Despite the rising confidence of consumers towards our economy, it remains to be a fact that we need to continue working hard to finance our debt payment fund. The recent data from the Federal Bank of New York revealed a continuing rise in consumer debt. The number itself is already alarming. If you take into consideration the long term effects of debt, you will realize just how important it is for us to lower our current debt level.
An article published early this March on USAToday.com revealed how student loans are expected to have a long term impact on our economy. The article mentioned how more 40 million Americans owe $1.2 trillion worth of student loans. It has now surpassed all types of consumer credit – save for housing loans.
It is a devastating picture for young adults to be so buried in debt even before they have been given a chance to prove themselves in the corporate world. While this may drive when to work hard to finance their debt payment fund, it puts them in a compromising position when it comes to investments. At an age when they should have been driving their own vehicles, they could not afford it. Home ownership is also something that is delayed because of this debt. Instead of buying their own home, they are forced to live with their parents just so they can save up and pay down their student loan debts.
If you scrutinize the statistics about debt, you will realize that we need to look for extreme measures to increase debt payment fund. But in some cases you will realize that the changes does not have to be too drastic. You can spot a little sacrifice here and there and it can add up as a huge amount in your monthly credit payments.
10 things you can cut off to have more money for debt payments
Whether you are in the midst or still trying to survive a looming financial crisis, you should know that no small feat is too little for you to try. Do not think that the small savings you get from simple changes will not matter. When it comes to your money, even a penny will matter.
Given that thought, here are 10 things that you may want to consider cutting off to help you grow your debt payment fund.
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Less dining out. Compared to the frequency that we spend eating in our homes or in restaurants and the amount that we spend on each, you need to realize that the latter costs us so much more. If you are used to grabbing that take out every night – you need to change that habit. Just do your grocery every weekend and cook your meals at home.
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Brown bag your lunch. Another simple change that can accumulate to be a huge addition to your debt payment fund is when you brown bag your lunch to work. If you do not like cooking in the morning, you can prepare your lunch at night. Just heat your food in the microwave when you get to the office. That will really cut back on your daily expenses by $5-$10. If you compute that at 25 days a month, it will add up to $125 to $250. In a year, that can add $1,500 to $3,000 towards your credit contributions.
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Cancel gym memberships. Inquire with your local community center if they have their own gym equipment. You can utilize that to save on gym membership fees. This can save you around $100 a month and you do not have to sacrifice your exercise routine. You can also access training videos via Youtube. Jogging and making use of your trusty bike can also help you with your cardio exercises.
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Bundle your Internet. You do not really have to cut your Internet subscription but you may want to bundle it together with your phone or cable subscriptions. The savings will not be as great as your other options but it can add up.
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Cut the cable. Some people think that they cannot live without a cable subscription when it fact, they can. If you find yourself wanting to catch the latest sports event, why not organize a get together a friend’s house (who has cable) and watch as a group? Not only will it cost you less, it will also give you a chance to bond with your peers.
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Eat healthy. If you are wondering how you will cut down on food costs, prioritizing the healthy food choices will do the trick. Believe it or not, the unhealthy food are sometimes the ones that cost you unnecessary money. Why not cut back on potato chips, soda, chocolate and other junk food? Concentrate on rice, beans, vegetables and oatmeal. These will fill you up without having to eat a lot. Not only as your saving, you are taking in healthier food choices.
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Avoid new clothes. Unless it is really necessary, do not buy new clothes. Who cares if you wear the same thing over and over again? With all the tips you can see online or in magazines, you can accessorize the same outfit and make it appear like you are not repeating your wardrobe.
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Buy used everything. From furniture to clothing and electronic, you may want to consider buying only used things from now on. At least, until you have paid off your debts. If you really have to buy clothes, just buy used and whatever you save should be placed in your debt payment fund.
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Use coupons. For some people, coupons have become their way of living. We even have reality shows dedicated to this purchasing tool. The dollar or two that you save for every purchase can really boost your credit payments.
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Lower car expenses. You do not have to go to the extreme by getting rid of your vehicle but you may want to stick with just one. Not only will you benefit from the sale of the second car (if you have one), you will also cut back on costs when it comes to insurance, gas, car repairs, etc. You can check how much your car will really cost you if you go to Edmunds.com. They have a true cost to own calculator that can really help you out.
You can opt to choose only a few from these or you can come up with your own set of saving strategies. Do not worry about the amount at first. No matter how small, remember that it will all add up in the end.
Pay off debt fast to avoid the negative side effects
The Bank for International Settlements published a study on BIS.org that discussed the effect of debt in general. The study revealed that when you borrow in moderation, debt can improve your personal wealth and aid in the growth of your finances. But if it is already too high, it can be destructive already. The study mentioned that for household debt, 85% of the GDP is the limit. Anything more than that can drive the consumer down.
In truth, debt can dictate how you live your life. If it eats up a huge portion of your income, you cannot do anything but comply. Even if you want to move to a new job, you need to make sure that the income is enough to pay for your debt payment fund.
But beyond all of this is the alarming effect of debt in your emotional well being. Here are some of the negative effects that you can expect from being in debt.
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Debt stress. This is a serious problem that borrowers are facing. It can affect not just your everyday disposition, it can also affect your health.
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Relationships. Money is a powerful influence in a marriage, or any relationship for that matter. If you are not careful, you could end up putting a serious strain in the relationship if you do not deal with your debt trouble.
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Delay financial investments. Another effect of debt is it can delay your personal wealth. It can keep you from investing in a car, a business or a home. That will seriously set you back.
These are more are some of the reasons why you have to work hard to grow your debt payment fund. Deal with your credit situation before things get out of hand.