Debt Reduction Strategies that Work

If you are reading this, you are probably looking for credit card debt reduction strategies that will actually get you out of debt.  Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult to find good advice that you can trust on this topic.

Many websites and/or commercials that you come across have an agenda, and it is not to simply help you reduce debt.  Instead, their goal is to make money for themselves, whether or not they actually help you with your finances.

In fact, many of these so-called debt reduction programs can actually ruin your credit and even leave you in MORE debt.  Obviously, you will want to avoid any service or company that has the potential to harm you rather than help you financially.

You should almost always steer clear of debt negotiators and debt negotiation services (for more information on what to avoid, check out this article on debt settlement pros and cons).

Strategies You Can Do on Your Own

A lot of times, you don’t actually need help from any outside company to get out of debt quickly.  In fact, the first thing you should do is determine whether or not it is possible for you to handle your finances on your own.  Of course, it does take a lot of willpower and discipline to come up with and stick to your own debt reduction plans.

One of the most popular do it yourself strategies these days is the “debt snowball” method.  With this plan, you basically pay off your lowest balance first, while making near minimum payments to your other debts.  Once you pay off the lowest balance, you take the money you were sending to that account every month and apply it to your next lowest balance.

This method works because it gives you a psychological edge over the traditional method of paying off high interest debt first.  However, if you have the discipline to stick with it, the best method for you may be to pay off higher interest debt first rather than using the snowball method.

Loans and Balance Transfers

One very popular debt repayment strategy is to consolidate with balance transfers to another credit card or through some type of loan.  This can be a smart method if you have the discipline to pay off and not rack up more debt, and if you have the good credit needed to obtain loans at a favorable interest rate.

Many people take out home equity loans or refinance their mortgages to pay off unsecured debt.  While this can give you lower interest rates and a lower monthly payment, this is not always the best option.

As the recent troubles in the housing market and economy have shown us, when you roll your unsecured credit card debt into a new debt secured by your home, you are at risk of losing your home.  Most of the time, this is simply not worth the risk.

When You Need Debt Help

If you determine that you do need debt help, it is important to know where to look.  As I said earlier, you should avoid debt settlement companies at all costs.

The best help you can find is usually through a non profit credit counselor.  A legitimate counselor should be knowledgeable and accredited.  You should also check with the Better Business Bureau before working with any type of company to help you with your debt.

This entry was postedon Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at 3:10 pmand is filed under Tags: debt help, debt negotiation, debt reduction, debt reduction plan, debt reduction services.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

« Debt Negotiators: Scam or Solution?Choosing Between Debt Consolidation Options »One Response to “” 1Anne Says:

Hi – I did have an hour session on the phone with a non-profit counselor. He suggested many of the things you have listed here. It was a sobering experience! I had mixed results when I contacted my creditors directly – Chase did give me the option to reduce my interest rate to 2% and pay off the balances in 5 years. (At the same time as closing the account.) I enrolled, and it is reducing my debt.

This is a very important topic, and one that I am really trying hard to incorporate into my day-to-day decision making.

August 13th, 2010 at 1:03 am Leave a Reply

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Credit Card Debt Reduction Services Reviews

Researching and looking for credit card debt reduction services can be incredibly confusing, especially if you are doing your research online.  All of the conflicting information, confusing terminology, and thousands of companies claiming they can help you with debt reduction, it’s enough to make many people want to give up before they ever get the help they need.

For those of you lucky enough to find this site, I am going to walk you through the four main types of services that claim to help you get out of debt.  I will give you a general explanation of each service, and give you an idea of which services to avoid and which might work for you.

Keep in mind this is just a general guide, and you should always get advice tailored to your specific situation.  You may also want to read this related article on the various debt reduction programs.

Debt Negotiation and Settlement

The first service we will talk about is the one that, for now, is advertised the most.  Credit card debt negotiation, or debt settlement, is generally the worst of all of these options. Unfortunately, due to the heavy advertising, it is also very popular.

In this case, the claims you see on commercials and ads are usually too good to be true.  Most of these companies promise to reduce your debt by 50 or 60 percent and maintain your credit rating.

In reality, these companies will almost always do serious damage to your credit score and rarely deliver on the promise to settle all of your debts.  Be sure to read up on the costs and pitfalls of these  debt relief scams as well as the pros and cons of this method.

In fact, most debt settlement companies will have either a poor rating with the BBB or a very short history.

Credit Card Consolidation

Another one of the very popular debt reduction strategies is some form of consolidation. Consolidating your credit card debt typically requires a good credit score and the ability to obtain credit.

While some settlement, bankruptcy, or even credit counseling companies claim to consolidate your debt, they don’t actually do so.  In order to combine your actual debts into one single new balance you need some type of loan (or credit card).  You can read more about your debt consolidation options in this article.

Debt Management Plans

Debt management plans, which are sometimes referred to as credit counseling, is an option that is generally provided by non profit agencies.  However, their are also a few for profit companies that provide this service as well.

With this option, the credit counseling agency works with your creditors and gets them to agree to a lower interest rate and, usually, a lower payment.  You make your payment to the credit counseling agency, and they sound it out each of your creditors every month.

This can be a good option for people who need a little help, especially if they don’t have the ability to consolidate the debt to a loan with better terms and they cannot pay the balances down quickly on their own.  You should speak to an accredited credit counselor and have a full counseling session to get information on if this is a good option for you.  If it isn’t, a good credit counselor should still be able to help you come up with some type of debt reduction plans.

Bankruptcy

One final option is bankruptcy, and it should be just that: a last resort.  Try out your other options and make sure you have no other choice before filing for bankruptcy.  There are some negative consequences you will want to avoid with this option; however, when you are out of options then bankruptcy could give you the relief and the fresh start you need with your finances.

What experiences do you have with credit card debt reduction services?  Feel free to leave a comment or questions about your own experiences.

This entry was postedon Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 3:23 pmand is filed under Tags: credit card negotiation, debt management plans, debt negotiation, debt reduction plan, debt reduction services, debt settlement, reduce credit card debt.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Ohio Debt Consolidation and Reduction

Are you looking for help with debt reduction or debt consolidation in Ohio? We can help you find the best, most trustworthy companies to help you consolidate and reduce debt.

From Akron to Zanesville, and everywhere in between, find out where to get the help you need. These debt reduction programs can help you get lower monthly payments, lower interest rates, get rid of fees, and get you out of debt fast.

Of course, a lot of companies make claims that sound great but don’t actually do much to help you out.  In fact, many such companies are outright scams and can leave you in even more trouble than you started in.

It is important to find a reliable, non profit company with accredited financial counselors you can trust.  And the “counselor” you speak to should be an actual counselor and not a glorified sales person!

There are literally hundreds of companies spread throughout the cities and towns of Ohio that will consolidate your debt.  However, we know that choosing one you can trust can be very difficult.  

Many people simply give up and do nothing because they are paralyzed by the fear of falling victim to scams or are confused by all of their different debt consolidation options.  But we are here to make all of that easier for you.

For residents anywhere in Ohio looking to consolidate debt or get help reducing debt, we recommend Vision Credit Education, Inc. Vision Credit is a non profit agency that has been in business since 2004 and has helped thousands of consumers successfully get out of debt. You can contact them at:

Vision Credit Education, Inc.1-800-379-4720

Vision can help you whether you are in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, or any where else in the state.  They have knowledgeable and very helpful counselors who don’t try to sell you on any one single option.

There are also many other agencies in Ohio that work with debt consolidation and credit counseling.  While I don’t have any personal experience with the following companies, they are all non profit and members of the NFCC.

Keep in mind, however, that I am not recommending any of the following organizations.  They are listed here for informational purposes.

Ohio Credit Counseling Agencies

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Akron, OH 44320

Family and Community Services, Inc. Credit Counseling
Akron, OH 44304

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Alliance, OH 44601

CCCS of Ashtabula County
Ashtabula, OH 44004

CCCS of the Mid-Ohio Valley
Athens, OH 45701

CCCS of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.
Batavia, OH 45103

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Beachwood, OH 44122

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Boardman, OH 44512

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Canton, OH 44714

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023

CCCS of Greater Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45251

CCCS of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH 45242

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Cleveland, OH 44115

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Columbus, OH 43213

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Columbus, OH 43228

CCCS of the Miami Valley(Sponsored By Graceworks Lutheran Services)
Dayton, OH 45439-2284

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Delaware, OH 43015

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
East Liverpool, OH 43920

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
East Palestine, OH 44413

CCCS of Lima
Findlay, OH 45840

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Grove City, OH 43123

LifeSpan Credit Counseling, Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Hamilton, OH 45011-1966

CCCS of Lima
Lima, OH 45801

CCCS of Columbiana County
Lisbon, OH 44432

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Mansfield, OH 44903

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Marysville, OH 43040

CCCS of Greater Cincinnati
Mason, OH 45040

LifeSpan Credit Counseling, Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Mason, OH 45040

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Medina, OH 44256

Family and Community Services, Inc. Credit Counseling
Medina, OH 44256-9626

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Mentor, OH 44060

LifeSpan Credit Counseling, Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Middletown, OH 45042

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
New Philadelphia, OH 44663

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Newark, OH 43055-5584

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Parma, OH 44129

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
Ravenna, OH 44266

CCCS of Northeast Ohio
Rocky River, OH 44116

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
Salem, OH 44460

CCCS of Northwest Ohio
Sandusky, OH 44870-5548

CCCS of the Miami Valley (Sponsored By Graceworks Lutheran Services)
Sidney, OH 45365

CCCS of the Miami Valley (Sponsored By Graceworks Lutheran Services)
Springfield, OH 45504

Midwest Credit Counseling
Steubenville, OH 43952

Midwest Credit Counseling
Streetsboro, OH 44241-5365

CCCS of Northwest Ohio
Toledo, OH 43615

CCCS of Northeastern Ohio
Warren, OH 44483

CCCS of Family & Community Services, Inc.
Wooster, OH 44691-4373

CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.
Zanesville, OH 43701

This entry was postedon Thursday, September 16th, 2010 at 12:22 pmand is filed under Tags: credit counseling, debt consolidation ohio, debt reduction, ohio debt consolidation, Ohio Debt Reduction.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Florida Debt Relief and Debt Reduction

If you are a resident of Florida looking for debt relief or help with credit card debt reduction, it can be difficult for you to know where to turn.  Many companies are promising you all kinds of things in advertisements, but it can be tough to know who to trust.

If you are looking for lower payments, lower interest, and a faster way out of debt, a reputable non profit credit counseling agency such as Vision Credit can help.  They have accredited financial counselors who can help you find solutions to your problems.

They also offer a debt management plan that can help you get out of debt faster and with a lower monthly payment and lower interest rate for people with credit card debt.  From Boca Raton all the way to Winter Park, Florida residents need someone they can trust.  

If you are looking for help with your debt, it is important to be wary of scammers, shady companies, and even most debt settlement or negotiation companies.  Credit card debt negotiation is usually not a great option for most people, and there often much better debt reduction plans available to you.

If you are looking for immediate help or just simply looking for debt reduction strategies, contact Vision Credit today, or you can check out one of these other non profit CCCS agencies.

Florida Credit Counseling and Debt Consolidation Agencies

Vision Credit Education, Inc. – 1-800-379-4720

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Boca Raton, FL 33434

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Brooksville, FL 34605

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Clearwater, FL 33764-6867

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Florida, Inc.
Crestview, FL 32536

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Dade City, FL 33525

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Florida, Inc.
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Deltona, FL 32725

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Fort Myers, FL 33907

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of West Florida, Inc.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

GreenPath, Inc./dba GreenPath Debt Solutions
Gainesville, FL 32601

CCCS of South Florida
Homestead, FL 33030

GreenPath, Inc./dba GreenPath Debt Solutions
Inverness, FL 34450

Family Foundations
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Family Foundations
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

GreenPath, Inc./dba GreenPath Debt Solutions
Lake City, FL 32055

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Leesburg, FL 34748

CCCS of South Florida, Inc.
Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

CCCS of Brevard (A Division of the Family Counseling Center)
Melbourne, FL 32901

CCCS of South Florida, Inc.
Miami, FL 33156

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
New Port Richey, FL 34652

CCCS of South Florida, Inc.
North Miami, FL 33161

GreenPath, Inc./dba GreenPath Debt Solutions
Ocala, FL 34470

Family Foundations
Orange Park, FL 32073

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Orlando, FL 32803

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Orlando, FL 32810

CCCS of West Florida, Inc.
Panama City, FL 32401

CCCS of West Florida, Inc.
Pensacola, FL 32591

CCCS of South Florida, Inc.
Plantation, FL 33324

Consumer Debt Counselors, Inc.
Port Charlotte, FL 33952

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Port St. Lucie, FL 34984

CCCS of Brevard (A Division of the Family Counseling Center)
Rockledge, FL 32956-0063

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Sarasota, FL 34234

Family Foundations
St Augustine, FL 32084

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba Credability
Stuart, FL 34997

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Tallahassee, FL 32303

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Tampa, FL 33622-1202

CCCS of Brevard (A Division of the Family Counseling Center)
Titusville, FL 32780

CCCS of Greater Atlanta, Inc. dba CredAbility
Venice, FL 34285

CCCS of Brevard (A Division of the Family Counseling Center)
Vero Beach, FL 32962

CCCS of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast of Florida
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Consumer Debt Counselors, Inc.
Winter Park, FL 32789

Not a resident of Florida?  Check our other state listings:  Ohio, (more coming soon)

This entry was postedon Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 at 3:49 pmand is filed under Tags: credit card debt, debt help, debt management plans, debt reduction, Florida Debt.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Debt Reduction Plans Can Help Secure Your Future

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Being in debt is nothing extraordinary in today’s society. We all owe money in some way or another, whether it is for credit cards, student loans, house mortgages, or car payments. In fact, people usually don’t even think about debt reduction plans, always assuming that they can take care of their debts with absolutely no worries.

However, many people do not have sufficient financial foresight. After a number of years, the debt that they thought would be paid off long before is still waiting for their payments, and the amount is even higher because of the compounded interest. Without an efficient debt reduction plan, you might end up still paying for your debts even through your retirement years.

If you want to avoid being in this situation, you should seriously consider making a debt reduction plan right now. A debt reduction plan is not only meant for people who are already drowning in their debts. It can also be a good preventive measure to secure your future and save you from possible financial problems.

A good debt reduction plan will be able to help you cut your family’s expenses to the minimum necessities. While your kids are still under your wing, it is only natural that you will have a lot of expenses. Besides paying for their education and everyday needs, you will also have to take care of their recreational needs such as mobile phone bills and car payments.

Once your kids have all grown up and have moved out of the house, you should naturally have less expenditure. With a good debt reduction plan, you will be able to adjust your spending in proportion to your smaller household.

When your children leave the house, they will typically be taking control of their own finances, which will free you from the obligations of paying for their credit card or phone bills, leaving you with a lot of extra funds. Your debt reduction plan will then help you channel this additional cash into paying for your other debts such as the house mortgage and your own credit card bills.

Speaking of credit cards, there is a very common mistake that people make when making their payments, and that is to pay the minimum amount. If you do this every month, you will practically just be paying for the interest on your actual balance and it will take you several years to pay off your credit card debt.

If you want your debt reduction plan to work, you will have to make credit card payments that are higher than the minimum amount. This will ensure the quick payment of your debts and you will be able to enjoy your retirement years without worrying about money problems.

You can also find more info on debt relief council and debt relief programs. Getdebtreductionhelp.com/ is a comprehensive resource to know more about debt reduction.

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Debt Reduction Plan - Get Started

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Debt reduction is about taking control of yourself and making steps toward positive action. First, you have to alter the way you perceive money. You must treat it with respect. Imagine, if you will, a world where there was no such thing as borrowing. What if you had to survive exclusively on the money that you currently earn? What if, when you wanted something that couldn’t afford immediately, you had to save up for it?

Does that sound horrible? Well, a long time a go, this is exactly how people lived. Sadly, with lenders practically force-feeding loans and credit at us, quite a few people have dug themselves into quite a hole with debt, and don’t even know where to being with their debt reduction planning.

Well, you must start at the beginning. Even if you already have debt, don’t buy what you can’t immediately afford. If you continue down this path, you will just dig yourself further and further into the hole, and debt reduction will be but a pipedream.

Get some perspective on the situation and consider the problem logically. All of your debt needs to be accounted for. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed, though. Break the task down into manageable chunks.

First, pay off the debt that racks up the most penalties and interest charges. This may even be a “one year same as interest” loan, that, when you fail to pay it off within the year, suddenly racks up a ton of interest charges. Credit and store cards have a high tendency to carry huge interest rates. Barely paying the minimum payment will keep you in debt forever, and you will pay a tidy sum in interest for the privilege.

See if you can find a 0% account balance transfer credit card offer. Sometimes these interest rates are for a limited time. So only transfer as much as you’ll be able to pay off before the deal period is over. Also, make sure you’re not paying more in card fees than you would in interest in exchange for this good credit card interest rate.

Regardless, even if you only have a year to pay down your credit card bills, this extra time will really help you knock down the total debt, rather than constantly paying for interest charges.

While you are working out your debt reduction plan, consider your purchasing decisions, and their impact on your overall debt situation. Were those new pants an absolute necessity? Could you have purchased a cheaper pair? Did you need them at all? Consider walking away from the purchase for 2-3 days. If you still think you really want the item in consideration, then maybe you really do. But, consider how many things you’ve bought only to ignore a week after buying them.

Keep following this debt reduction advice until your debt is manageable This discipline up front will payoff huge in the long run.

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Reputable Debt Reduction Agencies

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