Credit Card Debt Elimination
How to Save Yourself from the Spiraling Effects of Credit Card
Debt Credit Card Debt Elimination and Credit Card Debt Reduction
Credit card debt is becoming a problem of mass proportions in
North America. People are spending more than they earn and using
their credit cards to pay for everything from furniture to food.
Although it is easy enough to use a credit card for your
purchases, the debt you incur can be very difficult to handle.
There are, however, ways to take control of your credit card
debt regardless of how much you owe. Your financial health can
be protected, but first, you need to commit to a sound credit
card debt elimination process that works.
To begin the process of credit card debt elimination, you need
to compile a list of all your credit cards. Start by writing
down each credit card including the balance, interest rate and
the minimum payment percentage each month, which is generally 2
percent of your total balance. Next, look at your last statement
and note the minimum payment.
Once you have completed this list, rearrange your credit cards
so that the card with the highest interest rate is at the top
and the card with the lowest interest rate is at the bottom. Now
add up the required monthly minimum payment for each card.
At this point, it should be your goal to devise a way to pay
more money towards your credit cards, over and above the total
monthly minimum payments. To do this, you may need to commit
yourself to a strict budget, but it will all be worth it once
you see significant results in your credit card debt reduction.
Each month when you receive your credit card bills, you should
pay the minimum balance on all of your cards, with the exception
of the card with the highest interest rate. For this card, not
only should you pay the minimum balance, but you should also
contribute the extra money that you have set aside.
You should continue to do this until you have managed to pay off
the card with the highest interest rate completely. Now, you
should take the amount that you were contributing towards the
paid off card and the minimum balance on the second highest
interest rate card and put both payments towards paying off this
new card. While you do this, continue to pay the minimum balance
on each of your other credit cards. You continue this cycle
until all of your credit cards have been paid off.
It may well take you a long period of time to pay off your
entire debt. Any plan for credit card debt elimination takes
time and commitment. Remember that as long as you are paying the
card with the highest interest rate, the interest costs will
stay low. Be patient throughout this process and stay committed
to a healthy way of spending that does not threaten your
financial security.