The key to having control of your own finances is to take hold of the reins and know when to pull it all to a halt. With the convenience of credit cards, our spending habit has a tendency to turn unhealthy and end up wreaking havoc on our bank account and credit scores. Before everything gets out of hand, it would be wise if you were to start working on your own self-help debt management program. This is because it does not matter if you are getting help and financial advice from the best of consultants if you are not willing to be an active participant in keeping your debts in check. Be stringent with yourself and tell yourself everyday that the key to managing your own debts is with you and nobody else.

There are many things you can do to manage your debts even without the help of professionals. You can conduct your own research and get advice from experts on how you can manage your own debts by yourself. You need to be disciplined enough to plan your own debt management program and carry it out diligently and passionately as if your life depended on it, which in a sense it does. You can list down all the things you need to do and go through it every single day to remind yourself of the necessary steps to free yourself of debts. It’s important for you to understand the purpose of every step and stick to it. Experts recommend taking a course of action as follows:

1) Be aware of the movement of your money. Live on cash and within your means. You need to keep track of your money and know what your money is being spent on. The rule of thumb is that if you do not have the cash for it, you definitely can’t afford it. Keeping a ledger of your spending is a good idea as you can see for yourself how your money is being spent.

2) Prioritize your debts. You need to train yourself to be able to differentiate between necessities and luxuries. We tend to include luxurious and frivolous spending as a necessity simply to justify our purchase. Cancel out items that you can definitely do without such as the 500 channels on your cable TV or the self-indulgent tradition of eating out a posh restaurant once a week.

3) Get the scissors out of the drawer. You will be more likely to incur more debts if you have more than one credit card. So take the drastic but definitely necessary step of cutting your credit cards and limiting yourself to just one. The one credit card you have left is also not to be used nonchalantly. Preferably, before you swipe your credit card you should have some money saved to pay for that particular purchase beforehand.

The self-help steps mentioned above may help you avoid future debts but to be rid of existing ones, you will probably need the help of professionals and experts. Once you’ve gotten hold of your own self-discipline and are able to follow the steps to pave your own way towards being debt free, perhaps you can consider getting some help from agencies that offer debt management and debt consolidation services to assist you in addressing the problems of your existing debts. Choosing the right agency to assist you in such a delicate matter should not be taken lightly. You may consider the following to help you shop for the best agencies or companies to help you manage your debts:

1) Make sure the agency or company is registered and certified by relevant government or independent bodies that specialize in debt management programs. There are many parties running scams so it is better to be sure that your agency of choice is legit.

2) Some companies may be registered legally but in terms of performance, they might be less impressive. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the agency of your choice has unresolved complaints from consumers. That should raise a red flag.

3) Request that you get a counselor that is trained and certified. Being in debt is a very serious matter and requires the assistance of experts. Do not accept any assistance from any Tom, Dick or Harry unless they show you proof of certification.

4) If the company starts giving you advice and suggestions before even taking a look at your bank statements and inquiring about your financial background, start walking out immediately. Chances are the company is working with creditors and the suggestions made will more likely benefit them and creditors than you.

5) Counselors and advisors should not be pushy. They are there to provide you with options and they cannot force you into making any decisions. Be assertive and if they make you uncomfortable and you feel cornered into making a decision that will not satisfy you, just get up and leave.

With so many debt management relief options available, getting the right form of assistance for your particular debt issue is made easier. You just have to be assertive and firm and do not let anybody push you around and corner you into agreeing to something you feel will not benefit you or help you with your debts at all. The decision is in your hands, not theirs.

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Category: Finances
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