If you are struggling making ends meet and you simply need assistance getting your next paycheck, think about an easy payday loan from MyCashNow or a different payday advance loan provider. Some great benefits of these loans are often tremendous if you utilize them prudently as a tool to get through periods of financial pressure.
Short term loans, similar to My cash Now payday cash advances, can help you remain current with your bill obligations as well as prevent past due fees along with interest charges. My Cash Now offers loans intended specifically for people who will be in need for money in a matter of a couple of days, in addition to will be able to pay off the borrowed funds quickly when they receive their subsequent paycheck.
Getting a My Cash Now personal loan can really help to relieve your current anxieties concerning your month-to-month payments and monetary problems. Use it mainly in situations where you will be able to repay it in a short period of time, considering interest charges could accumulate after a while. However for an occasional quick cure, my cash nowpersonal loans might be quite worth the cost by taking the strain associated with making ends meet.
You need to be prepared for paying back a MyCashNow personal loan. The provider will require that you present proof of occupation & the money which you generate, as well as a checking account for the borrowed funds to be deposited into. It's a simple process where you may fill up a quick application on-line with your current relevant personal data, and then send the application for authorization. Nearly all loan companies will approve your advance within the same day. A few companies can carry out the entire authorization process as well as deposit your advance to your checking account within one hour!
Bear in mind that after being approved and having your cash deposited into your checking account, you have to use the MyCashNow personal loan in the most effective way you can to strengthen your financial condition. Stick with the plan, and pay off necessary expenses promptly to avoid late payment charges, interest, overdrafts, and so on.
Refrain from any kind of avoidable expenditure whatsoever until you get your subsequent paycheck, afterward repay the borrowed funds entirely. If you cannot fully settle the borrowed funds, then pay off the maximum amount of it as possible. This will help you reduce on interest charges on your advance. It will also make it easier to build up a good credit reputation and a good relationship with your lender. That way if you want a loan just as before soon you will have the choice open to you.
are my cash now loans safe?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Personal Finance Is Your Responsibility
Whether or not you choose to ignore it, you cannot deny the truth embedded in this statement: Your personal finance is and always will be your responsibility.
When it comes to finance, many people put an impractical blind eye to the fact that finances need to be managed. Personal finance is an ever-growing popular term for adults and teenagers alike, regardless of whether you are earning the money or not. After-all bills have to be paid, family members have to be fed and your lifestyle has to be maintained.
The biggest and most neglected step for many families is teaching their teens how to manage their money. Teenage finance is about educating teens on the value of money. Teach them how to save by showing them how to use their primitive form of book-keeping. This can often be incorporated through the child's upbringing via
piggy-banks, savings accounts, and little chores in exchange for money.
Teenage finance is an important part of your personal finance because, too. When your children learn to save and use money wisely, you are subsequently saved from bailing them out of financial troubles in the future.
Personal Ethics and finance go hand-in-hand; if you have a good relationship with yourself, you will be able to save money. You won’t feel the urge to do things that go against your ethics like sign-up for a credit card using someone else’s name.
Personal finance involves taking a few steps toward safe-guarding your money. Your money spent should not exceed your money received. In order to prevent this from happening, you should make a crude balance sheet and use it to record all of your transactions.
Each month write down how much was received and how much was spent. Make a list of all the things the money was spent on, so you can keep track of your money.
You will be amazed at how much we spend on things that are not necessities.
Make a list and stick to it. Always try to get the best deal for your money and remember that cheaper does not necessarily mean lower quality.
After-all it is your money; managing your personal finances should be seen as a mandatory part of making money work for you.
When it comes to finance, many people put an impractical blind eye to the fact that finances need to be managed. Personal finance is an ever-growing popular term for adults and teenagers alike, regardless of whether you are earning the money or not. After-all bills have to be paid, family members have to be fed and your lifestyle has to be maintained.
The biggest and most neglected step for many families is teaching their teens how to manage their money. Teenage finance is about educating teens on the value of money. Teach them how to save by showing them how to use their primitive form of book-keeping. This can often be incorporated through the child's upbringing via
piggy-banks, savings accounts, and little chores in exchange for money.
Teenage finance is an important part of your personal finance because, too. When your children learn to save and use money wisely, you are subsequently saved from bailing them out of financial troubles in the future.
Personal Ethics and finance go hand-in-hand; if you have a good relationship with yourself, you will be able to save money. You won’t feel the urge to do things that go against your ethics like sign-up for a credit card using someone else’s name.
Personal finance involves taking a few steps toward safe-guarding your money. Your money spent should not exceed your money received. In order to prevent this from happening, you should make a crude balance sheet and use it to record all of your transactions.
Each month write down how much was received and how much was spent. Make a list of all the things the money was spent on, so you can keep track of your money.
You will be amazed at how much we spend on things that are not necessities.
Make a list and stick to it. Always try to get the best deal for your money and remember that cheaper does not necessarily mean lower quality.
After-all it is your money; managing your personal finances should be seen as a mandatory part of making money work for you.
Same Day Cash Loans: Extra Cash in the Mid of the Month
Suppose there are no options left from where you can borrow cash in instant in the urgent financial crisis. And without the least delay or probability the same day, you have to execute the sudden befallen end on you. At this stressful time, you can easily supervise and disperse the end. This is viable only if you take the Same Day Cash Loans into consideration. As cash is required within the same day so it has brush aside from many conventional practices. The foremost feature is it is an unsecured form of loan. Applicants can easily grasp the small cash benediction just by meeting some principles of eligibility. The criteria of eligibility are as follows: applicants should be a salaried individual of a firm or organization; applicants should be holding an active bank account.
When Creditors begin Calling it’s Time to begin Credit Repair
This article explores the need for credit repair when creditors start calling. You will see a case study of how one can begin in debt just by paying the essentials but may be able to get out of debt by adjusting a few of those essential items.
When the creditors are ringing the telephone off the hook you know it is time to repair your credit. The U. S. alone has in excess of millions of individuals and families straining to discover a way out of debt. This is the reason when you go online you see thousands of web sites that disclose they have the answer for relieving debt. Do not be fooled! A majority of the telemarketers that say they can get you out of debt can only produce a lot more problems. There is no solution for all of us, but there is a solution for us all individually.
Let us take a look at a case. Let’s say that you make $220 each week per paycheck. Your debt is about $6000 and it does not appear that you can find a way out. Now let’s claim that you have two cars and both are paid in full and you have a monthly rent that equals $500. We understand that you only have $650 per month to buy food, pay utilities, clothes, and other items desired to live. We can not overlook the telephone bill. This seems like an impractical state of affairs but in reality there is a solution available.
Now if your telephone invoice is about $80 per month and you pay out about $60 per week on groceries and about $160 per month on utilities, you will notice that you will have barely a dime left at the end of the month. Thus, the answer is getting a job that pays more, looking for a low-income residence that bases the rent on your income and using less utilities per month.
In today’s time you will pay out $60 simply on groceries and not have enough to make it to the next week. Thus, is it feasible that you can eat foods that are inexpensive and last longer? When you are broke you have to live like a person who is broke. The sadness about people who struggle is that they regularly envy or strive to buy items they do not truly need. Rather than paying the bills on time, they regularly pay a portion of the bill and purchase items that are not needed.
If you have two cars and are a lone individual it is smart to put one of the cars up for sale and use the balance toward the bills. You may notice from this deduction that more money is needed to live. Why are you paying $400 for rent when there is many sources on hand that present rent for less? Now let us twist this around.
From here on out, we will give you tips on how you may be able to get out of debt and begin to keep a little money for yourself. This article should become a little more helpful to you.
What if you effectively rented a low-income apartment? Let’s say that your rent amount is lowered to $300 per month. This leaves you an additional $200 per month to purchase groceries, pay utilities, pay your telephone bill, pay car insurance and have a few bucks left over each month. This is one answer and it does not produce much but it does produce a small reward. Now if you can lower your utilities to around $100 per month that is another $60 you could pay out on bills.
If your credit history is delinquent, yet you are not sinking in quicksand you might qualify for a credit card. The answer is not to get the credit card to purchase items, instead it is to get a credit card that will help you pay your monthly bills and allow room to repay the credit card. Ensure the credit card has low interest rates and no annual fees attached. If you can get by with no credit card, all the better, but in today’s society it is nearly impossible now to go without a card.
If you can get a job with higher wages then this is beneficial too. The disadvantage is when people get better paying jobs, they regularly take it for granted and land further in debt. The more money you make the more you spend. It pays to be cautious with your money and keep aware of your credit situation to maintain a repair in place. When creditors are calling, it is time to fix your credit so get ahead of the game before the telephone starts ringing.
No matter which way you look at it, having a firm understanding of credit repair will benefit you in the long run, even if it is just slightly.
When the creditors are ringing the telephone off the hook you know it is time to repair your credit. The U. S. alone has in excess of millions of individuals and families straining to discover a way out of debt. This is the reason when you go online you see thousands of web sites that disclose they have the answer for relieving debt. Do not be fooled! A majority of the telemarketers that say they can get you out of debt can only produce a lot more problems. There is no solution for all of us, but there is a solution for us all individually.
Let us take a look at a case. Let’s say that you make $220 each week per paycheck. Your debt is about $6000 and it does not appear that you can find a way out. Now let’s claim that you have two cars and both are paid in full and you have a monthly rent that equals $500. We understand that you only have $650 per month to buy food, pay utilities, clothes, and other items desired to live. We can not overlook the telephone bill. This seems like an impractical state of affairs but in reality there is a solution available.
Now if your telephone invoice is about $80 per month and you pay out about $60 per week on groceries and about $160 per month on utilities, you will notice that you will have barely a dime left at the end of the month. Thus, the answer is getting a job that pays more, looking for a low-income residence that bases the rent on your income and using less utilities per month.
In today’s time you will pay out $60 simply on groceries and not have enough to make it to the next week. Thus, is it feasible that you can eat foods that are inexpensive and last longer? When you are broke you have to live like a person who is broke. The sadness about people who struggle is that they regularly envy or strive to buy items they do not truly need. Rather than paying the bills on time, they regularly pay a portion of the bill and purchase items that are not needed.
If you have two cars and are a lone individual it is smart to put one of the cars up for sale and use the balance toward the bills. You may notice from this deduction that more money is needed to live. Why are you paying $400 for rent when there is many sources on hand that present rent for less? Now let us twist this around.
From here on out, we will give you tips on how you may be able to get out of debt and begin to keep a little money for yourself. This article should become a little more helpful to you.
What if you effectively rented a low-income apartment? Let’s say that your rent amount is lowered to $300 per month. This leaves you an additional $200 per month to purchase groceries, pay utilities, pay your telephone bill, pay car insurance and have a few bucks left over each month. This is one answer and it does not produce much but it does produce a small reward. Now if you can lower your utilities to around $100 per month that is another $60 you could pay out on bills.
If your credit history is delinquent, yet you are not sinking in quicksand you might qualify for a credit card. The answer is not to get the credit card to purchase items, instead it is to get a credit card that will help you pay your monthly bills and allow room to repay the credit card. Ensure the credit card has low interest rates and no annual fees attached. If you can get by with no credit card, all the better, but in today’s society it is nearly impossible now to go without a card.
If you can get a job with higher wages then this is beneficial too. The disadvantage is when people get better paying jobs, they regularly take it for granted and land further in debt. The more money you make the more you spend. It pays to be cautious with your money and keep aware of your credit situation to maintain a repair in place. When creditors are calling, it is time to fix your credit so get ahead of the game before the telephone starts ringing.
No matter which way you look at it, having a firm understanding of credit repair will benefit you in the long run, even if it is just slightly.
Your Ticket To Financial Freedom
Now days it is nearly impossible today for the average family to thrive on a single income. However, the skyrocketing cost of child care makes it difficult for both parents to work. Fortunately, the internet has made making money online a suitable income option without the need for commuting or day care.
Making money online means much more than entering contests and sweepstakes; it is not uncommon to see a professional create a home business in computer programming, accounting, medical billing, and many other fields. Making money online has never been easier! All that is required is a computer, a reliable internet connection, and an idea.
Often times, the most challenging task involved in making money online is coming up with the perfect idea. We're not all computer programmers, web developers, or content writers. However, we all have some talent or skill that others will pay for. Making money online is as simple as figuring out what you do well and deciding how to leverage that talent into an opportunity.
For example, a friend of mine had little computer experience, but was interested in making money online. I suggested that she think about what she enjoyed doing and using that as the basis for her home business. She said that her greatest skill was the creation of unique homemade jewelry items. She hired another home business professional (a web designer) to build a website for her and she is now making money online selling her jewelry creations.
Making money online by starting a home business is not the daunting task that many budding entrepreneurs assume. If you carefully consider your skills and talents and figure out how to leverage those abilities on the internet, you'll be making money online in no time!
Making money online means much more than entering contests and sweepstakes; it is not uncommon to see a professional create a home business in computer programming, accounting, medical billing, and many other fields. Making money online has never been easier! All that is required is a computer, a reliable internet connection, and an idea.
Often times, the most challenging task involved in making money online is coming up with the perfect idea. We're not all computer programmers, web developers, or content writers. However, we all have some talent or skill that others will pay for. Making money online is as simple as figuring out what you do well and deciding how to leverage that talent into an opportunity.
For example, a friend of mine had little computer experience, but was interested in making money online. I suggested that she think about what she enjoyed doing and using that as the basis for her home business. She said that her greatest skill was the creation of unique homemade jewelry items. She hired another home business professional (a web designer) to build a website for her and she is now making money online selling her jewelry creations.
Making money online by starting a home business is not the daunting task that many budding entrepreneurs assume. If you carefully consider your skills and talents and figure out how to leverage those abilities on the internet, you'll be making money online in no time!
7 Quick Cash Fixes To Recover From A Money Emergency
When you are desperate to raise emergency funds, it usually doesn’t take very long for you to realize who really cares about you, who is truly a friend ... be they family or not.
Here are a few emergency budgeting tips:
Budgeting Tip #1: The first thing you want to do is prioritize to get back on track very quickly. If that means letting your credit card bill go for a bit, so be it. As soon as you realize that you have a money emergency, contact your credit card issuers and request reduced interest rates and payments. Not only one, both!
Budgeting Tip #2: For your car payment, call the creditor and request a payment extension. Perhaps you hate payment extensions, because they require a fee and you still have to make the payment at the end of the contract. In this case, a payment extension can allow a little breathing room to help you recover during your money emergency. Expect that you will likely have to pay a fee (usually about ¼ - 1/3 the car payment amount) for the extension. Freeing up the money you need today is your first and only goal at this point.
Budgeting Tip #3: Check to see if your mortgage holder will allow an extension for a nominal fee. Do this today!
Budgeting Tip #4: Another quick fix, is to host an on the spot yard sale. You don’t have too much time for planning, so do a quick survey of your personal belongings. Come up with clothes that no longer fit, but that are in good condition, knick-knacks, dishes, and books as well as stuff you bought but no longer use. Throw it all together, quickly. Put some notices up the same day at laundry mats and grocery stores around town, and remember to place a sign at the end of your driveway. You can make a quick $300 this way with very little time and effort.
Budgeting Tip #5: If you have a larger item to sell, call into the local radio stations to see if they have a “call in swap show” on the weekends. This is a very popular way to quickly convert gently used and more expensive items to fast cash.
Budgeting Tip #6: Another quick option is with utility and telephone bills. If you aren’t already on a budget plan, ask that the current bill (plus any previous balance you owe) be set up for a budget plan. Expect to pay a down payment (usually ¼ of the bill) and that all future bills (while on the back payment budget plan) must be kept current. The nice thing about it ... it’s usually interest free, and can give you some much-needed breathing space for a month. You must be sure though that you maintain the regular utility payments AND the budget payments in the coming month.
Budgeting Tip #7: Check with your family church regarding emergency help. Local churches can be one of the best places to find out what’s available in the community to help those in need, or in times of emergency. Check with your local church, first.
Getting Fast Cash through Borrowing
If you are absolutely, positively, in a bind, a real cash emergency, and you have exhausted all of the above, then consider borrowing. First, ask your family, then your local bank.
As a last resort, you may want to consider what’s known as a “Payday Loan.” These types of borrowing stores can be useful when all else fails.
Here are a few emergency budgeting tips:
Budgeting Tip #1: The first thing you want to do is prioritize to get back on track very quickly. If that means letting your credit card bill go for a bit, so be it. As soon as you realize that you have a money emergency, contact your credit card issuers and request reduced interest rates and payments. Not only one, both!
Budgeting Tip #2: For your car payment, call the creditor and request a payment extension. Perhaps you hate payment extensions, because they require a fee and you still have to make the payment at the end of the contract. In this case, a payment extension can allow a little breathing room to help you recover during your money emergency. Expect that you will likely have to pay a fee (usually about ¼ - 1/3 the car payment amount) for the extension. Freeing up the money you need today is your first and only goal at this point.
Budgeting Tip #3: Check to see if your mortgage holder will allow an extension for a nominal fee. Do this today!
Budgeting Tip #4: Another quick fix, is to host an on the spot yard sale. You don’t have too much time for planning, so do a quick survey of your personal belongings. Come up with clothes that no longer fit, but that are in good condition, knick-knacks, dishes, and books as well as stuff you bought but no longer use. Throw it all together, quickly. Put some notices up the same day at laundry mats and grocery stores around town, and remember to place a sign at the end of your driveway. You can make a quick $300 this way with very little time and effort.
Budgeting Tip #5: If you have a larger item to sell, call into the local radio stations to see if they have a “call in swap show” on the weekends. This is a very popular way to quickly convert gently used and more expensive items to fast cash.
Budgeting Tip #6: Another quick option is with utility and telephone bills. If you aren’t already on a budget plan, ask that the current bill (plus any previous balance you owe) be set up for a budget plan. Expect to pay a down payment (usually ¼ of the bill) and that all future bills (while on the back payment budget plan) must be kept current. The nice thing about it ... it’s usually interest free, and can give you some much-needed breathing space for a month. You must be sure though that you maintain the regular utility payments AND the budget payments in the coming month.
Budgeting Tip #7: Check with your family church regarding emergency help. Local churches can be one of the best places to find out what’s available in the community to help those in need, or in times of emergency. Check with your local church, first.
Getting Fast Cash through Borrowing
If you are absolutely, positively, in a bind, a real cash emergency, and you have exhausted all of the above, then consider borrowing. First, ask your family, then your local bank.
As a last resort, you may want to consider what’s known as a “Payday Loan.” These types of borrowing stores can be useful when all else fails.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Debt Settlement -- Why the Critics Are Wrong
A lot more people are becoming interested in debt settlement as an alternative to bankruptcy. That's because a new bankruptcy law was enacted on October 17, 2005, which means a rude awakening for many consumers seeking a fresh start in bankruptcy court.
It used to be that 7 out of 10 people filing personal bankruptcy were granted Chapter 7 status, where the unsecured debts are totally wiped away. That has changed under the new rules. If your income is above the median for your state, or you can pay back at least $100 per month toward your debts, then you'll be turned down for Chapter 7. Instead, you'll be shifted into Chapter 13, where you pay back a portion of the debt over 3-5 years.
It gets worse. When the court calculates your allowable living expenses, it will use the approved IRS schedules, not your actual documented expenses. So even if you don't think you can pay $100 a month or more, the judge will probably disagree. Instead of a fresh start, many people will be faced with the grim reality of a harsh 5-year plan, on a court-mandated budget that forces them to adopt a much lower standard of living. That's where debt settlement starts to look pretty attractive.
Yes, I know debt settlement has its critics. I've criticized aspects of the industry myself. But what the critics don't seem to understand is that this approach is for people who would otherwise go bankrupt! Let's examine the three main complaints against debt settlement and see where the critics are missing the mark.
"Debt settlement has a negative impact on your credit score."
Wow. Big deal! Pretend it's two years from now. Would you rather have an A+ credit rating or be totally free of debt? Pick one please, because you can't have both. All debt reduction programs have a negative impact on credit scores. That's why only people who truly can't keep up with their bills should go into one of these programs. But it's pointless to worry about your credit while you're being crushed with debt. That's like worrying about how the yard looks after your house has burned down.
"You might have to pay taxes on the canceled portion of the debt."
I've always been amazed at how frequently this lame criticism is repeated in article after article. Yes, it's possible that you may need to pay taxes on forgiven debt balances, but the odds are against it. That's because the IRS allows insolvent taxpayers to exclude canceled debts. So unless you have a positive net worth, you probably won't need to pay taxes on your settlements. And even if you did, so what? You'd be paying taxes because you saved a bunch of money off your debts! And this is a problem?
"Collection activity will continue and you might get sued."
Yes, if you fall behind on your bills, your creditors will most certainly continue attempts to collect what's owed, and one or more of those creditors might sue you in civil court. But again, this criticism totally misses the mark. Collection activity is already a function of being in debt trouble. At least debt settlement allows the consumer to use the collection process to eliminate debt through negotiated compromises. Even lawsuits need not be cause for panic, since they can often be settled out of court. The only reason to allow a legal action to proceed to the point of wage garnishment, property lien, or bank levy is lack of financial resources with which to settle. And if that's the case, the debtor should be talking to a bankruptcy attorney anyway.
In contrast, let's look at some of the positives of debt settlement.
1. You can save $1,000s versus any other method of debt elimination (except for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is much more difficult to accomplish now that the new law is in effect).
2. You can get out of debt in 2-3 years, and much faster if there is some available home equity to work with. This is a lot better than 5 years in the financial boot camp of Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or 5-9 years in a credit counseling program.
3. You keep control over the process more than with any other approach.
4. You maintain personal privacy. With bankruptcy, your case file becomes a matter of public record, easily located via Internet search by future employers, landlords, or creditors.
5. You retain your dignity while working through your financial problems. Bankruptcy still feels like failure to a lot of people. Debt settlement represents an honest and ethical alternative to that extreme solution.
6. You can adjust your monthly funding into the settlement program up or down depending on real-world conditions in your financial life. If your income fluctuates from one month to the next, or you get hit with an unexpected expense, it won't torpedo the whole program. The built-in flexibility of debt settlement gives it a huge advantage over other options, all of which require a fixed monthly payment.
Once you're made the determination that debt settlement makes sense for your situation, you'll need to decide whether to go it alone or seek professional assistance. For people who aren't easily intimidated, there's no question that the do-it-yourself approach is the way to go. For others who can't handle the least bit of pressure or just want to focus their time and energy elsewhere, hiring a professional settlement company may be the correct choice.
If you do decide to take the do-it-yourself approach, follow these tips:
* Use a privacy manager on your telephone service to screen creditor calls so that you only speak to creditors when you're ready.
* Make sure you have a solid game plan for building up money to settle with, and set the funds aside in a separate bank account.
* Do not send settlement funds until you have the deal in writing. No exceptions!
* After paying the settlement, follow up to obtain a zero balance letter from the creditor, so you don't have bogus collection problems later on.
* Know your rights as a consumer by reading the free resource articles on debt, credit, and collections at the Federal Trade Commission website: www.ftc.gov
* Don't be intimidated or pressured into accepting a settlement deal that you can't handle.
Remember, thousands of people settle their own debts every year, without the need for lawyers or bankruptcy. You can do it too if you're disciplined, determined, and prepared to ignore some of the crazy stuff that bill collectors say. When you're finally debt-free, you'll feel a lot better about having worked it out on your own. Good luck on your road to debt freedom!
It used to be that 7 out of 10 people filing personal bankruptcy were granted Chapter 7 status, where the unsecured debts are totally wiped away. That has changed under the new rules. If your income is above the median for your state, or you can pay back at least $100 per month toward your debts, then you'll be turned down for Chapter 7. Instead, you'll be shifted into Chapter 13, where you pay back a portion of the debt over 3-5 years.
It gets worse. When the court calculates your allowable living expenses, it will use the approved IRS schedules, not your actual documented expenses. So even if you don't think you can pay $100 a month or more, the judge will probably disagree. Instead of a fresh start, many people will be faced with the grim reality of a harsh 5-year plan, on a court-mandated budget that forces them to adopt a much lower standard of living. That's where debt settlement starts to look pretty attractive.
Yes, I know debt settlement has its critics. I've criticized aspects of the industry myself. But what the critics don't seem to understand is that this approach is for people who would otherwise go bankrupt! Let's examine the three main complaints against debt settlement and see where the critics are missing the mark.
"Debt settlement has a negative impact on your credit score."
Wow. Big deal! Pretend it's two years from now. Would you rather have an A+ credit rating or be totally free of debt? Pick one please, because you can't have both. All debt reduction programs have a negative impact on credit scores. That's why only people who truly can't keep up with their bills should go into one of these programs. But it's pointless to worry about your credit while you're being crushed with debt. That's like worrying about how the yard looks after your house has burned down.
"You might have to pay taxes on the canceled portion of the debt."
I've always been amazed at how frequently this lame criticism is repeated in article after article. Yes, it's possible that you may need to pay taxes on forgiven debt balances, but the odds are against it. That's because the IRS allows insolvent taxpayers to exclude canceled debts. So unless you have a positive net worth, you probably won't need to pay taxes on your settlements. And even if you did, so what? You'd be paying taxes because you saved a bunch of money off your debts! And this is a problem?
"Collection activity will continue and you might get sued."
Yes, if you fall behind on your bills, your creditors will most certainly continue attempts to collect what's owed, and one or more of those creditors might sue you in civil court. But again, this criticism totally misses the mark. Collection activity is already a function of being in debt trouble. At least debt settlement allows the consumer to use the collection process to eliminate debt through negotiated compromises. Even lawsuits need not be cause for panic, since they can often be settled out of court. The only reason to allow a legal action to proceed to the point of wage garnishment, property lien, or bank levy is lack of financial resources with which to settle. And if that's the case, the debtor should be talking to a bankruptcy attorney anyway.
In contrast, let's look at some of the positives of debt settlement.
1. You can save $1,000s versus any other method of debt elimination (except for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is much more difficult to accomplish now that the new law is in effect).
2. You can get out of debt in 2-3 years, and much faster if there is some available home equity to work with. This is a lot better than 5 years in the financial boot camp of Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or 5-9 years in a credit counseling program.
3. You keep control over the process more than with any other approach.
4. You maintain personal privacy. With bankruptcy, your case file becomes a matter of public record, easily located via Internet search by future employers, landlords, or creditors.
5. You retain your dignity while working through your financial problems. Bankruptcy still feels like failure to a lot of people. Debt settlement represents an honest and ethical alternative to that extreme solution.
6. You can adjust your monthly funding into the settlement program up or down depending on real-world conditions in your financial life. If your income fluctuates from one month to the next, or you get hit with an unexpected expense, it won't torpedo the whole program. The built-in flexibility of debt settlement gives it a huge advantage over other options, all of which require a fixed monthly payment.
Once you're made the determination that debt settlement makes sense for your situation, you'll need to decide whether to go it alone or seek professional assistance. For people who aren't easily intimidated, there's no question that the do-it-yourself approach is the way to go. For others who can't handle the least bit of pressure or just want to focus their time and energy elsewhere, hiring a professional settlement company may be the correct choice.
If you do decide to take the do-it-yourself approach, follow these tips:
* Use a privacy manager on your telephone service to screen creditor calls so that you only speak to creditors when you're ready.
* Make sure you have a solid game plan for building up money to settle with, and set the funds aside in a separate bank account.
* Do not send settlement funds until you have the deal in writing. No exceptions!
* After paying the settlement, follow up to obtain a zero balance letter from the creditor, so you don't have bogus collection problems later on.
* Know your rights as a consumer by reading the free resource articles on debt, credit, and collections at the Federal Trade Commission website: www.ftc.gov
* Don't be intimidated or pressured into accepting a settlement deal that you can't handle.
Remember, thousands of people settle their own debts every year, without the need for lawyers or bankruptcy. You can do it too if you're disciplined, determined, and prepared to ignore some of the crazy stuff that bill collectors say. When you're finally debt-free, you'll feel a lot better about having worked it out on your own. Good luck on your road to debt freedom!
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