Believe it or not, I’ve been in debt. BIG DEBT. I mean, there were times when I would look for things to sell just to pay the bills.
It was the worst feeling in the world!
I always had stacks of unpaid bills, creditors calling me and a real uneasy feeling in my stomach. And I wasn’t the only one. It seemed like everyone I knew had the same problem.
The truth is, debt has reached epic proportions in our society. Whether you're rich, poor, or somewhere in the middle, chances are you've got debt that's working against your dreams of financial independence.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, I want you to take some action today to start getting out of debt. You’ll be AMAZED at how much better you feel when you don’t have bills hanging over your head. (And you don’t have to win the Power ball jackpot to get out of even the most unbearable debt!)
I’ve been there, and now I’m debt free. Here a few tips I used a long the way:
1. If you're in over your head with multiple credit card accounts, you need to destroy your cards right away. Just keep one card for emergencies. Remember, credit cards have compounded interest – so you actually get charged interest ON INTEREST! So, don’t use them unless you can pay them.
2. Pay more than the minimum payment every month – in fact, pay as much as you can. Money in your account isn’t making you money as fast as your unpaid credit card debt is losing you money!
3. Pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first and pay the rest in descending order. If you tackle the biggest money drain right away you could make a huge impact on your cash flow in a matter of one month.
4. After you pay off one credit card, don't let up. Apply the money you've been paying that particular company to paying off another credit card or another outstanding bill. Set a “credit pay-off budget” and stick to it as you pay down cards. Once you get to the last one, it will seem easy!
5. Don’t “rotate” your debts – pay every one every month. It’s easy to pay a few on time one month, and switch around for the next month. That just keeps you further behind.
6. If you own a home, consider taking out a home equity loan. You could save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars by paying off your high-interest credit debt by moving those balances into a fixed-rate home equity loan.
7. Pay additional money towards your mortgage principal. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars!
8. Open a savings account or an IRA with some of the funds you were dedicating to a now-paid credit card. Special tax-protected investments like an IRA can save you thousands in taxes over the years.
9. Consider debt consolidation. It could help you to consolidate and pay your debt off more quickly. Beware of companies that make unbelievable promises about "fixing" your credit, though - at best, they can be very expensive. At worst, they can be fraudulent. You might be best off consulting with a reliable non-profit credit counseling agency first, such as Debt Counselors of America (DCA) - www.dca.org
10. If you need help along the way, contact the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (1-800-388-2227). They will help you organize and consolidate your debt.
I know you're focused on financial success and maximizing your wealth. Don't overlook how much your debt can undermine your efforts to get ahead. If you take even a few of these tips to heart, you'll soon be well on your way to a debt free, financially successful future. I know you can do it!
Warmly,
Russ Dalbey
The Dalbey Wealth Institute
As the CEO and founder of The Dalbey Wealth Institute, Russ Dalbey has authored dozens of best-selling books and articles on the cash flow business. A highly sought-after public speaker on the topics of wealth, success, and personal motivation, he also holds a record in The Guinness Book of World Records for cycling.
Russ Dalbey is a self-made, self-educated multi-millionaire who made his fortune using the same principles now taught at The Dalbey Wealth Institute. Perhaps more than any other financial educator, Russ understands the importance of simplifying financial education so that anyone can learn to become a millionaire.
“Wealth isn’t just for a certain privileged few,” he says. “In spite of what most financial experts teach, you don’t need to have money to make money. Anyone can learn to master the steps to financial freedom.”
