options, including, for instance, debt consolidation, balance transfer credit cards or the help of a credit counselor. You just have to be willing to face your debt head on and put the time in to research what strategy may work best for you.

I’ll Deal With It Later

Another day, another excuse. “I’ll draft a budget in the new year” or “When I get a better job, I’ll start paying off debt.” And on it goes. The problem with this mentality is that the timing will never be right. It’s like keeping a diet: If you always find an excuse to get out of it, you’ll never reach your goals.

I Only Need to Make the Minimum Payment

Initially choosing to make only a minimum payment on your loan obligations can be a hard habit to break. “This one is invidious because it anchors you to making a payment, which means that, in the case of a credit card, it will take, say, 10 years to pay off, assuming you don’t add to the balance,” Jason Hull, a Certified Financial Planner in Woodbury, N.J., wrote in an email. “We tend to become attached to the first number we see, so when we see the minimum payment, we assume that’s what we should pay. Instead, we should pay as much as we can on our credit cards to pay them off as soon as possible — and make sure that we’re not adding any more to the balance.”

You can see just how much adding a few dollars to your monthly payment can impact your debt-free timeline using this credit card payoff calculator.

Remember, high credit card balances can damage your wallet and your credit. You can see how your credit card debts may be affecting your credit score by viewing your free credit report summary, updated each month, on Credit.com.

I’m Not Responsible

It’s easy to blame our debt woes on external forces, like car repairs or a medical emergency, but when all’s said and done, we need to take responsibility for our actions. That could mean not living like an upper-class family on a middle-class paycheck, being able to sign off of our favorite shopping sites when we know our credit card bills are already too high and avoiding “friends” who spend to have fun (and encourage you to do the same.) It’s a good idea to try to stop justifying your habits with the idea your debts aren’t your fault — someone got into debt, and whether you acquired it by marriage, co-signing, or on your own, it’s yours, and yours alone, to pay off.

Coping With Debt PDF: Developed by the Federal Trade Commission, this pdf was designed to help consumers stay ahead of their debt. 20 pages of self help techniques that can help you through your financial difficulties.

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Should I Cut The Cable Cord?

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Dropping Cable Or Satellite TV? Make An Educated Choice

Thinking of dropping live tv.
Many people are trying to decide whether to drop live tv.

The great majority of Americans, some 83 percent as of 2015, pay for TV service, according to Leitchman Research Group. They put out money for cable, satellite or fiber-optic providers. The percentage actually has dropped slightly since 2010, when it was at the 87 percent level. The difference, according to the researchers, is that fewer households are signing up for cable to replace those who have dropped the service. And some couples moving into their first home don’t sign up as a matter of course.

The percentages may continue to drop as people catch on to the fact that they don’t need cable or satellite to watch their favorite TV shows. Streaming, downloading, library discs and network TV are all reasonable alternatives.

Streaming:

Services such as HULU, Netflix and Amazon Prime give you access to thousands of shows, including past seasons of popular cable series, current episodes of network TV shows and original shows that are only available online. The average price of the services is just $9 per month, only a fraction of the $99-per-month average cost of cable or satellite. An advantage: you can tune in on your own schedule, rather than the network’s.

Downloads:

You have access to many TV shows from iTunes or VUDU for $2 to $3 each. That could become more expensive than cable or satellite if you get all your shows this way. But if you are an occasional viewer or if you want to watch just one particular show that you can’t get through a streaming service, it’s practical.

Library Discs:

Most modern libraries now offer videos for patrons. Check out your local library.

Network TV:

Despite the many delivery choices now available, it still is possible to watch TV the old-fashioned way without any additional fees. All you need is a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted version. Various indoor antennas also are available if you don’t have easy access to a roof. You can even build your own with instructions from such publications as Popular Mechanics. Online tutorials can guide you in making an antenna from materials that are readily available, such as scrap wood and old coat hangers, cardboard and aluminum foil.

Choosing among the alternatives could save you a bundle. For instance, compare a $99-per-month cable fee with an $8-per-month HULU subscription. Over a year, that’s a $1,092 savings.

How To Save More Of Your Income

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AARP Offers Many Good Suggestions For Saving Money
AARP Offers Many Good Suggestions For Saving Money

The annual AARP list of 99 ways to save money is out and it offers these nine suggestions to reduce your expenditures on financial matters:

Auto Insurance

Shop around for auto insurance. Insurers use a tactic called “price optimization.” That means they raise premiums based not on risk factors, but on how much of an increase they think you will accept. When it comes time to renew your insurance, bargain with your insurer for a better rate.

Pay Raises

Before you are called into human resources to discuss your next raise, ask for a salary range that informs you of the low-to-high range the company pays for a particular job. Knowing where you are in the range can become the basis for negotiation. Perhaps understanding the range will be impetus for more training so you can move up.

Credit Scores

Don’t pay for a credit score. It can be obtained free from Creditkarma.com or Credit.com or from Sharpen Your Financial Focus through its website, Sharpen Today.org.

Delay Social Security

Plan ahead on your Social Security. If you have reason to think you will live beyond age 80, wait until you are 70 to begin collecting so you will get the maximum benefit. If you are a couple and feel it likely you will live past 80, let the partner who had greatest earnings delay collection.

Home Renovations

If you are considering house renovations, these changes are considered the most likely to enhance the value of your property: Replace the front or garage door, add a deck, turn an attic space into a bed/bath or update the kitchen. That‘s from Remodeling Magazine’s 2014 cost/value report.

Divide Payments On Credit Cards

When you have heavy credit card expenditures, consider paying the bill in two increments instead of one monthly payment. Paying on time is the most important factor in calculating your credit score. Next is the percentage of credit you have available. People with the highest scores keep utilization under 10 percent. Paying your bill in two payments in a month keeps a lid on this number.

Tax Diversification

Consider tax diversification in your 401k. Like Roth IRAs, many Roth 401k’s allow you to put in money on which you already have paid tax. Then you may withdraw it at retirement tax-free. If there is a possibility your tax bracket will go up in the future, these tax-free dollars stashed in a 401k now be even more valuable.

Look at your banking institution. Some smaller banks and credit unions offer more than the going interest rate (about 2 percent) on checking accounts, even with balances of $10,000 or more. You’ll have to make direct deposits, in all likelihood to reap this benefit.

Talk to the vet who cares for your pets and see if he offers drug discounts or will provide samples of medications free. Ask if you can fill the vet’s prescriptions at a pharmacy for humans. Walmart and some other pharmacy outlets provide a $4 prescription price for many medications, which could save you money.

Learn From Money Saving Experts

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Managing money is a lifetime skill that is learned from someone, whether it is a family member or through reading and educating yourself about it. What is interesting is that your sense of self worth actually can empower you to be better at managing your money and saving money.

According to financial expert, Suze Orman, you alone are the power behind your money management skill. You make the choices to spend, save or borrow money. What is going on in your mind is what is controlling your financial security.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D, wrote a book called The How of Happiness. She highlights five steps to happiness which can also apply to developing better money management skills.

Sonja Lyubomirsky The How of Happiness Book
The How of Happiness

Step  1 – Cultivate optimism – When you choose to believe in a future that is positive for yourself and your loved ones, you create pictures in your mind about how you want your life and your finances to be.  Optimism helps anyone get through the day. Suffering from negative thoughts is just that. You are suffering. Try everything you can think of to bring back optimism into your life.

Step 2 –  Invest In Social Connections – In your personal life, do something for someone else and continue doing random acts of kindness. In your financial life, when you make good connections with people by getting to know them and serving them, your sense of well being will improve and who knows, maybe you’ll get a referral to just the job you were dreaming about.

Step 3 – Let Go Of The Negative – If you are flooded with negative thoughts, write them down and develop some solutions to fix the problems. If you can’t stop thinking of them ask yourself, “What negative thought can I let go to make room for more happiness, more financial security, more abundance? Letting go or coming to peace with yourself that you have done everything you can to solve the problems, will bring relief and contentment. You may even come up with new ways to attack the problems you have.

Step 4 – Finding Meaning In Adversity – Everyone has gone through adversity in their lives whether it is in relationships or in their financial lives. What exactly have these experiences taught you? Have you learned from your failures? Gaining the strength to become debt free will teach you what you need to do to stay that way and give you a sense of control over your financial future.

Step 5 – Learning To Let Go – Past hurts, past mistakes, past failures are well, in the past. Over time you are better off letting go of these pains and forgiving yourself or others for their part in your personal or financial pain. Letting go of these means you have forgiven and when you forgive, your soul returns to the loving state it began with. Letting hatred and bitterness take over your life will not leave you room to grow and learn new things.

In conclusion, these five steps can help you achieve peace in your financial life and peace in your personal life. The power to control your future depends on your attitude and desire to reach your goals. As Suze Orman often says, “Self-Worth builds NET WORTH.”