Credit Cards, Credit Counseling, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Debt Settlement, Finance, Loans, Money Management, Mortgage, Student Loans

Protect Yourself Financially from the Impact of COVID-19

By: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Steps to take if you have trouble paying your bills or meeting other financial obligations

If you have trouble paying your bills/loans or paying on time, there may be a number of options to help, especially if you reach out early to your lenders or creditors.

Contact your lenders, loan servicers, and other creditors

If you’re not able to pay your bills on time check their websites, to see if they have information that can help you.

The CFPB and other financial regulators have encouraged financial institutions to work with their customers to meet their community needs.

If you can’t make a payment now, need more time, or want to discuss payment options, contact your lenders and servicers to let them know about your situation. Being behind on your payments can have a lasting impact on your credit.

Credit card companies and lenders may be able to offer you a number of options to help you. This could include waiving certain fees like ATM, overdrafts, and late fees, as well as allowing you to delay, adjust, or skip some payments.

When contacting your lenders, be prepared to explain:

  • Your financial and employment situation
  • How much you can afford to pay
  • When you’re likely to be able to restart regular payments
  • Be prepared to discuss your income, expenses, and assets

Work with housing and credit counselors to understand your options

These trained professionals provide advice for little or no cost, and they will work with you to discuss your situation, evaluate options, and even help you negotiate with your lenders and servicers.

Warning: If you’re considering working with a debt settlement company to address your debts, be skeptical of any company that promises to do it for an upfront fee.

Trouble paying your mortgage?

If you can’t pay your mortgage, or can only pay a portion, contact your mortgage servicer.

It may take a while to get a loan servicer on the phone. Loan servicers are experiencing a high call volume and may also be impacted by the pandemic.

Visit our blog on mortgage relief options for in-depth content to help you understand your forbearance options and avoid foreclosure in light of the coronavirus and the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

If you are renting from an owner who has a federally backed mortgage, the CARES Act provides for a suspension or moratorium on evictions. Read more in our renter section of the mortgage relief blog.

Trouble paying your student loans?

If you have student loans, you have options.

If your loan is held by the federal government, your loan payments are postponed with no interest until September 30, 2020.

For other kinds of student loans (such as a federal student loan held by a commercial lender or the institution you attend, or a private student loan held by a bank, credit union, school, or other private entity) contact your student loan servicer to find out more about your options.

Read our FAQs to learn more about what you can do.

Trouble paying your credit cards?

If you’re unable to pay your credit cards, talk with your credit card company and let them know that you cannot make a payment. You may get relief.

You may also want to work with a credit counselor. Reputable credit counseling organizations are generally non-profit organizations that can advise you on your money and debts, and help you with a budget. Some may also help you negotiate with creditors. There are specific questions to ask to help you find a credit counseling organization to work with.

Trouble paying your auto loan?

Your lender may have options that will help. Our tips include changing the date of your payment, requesting a payment plan, and asking for a payment extension

How to work with your bank or credit union

With many of us staying home to help flatten the coronavirus curve, online banking allows you to handle your finances from the comfort of home. Here are some tips for people who are new to online or mobile banking.

Generally, all bank deposits up to $250,000 are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Deposits at all federal credit unions, and the vast majority of state-chartered credit unions, are also insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF).

How to work with debt collectors

If you currently have a debt in collections, you can work with collectors to identify a realistic repayment plan.

The Bureau offers a number of resources for contacting and negotiating with debt collection companies, especially as we deal with the impact of the coronavirus.

What to do if you lose your income

State and local governments vary in the programs and offerings to help those financially impacted by the coronavirus.

You can look to your state’s unemployment policies to identify current options for benefits. The recently passed CARES Act allows states to extend benefits to self-employed and gig workers, and to provide an extra $600 per week as well as an additional 13 weeks of benefits. Your state’s public health office may also have information.

Older adults may be impacted by the coronavirus and quarantine procedures in different ways than the general public. There may be government benefits available to older adults who need financial help. Visit benefitscheckup.org for more information and to see if you qualify for any state or local assistance.

Be aware of potential scam attempts

Scammers look for opportunities to take advantage of the vulnerable, especially during times of emergencies or natural disasters. Be cautious of emails, texts, or social media posts that may be selling fake products or information about emerging coronavirus cases.

Click here for more information on scams specific to the coronavirus.

The Federal Trade Commission has tips to protect yourself from possible coronavirus-related scams. The FTC and the Food and Drug Administration have also cautioned consumers to be on the look-out for sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, claiming they can treat or prevent coronavirus.

Learn more about how to prevent, recognize, and report fraud and scams.

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Debt Counseling
Debt, Debt Consolidation

Debt Counseling to Get out of Debt on a Limited Budget

Most people who seek debt counseling want to get out of debt but struggle with limited funds. If you had more money, you would likely pay off your credit card debt. According to an article by cheatsheet.com, most people would love it if their debt just magically disappeared. When you sign up for a debt management plan, your credit card debt doesn’t disappear but your stress often does. That’s because you finally have a debt repayment plan that is simply and doable. When you live in a tight budget, it helps to enjoy lower interest rates that come with debt consolidation. If you can’t afford to make extra payments on your credit cards, consider debt counseling to figure out solutions for you. Otherwise, all of your payments simply go toward interest. You end up treading water when it comes to your debt. Financial experts suggest 5 ways to get out of credit card debt with scare funds.

Start a plan

To get out of credit card debt, open yourself up to debt counseling. A credit counselor looks at how much debt you currently have as well as which lenders you owe money to. With a debt management plan, the plan is simple and straightforward. A credit counselor negotiates the payment plan with lenders so you get better terms and lower interest rates.

Make it automatic

The next step to getting out of debt on a strict budget is to set up automatic payments to your debt management plan. You make one monthly payment, which is easily deducted from a bank account. By putting your finances on autopilot, you have more time to devote to making money. An automatic payment plan takes away your excuses. All you need to do is focus on making sure there is enough money in the account, which means budgeting and planning.

Cut spending

Learning to live below your means takes a lot of practice for natural spenders who love shopping and buying for themselves and others. Cutting spending is common sense when you have limited money. Most people find places to cut by looking in the entertainment category. Think of ways to have fun that cost nothing. Focus more on the experiences you share with loved ones as opposed to material items you buy.

Change your habits

Another good tips is to adopt new financial habits. To become debt-free, you need to avoid situations that tempt you into overspending. If you buy impulse items at certain stores, go shopping with someone who will hold you accountable. Avoid driving past tempting coffee shops or restaurants if food is your weakness.

Seek help

According to the cheatsheet.com article, people who feel overwhelmed by their credit card debt benefit from debt counseling through a credit counseling agency. You can often get affordable or free advice as well as help setting up a debt management plan. Some possible solutions include consolidating loans and learning to follow a comprehensive budget.

At Christian Credit Counselors, we offer financial advice and help for consumers struggling with debt. Whether you have a high-paying job or a tight budget due to limited income, we can help you get out of credit card debt. For more information about how debt counseling frees consumers with excessive debt, please contact us.

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Debt Consolidation
Debt Consolidation

Debt Consolidation Before Credit Card Rates on Existing Debt Goes Up

If you have put your credit card statements aside, figuring you will get to it eventually, it’s more important than ever to consider debt consolidation. When you sign up for debt consolidation, you lower your interest rate so you can pay off all of your credit card debt in less time. It’s becoming increasingly more important to pay attention to credit card debt. According to a piece by bankrate.com, rates on existing credit card debt will likely go up as the Fed increases the prime rate. Last year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found a person with about $15,000 worth of credit card debt will most likely deal with about $150 of interest rate charges if the Fed raises the rates by as little as one percent. While rates begin to go up, consider locking in on a lower rate. A trained credit counselor will talk to your creditors to negotiate a debt management plan. Unlike a debt settlement plan, it’s not about walking away from your debt. It’s about facing your debt head one, but enjoying a break given to you by your creditors who decrease the interest rates and often forgive late charges.

Getting honest about the problem

Experts say the first step you can take when you have a lot of credit card debt is to get real or honest about the situation. Consider your future goals and plans. Do you want to retire in five years? Do you hope to get out of debt so you can buy a home in two years? When you figure out your goals, you will likely find the motivation to make positive changes. A Christian credit counseling company will show you how to accomplish your goals with debt consolidation.

Making room in your budget

Some people make the mistake of having an extremely strict budget that is impossible to maintain. When you consolidate debt, you find out how much you will pay every month to satisfy all of your creditors included in the debt management plan. If you owe, for example, $150 a month to satisfy a debt management plan, you know how much is left for other bills, rent or mortgage, food, gasoline, cellular phone, cable, utilities and other items. Make room in your budget or retirement savings and emergency savings. Also, allow for a little breathing room for discretionary spending and entertainment.

At Christian Credit Counselors, we put the joy back into managing your finances. Talk to us about the benefits of debt consolidation before rates on your credit cards go up. For more details about how to get out of debt 80 percent faster than other programs, please contact us.

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Budgeting, Christian Credit Counselors, College Debt, Consumer, Coupons, Credit Cards, Credit Counseling, Credit Score, Debit & Your Credit Score, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Finance, Freebie, Holiday Tips, Kids & Money, Money Management

10 Back-To-School Shopping Tips that Save Money

To your kids, shopping for new clothes, gear, and school supplies may be the only good thing about going back to school, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune every year. Here are 10 great ideas for how to get everything they need and save a few bucks doing it.

Hold off buying trendier gear

Kids may love a certain lunch box or pencil case they find in July, but once they start school and see that their friends are all using another kind, they’ll beg you to upgrade them, and that only results in wasted cash.

Shop end-of-summer sales

You know as well as we do that kids wear short sleeve polo shirts all year long, so hit the big summer sales and snap up discounted duds that can be worn well into fall.

Stick to the list

The teacher’s supply list at the start of a new school year is daunting enough so don’t waste time and money on unlisted items. Extra supplies, while they may be cute, will probably never get used and just leave your pockets empty.

Head to the supermarket for basic supplies

Check weekly circulars for great deals on pens and loose-leaf paper, and get your weekly grocery shopping done at the same time. Bonus: buying everything in one place will save time and gas money!

Let the kids raid your cabinets

The kids can select home-office supplies and then personalize them in unique ways. For example, decorate inexpensive plain, white binders with digital photos by creating a collage and inserting the page into the plastic outer cover.

Host a back-to-school swap

Round up a couple of other moms with kids the same gender as yours but different ages, and host an annual clothes swap. Trade toys and books, too! You’ll save a bundle.

Plan lunch

When you’re in charge of what your child eats, you’ll save yourself money. Check the weekly circulars at your local supermarkets for sales. If turkey isn’t on sale one week and ham is, go for the ham!

Buy bright

Lost school supplies may be a given, but gear that’s hard to miss can stave off the inevitable. Pack all their pencils, erasers, and other goodies into a bright backpack or pencil pouch to keep them from disappearing.

Shop the big three

Old Navy, Gap Kids, and The Children’s Place rotate merchandise often. Ask when they do their markdowns so you can grab the deals. Also, if you see an item you bought in the past 14 days on sale later, you can get the difference refunded, you don’t need the clothing, just the receipt.

Browse craigslist.org

Yes, you can find top-quality stuff on the cheap, but you can be a seller, too. Why not get some cash for that barely worn, now outgrown brand-name outfit? Just enter your location and click on “Baby and Kids.”

By: Parenting.com

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Budgeting, Christian Credit Counselors, College Debt, Consumer, Coupons, Credit, Credit Cards, Credit Counseling, Credit Score, Debit & Your Credit Score, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Debt Settlement, Goals, House, Kids & Money, Money Management, Personal Goals, Saving, Student Loans, Uncategorized

Use the Start of the School Year to Set the Stage for Your Child’s Financial Success

By: Brittany Frost

Where did the summer go? As the school year rapidly approaches, children are preparing for the academic and social journey of the next grade level while parents are bracing their financial situation for the costs of continuing education. Parents can take this golden opportunity to go above and beyond just shopping for school supplies at Wal-Mart and, instead, show their children how to budget, save, and spend their money in order to teach them how to financially prepare for school (which will undoubtedly come in handy for college).

Alarmingly, a study released in July by the FINRA Foundation estimated that almost two-thirds of Americans couldn’t pass a basic financial literacy test, including calculating interest payments correctly (See Ref. 1). When you pair that with the fact that public, in-state college tuition, room, and board has risen 1300% since 1971 (See Ref. 2) and a recent survey showing that 75% of U.S. workers have student loan debt so high that they contribute less to their retirement (See Ref. 3), it is easy to see why parents must take every opportunity to educate themselves and their children so they do not end up in pools of unmanageable student loan debt. It is never too early to avoid the debt cycle and teach your children to financially prepare for school. Think about it: Did you or do you still struggle with enormous student loan debt? Did you avoid college altogether because you couldn’t afford it? Or did you have the financial means or knowledge to keep your student loan debt to a minimum? Either way, think of your financial mistakes, trials, and triumphs and use the start of this school year to teach your children everything you’ve learned about financially preparing for school. Use your experiences along with the following resources and ideas as motivation to set the stage for your child’s financial success or, perhaps, to change your own path.

So how can you do this? Include your child in the financial process of preparing for school. Sit down and discuss with them. Educate them on the difference between a “want” and “need” so they can decide what they need for school. Ask for their opinion and listen. Use free online budgeting tools available on www.christiancreditcounselors.com to set a budget together. Discuss and research ways to stick to that budget by using free resources such as Passionate Penny Pincher’s Free Back-to-School Cheat Sheet for a complete list of back-to-school deals. Record and track your spending. Make back-to-school shopping a learning experience through mathematical games. In “7 Smart Ways to Save on Back-to-School Clothing,” Deacon Hayes also suggests tips like assessing your child’s current school inventory, visiting thrift stores first, and adding in a fun but frugal activity such as stopping for an inexpensive lunch or treat to make back-to-school shopping a happy experience (See Ref. 4). Above all, just enjoy spending time and working toward your financial goals together as a family. By doing this, you will not just be buying more pencils and notebooks, but you will be setting the stage for the financial success of your children AND yourself. Here’s to a successful school year!

References

1.       Farber, Madeline. Fortune. Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Can’t Pass a Basic Test of Financial Literacy. 12 Jul. 2016. http://fortune.com/2016/07/12/financial-literacy/

2.       Jacoby, Jeff. The Boston Globe. Making college ‘free’ will only make it worse. 13 Jul. 2016. 18-20. http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ncher.us/resource/collection/6E4F0103-05C8-4F48-844E-BEEAC285C10B/db0714_2016.pdf

3.       O’Connell, Brian. The Street. 75% of U.S. Workers Say High Student Loan Debt is Crippling Their Retirement. 12 Jul. 2016. https://www.thestreet.com/story/13627148/2/75-of-u-s-workers-say-high-student-loan-debt-is-crippling-their-retirement-savings.html

4.       Hayes, Deacon. U.S. News Money. 7 Smart Ways to Save on Back-to-School Clothing. 15 Jul. 2016. http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/2016-07-15/7-smart-ways-to-save-on-back-to-school-clothing

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Debt Consolidation
Debt, Debt Consolidation

Hidden Perks of Debt Consolidation When You Have High Balances

People who keep high credit card balances often face challenges buying a home or simply living a stress-free life. According to a recent article by marketwatch.com, paying off your credit cards helps borrowers get into a new home in some cases. Fannie Mae plans to reward people seeking home loans when they pay off credit card debt. By consolidating debt with a debt management plan, you put yourself in a better position to buy a home as well as enjoy other hidden perks. Debt consolidation relieves stress for consumers as well as gives them hope and a positive direction.

Avoiding bankruptcy

Debt consolidation allows you to completely avoid bankruptcy. Declaring bankruptcy often destroys your credit for 7 to 10 years. Many consumers can’t get car loans, home loans or other credit for years after going through bankruptcy. When you sign up for debt consolidation with a Christian credit counseling company, you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you paid your debtors instead of walking away from the obligations.

Relieving stress

In order to afford to pay off debt, you often make sacrifices or cut spending. Whether you change your spending habits or go out and earn more money, it’s often stressful. Once they get going with the snowball method of debt repayment through a credit counseling company, many people feel peaceful. A debt management plan that employs the snowball method pay off the card with smallest balance before moving to cards with larger balances. As you get closer to your target date for completing a debt management plan, your stress loan feels lighter.

Boosting your credit score

Debt consolidation is about putting all your credit card debt together for one monthly payment. A side effect is that your credit score eventually goes up. It will not happen right away, but one of the hidden benefits of debt consolidation is an improved credit score. Your credit score is a factor that influences what kind of financial interest rates you achieve. When you sign up for debt consolidation, you also receive overall credit counseling. Your credit card will likely go up when you learn the secrets for budgeting, financial planning and strategies for saving for the future.

At Christian Credit Counselors, we work hard to help consumers avoid bankruptcy. For help with debt consolidation and credit counseling, please contact us.

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Debt Consolidation
Debt Consolidation

Why Debt Consolidation Even When You Have a Good Job

Just because you have a great career you love doesn’t mean you don’t need credit counseling. Oftentimes successful people opt for debt consolidation as a way to improve their personal financial situation and eliminate credit card debt. According to a recent piece by fool.com, recent data by ValuePenguin shows middle-aged Americans have the highest credit card balances compared to any other age category. Many middle-aged people ages 45 to 54 have stable careers and own homes yet they feel overwhelmed by credit card debt. The data by ValuePenguin indicated the average middle-aged borrower owes about $9,000 in credit card debt. “Generation X” debt is about $3,000 more compared to members of the millennial generation. In addition to consolidating debt with a debt management plan, consider other ways to solve the challenge.

When earning more means spending more

People who earn more money also tend to spend more. While it’s difficult to change your lifestyle, consider going back to the budget you had when you were just starting out. Swap out expensive gourmet products for generic brands.

When children monopolize your bank account

Another challenge for middle-aged consumers is the cost of raising children. Teenagers and young adult children are particularly expensive. Experts say college costs for children often eat up your income when you hit your 40s and 50s. Instead of spending all your money on home repairs, college costs and clothing, set aside money for a debt management plan. When you pay off the debt management plan, you no longer have the “bad debt” from credit cards. You can take the money you spent on paying credit cards to save for retirement and other savings goals.

Experts suggest identifying all of your credit card bills and paying them off. Debt consolidation is an easy and convenient way to reduce debt in less time. In fact, some people who rely on Christian credit counseling embrace a completely debt-free life. It is important to eliminate bad debt before you become cash-strapped on a fixed income in your 60s and 70s. While self-control is one factor for getting out of debt, another factor is to have a reasonable strategy.

At Christian Credit Counselors, we help consumers by giving them a realistic timeline for paying off all their credit cards. We also work for you to reduce your interest rate on the credit cards paid through a debt management plan. For more information on debt consolidation, please contact us.

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Debt Counseling
Debt Consolidation

Debt Counseling and ‘Exit Counseling’ Helps College Students

After graduating from college students, many young people now receive exit counseling to understand their responsibilities as it relates to student loan debt. Recent college graduates also carry quite a bit of credit card debt. By receiving debt counseling, you can often boost your financial knowledge so your personal finances improve. According to one article by wkyc.com, recent college graduates enter the job market with a better chance of getting hired as U.S. employers say they intend to hire 5 percent more compared to last year. At the same time, the students have record debt. With debt counseling, you find out how to budget, plan and pay off credit card debt so you don’t go into default with other loans. Seven in 10 college students acquired debt. Credit card debt is rarely considered “good debt,” especially when you don’t pay off the balance every month.

Learning lessons of life

An article by journalgazett.net points to a national survey of college students that showed 71 percent did not learn about credit and debt while in school. Also, students gave their schools an average grade of a ‘C’ in terms of getting them ready to manage credit card debt and personal finances once they graduated.

Taking advantage of opportunities

Just as you take advantage of good job offers, you can take advantage of the opportunity to enroll in a debt management plan. A debt management plan allows you to consolidate your credit card debt into one monthly payment. Some college students with student loan debt pay off as much credit card debt as they can during the 6-month grace period when they don’t have to pay on their student loans. Whether you owe college loan debt or not, you can prevent financial stress by dealing with credit card debt.

Boosting your credit score

Another important part of debt counseling is learning how to boost your credit score. When you have a high credit score, you receive a lower interest rate on loans. Most graduates want a car or a home. Lenders expect borrowers to prove their credit worthiness with an acceptable credit score. Once you are out of college, a credit score is more important than your college grades in most cases.

At Christian Credit Counselors, we help people of all ages with debt counseling. Christian credit counseling offers consumers a positive path for paying off debt. In many cases, consumers pay off debt 80 percent faster compared to less effective debt repayment strategies. For more information about debt counseling, please contact us.

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Budgeting, College Debt, Consumer, Credit Cards, Credit Counseling, Debit & Your Credit Score, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Finance, Goals, Holiday Tips, Money Management, Personal Goals

Stop Her Before She Shops Again

Originally posted at Christian Post February 5, 2016.

chuck-bentley

Dear Chuck,

I have a friend who is a non-believer and an impulse buyer, especially on-line. If I suggest to her that she cut up all her credit cards, I’m concerned that such a plan leaves her without a tool that she will sometimes need. But my fear is that she will also use this one credit card to continue buying things she doesn’t need. How I can help her stop buying things online that she doesn’t need? Help!

A Worried Friend

Dear Friend,

What a blessing it is for your friend to have a Christian in her life who cares about her, prays for her, and wants to help her get free from the bondage of impulse spending. Without help, she will likely suffer the consequences of excessive debt and continual stress.

One of the reasons so many of us struggle with spending is that it feeds something in our hearts, a need that we try to fill with things. Impulse spending or compulsive shopping, especially when it involves going into debt, is often driven by our emotional state. We shop to try and make ourselves happy.

I had a friend who went through several job interviews for a significant promotion. The day it was announced that he did not get the promotion, he left the office, drove to a car dealership and purchased a brand new car – that he could not afford. It was totally out of character for him. He told me later he was trying to cover his disappointment with something he thought would make him feel better about himself. The opposite happened. He grew to resent the car as he made payments month after month and eventually sold it for a significant loss.

The process for really getting free from this habit begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ, who first loved us, who died for us and who can teach us how to put the things of this world into perspective. Before you ask her to cut up the credit card, try a different approach that gets to the real root issue. I recommend that you meet face to face and talk as friends about having a relationship with our Savior. Let her know that you care and want her to experience the freedom you have found in Christ.

Without help, it will be difficult for your friend to let go of the kinds of desires that advertisers twist to get us to buy their products. She will remain vulnerable to trying to meet her emotional needs through stuff, with or without the credit card in her hand.

And then, rather than trying to talk her out of credit cards, let’s talk about budgeting. According to Gallup, two-thirds of Americans don’t budget. Your friend may find that she can understand how her spending is hurting her if she sees how it impacts her bottom line, and Crown can help. There are some great tools for creating a simple budget. And there are people trained to help you with a debt management plan, such as a Crown partner, Christian Credit Counselors.

You’re right that credit cards, in this economy, are often a necessary device. I’ve written about the right way to use a credit card in an earlier Ask Chuck column, but one important tip for all card users is to pay off your balance each month. That way, you have the use of an important tool without the burden of debt.

One of the things that you might be able to do to help your friend grow spiritually as well as in financial maturity is to invite her to share a Bible study with you, and maybe a few other friends, which examines what God says about money. This will provide a less stressful way to begin a conversation about money, about life and about why we make some of the choices that hurt us. You can learn more about that here, but the bottom line is that your time, invested in your friend, could change her life for eternity.

The real peace she needs is found in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Credit cards can be a problem for many of us. But that debt is small compared to the greatest debt we have in our lives: the debt of the penalty for our sin that only Christ can repay. Start with Jesus … the rest will follow.

 

By: http://blog.crown.org/impulse-shopping

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Debt Consolidation
Debt Consolidation

Debt Consolidation to Tackle and End Rising Credit Card Debt

To end rising credit card debt, consider debt consolidation. During the spring, most people clean their homes and look forward to a tax refund. Other people dread owning the IRS. Whether you owe money or get a refund, debt consolidation can help you stabilize your financial situation. According to a recent article by thealternativedaily.com, there are 7 easy ways to tackle and end rising debt. If you have a lot of credit card debt, a Christian Credit counseling company will assist you in tackling the debt through a debt management plan that satisfies your creditors. Experts say consumer debt will cost you more in coming months because of rising interest rates. Credit card debt went up a dramatic 1,500 percent between 1980 and today. At the same time, many people underestimate how much they owe credit card companies.

Start a payment plan

When you sign up for a debt management plan, you get a built-in payment plan without having to think or fret about anything. A credit counselor does the work for you by talking to creditors, lowering interest rates and consolidation your credit card debt. Instead of making minimum payments on each credit card, you make one debt consolidation repayment.

Free up extra cash

To save money in your budget, look for places you can easily cut. Some people find they are paying more than they need to pay for smart phones, cable or subscriptions. Although your savings might seem small, they add up. Check your insurance plans as well for places to save.

Consolidate the smart way

If you take out a personal loan through a bank, you could end up with more debt over the long run. A debt management program helps because you stop using your credit cards. In addition, most people obtain a lower interest rate. To insure your success, consider an automated plan to move money from your bank account to your debt consolidation bill each month.

Talk to a credit counselor

According to the article by thealternativedaily.com, another smart financial move in the spring is to talk to a trained credit counselor. Working with a trained professional means you don’t have to go it alone. A credit counselor is a great resource with ideas on debt consolidation with easier payments.

After you get going in the right direction, make sure to never miss a payment. You can improve your credit score over time by getting out of credit card debt. Put money aside in savings for emergencies. At Christian Credit Counselors, we help consumers interested in slashing their credit card debt and making a fresh start this spring. For more information on debt consolidation, please contact us.

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