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The best way to deal with credit problems is to develop good habits before problems start.
Do up a budget so that you are aware of where your hard-earned income is going. If you are overspending in some areas of your life, you should try to spend less in those areas. Such actions ultimately enable you to take control of your financial future.
The key to successful budgeting is deceptively simple - spend less than you earn.
But that is often easier said than done because you can't anticipate some expenses that may crop up unexpectedly. If you actively adhere to a budget however, these sorts of eventualities can potentially be addressed with less stress than would otherwise be the case.
Your answers to these questions will help define your goals. Once you know what you want, you can begin to budget with a purpose.
Short-term budget goals are those that you typically want to achieve over the next year. These may include paying off your credit card bills fully or saving for a vacation.
Mid-term goals are those you want to achieve over the next two to five years. For example, you may want to save for a down payment on a new house or renovate your kitchen.
Finally, long-term goals are those that take more than five years to reach. Typically, these have to do with your retirement plans or for your children's future education.
As the days go by, you will be able to add up all your tracked expenses and compare it to your income. Remember the key to budgeting is to spend less than you earn. Your analysis will show if you are spending more than you earn and what expenses you may have to cut back on.
Evaluate what you consider as necessities and get rid of the luxury items. For example, instead of going out for lunch, pack food from home, or buy coffee from a hawker centre instead of from the fancy coffee outlets. Sometimes, luxuries can be disguised as necessities, and it's up to you to weed them out to help ease the strain on your budget.
If you are spending less than you earn, you are in good shape. You can use the extra money to pay a greater chunk of your debt, or increase your savings.
As a general rule of thumb, your debt repayments, including those on your credit card, should not exceed 40-50% of your take-home pay. If it does, you could be headed towards that danger zone where it is very difficult to rein in your debt.
If you're unsure that this may be happening to you, here are some warnings signs.
If two or more apply to you, it could be time to cut back on your spending and reduce your debt.
Getting your finances under control is not always easy and it can take time. But there are several targets you can set for yourself that will put you in greater control.
For example, take public transport instead of driving on some days.
If you spend less than you earn, your surplus can be allocated to expenditure on luxury items.
A credit card doesn't make you richer. It facilitates the more convenient use of money that you already have.
A credit card balance is essentially an unsecured loan which can get bigger very quickly on the back of interest charges. The best option is to pay your credit card dues fully so that interest charges don't kick in. Even if you decide to have an outstanding amount on your credit card, you must have a plan to repay it.
When you buy a VND 1,000,000 item on sale for VND 1,200,000 you don't save VND 800,000. You spend VND 1,200,000. It's only a deal if you need it and can afford it.
Monitor how much of your hard-earned money you are spending to make sure you don't sink into debt.
Is a second job possible? Can you sell something you no longer need?
Working your way out of debt is a long, hard task. It's also a big accomplishment. Find inexpensive ways to celebrate your progress.
If you feel that your debt is getting out of control, you must tackle the problem immediately.
Sit down and prioritise your responsibilities. For example, meeting essential repayments such as your mortgage and utility bills should be your first concern.
If you are paying off multiple credit card bills, you should pay off those with the highest rate of interest first.
Most lenders are sympathetic to people who cannot afford repayments. Recovering debt can be very expensive to them, so they are often willing to work out an agreement with you.
The best way to handle your worries about debt is to arm yourself with information - not just any information, but credible, reliable, and well-backed information on credit. When you grasp the reality of the situation, it will calm your fears.
Sometimes your debt can become unmanageable because of circumstances that are beyond your control.
We show you how to rein in some of your spending habits so that you regain control of your finances.
When you have recovered from the shock of losing your job, there are a few things you should do as you enter the new phase in your life:
