Reducing debt usually is not a big priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you to see when your debt burden is to get into the danger zone.

Budgeting Guidelines

Lenders use the budget guidelines for the review and approval of credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guidelines, then there is a greater risk of a credit application was denied.

Labour and accounting, your debt under the budget recommended by the guidelines is an important step in reducing debt.

Use the following guidelines recommended by the budget (the same as those used in the financial institutions) to review their budget items:

1st Housing 35% - Mortgage or rent, taxes, repairs, improvements, insurance and utilities;
2nd Transportation 20% - Monthly payments, gas, oil, repairs, insurance, parking and public transport;
3rd * 15% debt - credit cards, personal loans, student loans and other debt payments;
4th All other expenses 20% - Food, insurance, prescriptions, doctor and dentist bills, clothing and personal;
5th Investment and Saving 10% - Stocks, bonds, cash reserves, retirement, rental real estate, art, etc.

Debt-income relationship

The second step is to calculate your debt to income ratio. Once you know what your relationship, you will understand the importance of debt burden on your overall financial picture. Your debt-income ratio is your monthly take-home pay that goes to paying debts percent.

You will be calculated on the basis of the amount needed to repay debts each month, including rent or mortgage, and divide by your take-home pay (your net pay after taxes). Please note that this "debt" ratio, and therefore covers only the actual debt repayment in the calculation.

Credit debt ratio

Just because you pay a credit card there is no reason to close your account. One little known fact about credit debt it has the reverse effect on your credit score. If you pay a credit card and cancel your account, you can actually negatively affect your credit score.

This is due to the negative impact of the Credit calculate debt ratio itself. The debt ratio is your total credit limit vs. relationship.

You calculate it by dividing the total credit limit of all credit card and loan accounts until the actual debt (spent total) amount. Now, if you pay by credit card, you will reduce the actual debt, which is great, but if you close an account, you will also greatly reduce the credit limit you have, and tend to be higher than the percentage of debt reduction.

Pay the first

Key long-term financial success, and protect your future, pay yourself first. While it may seem easy to do, it happens to be the last thing most people rather than the first. Debts and other financial obligations, money, entertainment and other expenses always seems to be a higher priority. All I can say is, STOP! Think about it, if you're not worth being paid first, then who is? Always put something on your savings, and leave him alone. It does not matter if it's just $ 5 a week, just do it!

Snowball Credit Card

Last but not least, make extra payments, not just the minimum payments on your credit card. You've probably already seen this many times, but he simply can not be stressed enough. Wikipedia just $ 10 extra per month by credit card, above the minimum required payment, can cut your repayment term in half, if not more! So, drive out the additional payment, but small, every month, and take advantage of the composition effect of snowballing your debt away.

The financial power of knowledge

Remember that you do not have to be a financial whiz to understand what's happening with your credit and debt. Just a few simple calculations, and eye for the future, will go a long way in helping you succeed financially and keep your debt under control. Be safe, be smart, do math!

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