It's not absolutely bad to have
credit-card debt
. A little of it can help you get out of a hard financial predicament but a lot can bring its own money problems.
Here are several signs to determine whether your
debt
load is too close to a crucial mark:
1. You don't have enough funds to make the least possible payments on your credit accounts.
2. You take money from one card to pay another.
3. You are often made to pay fees for tardy payments or approaching your lending limit.
4. You make use of credit cards because of need instead of comfort.
5. You waive contributions to your money holdings and retirement programs owing to your
debt
.
6. More than 20% of your disposable income goes to make payments on credit cards and loans besides your mortgage.
In case you appeared to get into one of such situations, don't lose your head. Getting a way out may as easy as discussing better conditions with your lenders, consolidation of your
debt
s on a credit card with a lower percentage rate or in case of need taking out a home-equity loan.
If you need outer support, a respectable credit consultant can assist you to set up a
debt management
strategy that will suit you. Only if all else breaks down, you can proclaim insolvency.
Juan Salazar found way out in credit consulting. Salazar,33, is the owner of First Choice Paint and Body Shop in Terrell, Tex. In 2004 he and his wife Elizabeth had their second kid. A that moment they had no medical insurance and paid the majority of their hospital bills with credit cards. When their
debt
tallied $25,000 they found themselves unable to cope with it alone.
In 2005 the Salazars mobilized the support of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, which made their
debt consolidate
d and reduced their percentage rate. The firm as well assisted them to reduce their expenditure and follow a budget. "We decided to attempt credit consulting before making a drastic arrangement like applying for insolvency," claims Juan. Now he and his wife are going to be free of
debt
by 2009.