All About Debt Relief

The Debt Free Lifestyle


Many people have been taught that you cannot get ahead without debt. We are also inundated with advertising telling us we can have anything we want. All we need to do is put it on our credit card.

We have become an impatient society, we want it right now. We have lost the ethic of working for what we want.

It is not how much money you make; it is what you do with it. By living without debt you can actually have a higher income since you are not paying out interest, you are actually getting paid interest on invested money.

All debt is not created equal. We will classify them as good debt and bad debt.

To simplify the classification we will say that good debt is a loan for something that you could sell at any time and repay the debt. This narrows down good debt to a home loan and possibly a home equity loan.

A bad debt, of course, is a loan on anything that will lose value.

Let's take a look at some debts that we would consider bad debt.

Home equity loans are in the gray area. They could be considered good debt if they are used to repair or improve your home, but you would be a lot better off to just save up the money for the project. Home equity loans become bad debt when used for purposes other than home improvement or maintenance. In other words a bad home equity loan is for anything that does not add to the value of your house. Do not jeopardize your home by taking out a home equity loan on unnecessary items.

One possible good use for a home equity loan is when the interest rates are low. You can use a home equity loan to refinance your mortgage. Home equity loans generally have lower costs than conventional home loans.

We consider school loans bad debt. If you finish school, get a good high paying job and then attack the loan like mad, a school loan may work out. The problem is that there are too many things that can go wrong. At best, even if you do graduate and get a good job there are always a lot of other expenses at this time in ones life. You are really behind financially when you start your working life in debt.

Auto loans are bad loans that have become common practice to us. We pay interest on a vehicle that will only be worth one half of its original purchase price in five years. Lately it has also been common for us to borrow more than a vehicle is worth. We can trade a car in that we still owe on, and roll that owed amount over into another vehicle. This gives us a loan amount that is higher than the value of the car that we drive away. We have lost our capacity to say NO.

Co-signing is a bad debt that usually and unfortunately involves family. If someone cannot qualify for a loan at a regular lending institution, they should not get a loan. The fact that they can't qualify for a loan elsewhere should tell you that they are a huge risk. Use this opportunity to teach them how they can get what they want by working harder for it and delaying the purchase.

If you want to get off of the debt treadmill, you must run as far away from debt as you can. You cannot use debt to get out of debt. Even if you do, you have not changed your habits; you must change your lifestyle.

John Cook is family oriented and likes to help people get off and stay off the debt treadmill and secure the financial future of their family. You can read more about securing your families finances at his website http://www.financeforfamilies.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Nigeria: N360 Billion Debt Relief Fund - So Long a Tale of Many ...
AllAfrica.com, Washington - Nov 17, 2008
This is a newly built hospital under the primary healthcare scheme sponsored by the government under the debt relief funds scheme. ...


Urging debt relief for young fishermen
Nova News Now, Canada - 16 hours ago
by John DeMings/Digby Courier Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold Theriault is urging provincial Fisheries Minister Ron Chisholm to lobby the federal government to ...


Board to vote on debt relief for Sports Legends Museum
Baltimore Sun, United States - 15 hours ago
AP ANNAPOLIS - The Maryland Board of Public Works is scheduled Wednesday to vote on $444000 in debt relief for the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. ...


Debt Relief for Impoverished Nations
Columbus Free Press, OH - Nov 17, 2008
Debt relief or debt cancellation gives the opportunity for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) to reprioritize funds and focus on development, ...


San Mateo County district attorney, California officials sue debt ...
TMCnet - Nov 12, 2008
At attorney for the companies -- which include Bills.com, Freedom Debt Relief, Freedom Tax Relief, Freedom Student Loans and Freedom Mortgage -- said the ...


Legislation to target deceptive debt relief
Norwalk Plus Magazine - Nov 14, 2008
By Governor Rell's Office Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she will propose legislation aimed at protecting consumers from the predatory practices ...


Md. board OKs help for Rocky Gap, sports museum
Forbes, NY - 13 hours ago
The Board of Public Works also approved $440000 in debt relief for the fiscally ailing Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards in Baltimore. ...


Give students real debt relief
Telegraph-Journal, Canada - Nov 18, 2008
New Brunswick has a remarkable opportunity to become a leader in post-secondary education. The provincial government, in their June 2008 Action Plan to ...


Companies offering debt- relief services can be risky
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Nov 8, 2008
Each year, thousands of consumers nationwide sign up with so-called "debt settlement," "debt relief" or "debt negotiation" companies. ...


Summary Box: Banks ask for credit card debt relief
Forbes, NY - Oct 30, 2008
By AP 10.30.08, 5:45 PM ET CREDIT CARD CALAMITY: Consumers, even those with solid credit records, have been defaulting at high levels on their credit cards. ...

Debt-Relief - Google News

home | site map
tons-of-articles.com © 2006