Debt Reduction Strategy - What Is A Personal Budget?
At first glance, it seems that making a budget is a basic task. Then why is it that most people don’t do simple tasks like balancing their checkbooks or creating budgets. This could be because we are never taught how to create a budget while growing up.
Most of us will find it very beneficial to take the necessary steps to learn how to create an estimate of expenses on a monthly basis along with monthly cash requirements.
Those of you who feel uncomfortable using spreadsheet software packages such as open office, google spreadsheets you should atleast pen some numbers on a legal-sized pad.
You could start by dividing the page in two separate columns. In the first, write down the income sources. In the other, write down the different monthly expenses. This should mention monthly expenditures such as groceries, gas, other utilities. Whatever you come up with add another ten percent for those last minute unexpected expenses.
This where you have to go the extra mile. You should plan for different scenarios that can come up. Create another budget (this is fictitious) that lists all the costs every month , income sources and their difference. But… do not add any credit card interest payments. Also remove any car loan interest. Thats not all, if there are any expenses that could be more of ‘impulse’ purchases then add these to the running total.
This new total represents the amount you could possibly prevent paying monthly. This total could be around 15% of your monthly expenses. For some of you its going to be higher. The key point to realize is that these charges can easily be prevented with some planning.
So, this brings us to an important point. Do you really need that new car right now? How about that fancy watch? In this age of instant gratification we tend to want everything right now. But, are these items - new car, watch etc. truly needed at this point of time? Could you save for these instead of buying them upfront and paying interest charges on the credit card or that new loan that you took.
You have to make a decision about whats important to you. This habit of developing a budget will help you hold up a mirror to your fiscal habits. If you don’t like what you see, thats alright. Realizing that there is a problem is the first part of seeking the cure. So, lets get started …
Tired of making payments and seeing the interests and penalties pile up? It doesn’t have to be that way, check out http://zero-debt.info/debt-relief-blog/ and start liberating yourself from debt today!
A Plan To Repair Your Credit - Part 3
If you do choose to go with a credit repair organization, be sure to familiarize yourself with facts that will protect you. If a company is seems to be hiding information from you, that’s probably because they are. With debt in families rising rapidly, it’s easily understandable that many families throughout the country are looking for places to turn to get help. This opens a door for credit repair businesses to flourish which they are, but many of them fall short of their promises and still get your money in the end.
Before you sign a contract with and credit repair service, be sure that they give you a copy of the Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law. They are obligated to do so and if they balk at this, turn around and walk away. No reputable company is going to refuse you information that explains your rights as a consumer. In addition to this copy, be sure that their contract tells you very plainly and specifically what your rights and obligations are throughout this process. Read all documents carefully before you sign.
The specific things that you should be looking for on your contract are as follows:
-A total cost for their services as well as broken down individual costs.
-The company’s name and address.
-The time period expected to achieve expected results.
-Guarantees that may be offered
-A description of exactly what their services will entail and how they will go about them.
If your contract is short of any of this information, do not sign and ask about whatever may be missing. If the company tries to excuse the lack of information rather than comply with you in adding it, do not work with that company. There’s a good chance that this company is not going to work in your favor and may simply disappear with your money.
Contracts have been invented to protect you as the consumer. It should be an extremely important step that you’ll take on the road to choosing a credit repair company. It’s something that you never really think you’re going to need until you do, but when it’s necessary to fall to that contract, you’ll be happy that you stuck with it.
Getting Help in the Process
Having poor credit does not excuse you from the ‘good’ people in society. It’s hard to have poor credit. Often it’s looming over you, especially when every other commercial on television is about credit relief or credit scores. Yet, even when you have poor credit, there are still places you can turn.
If you are able to secure a loan with poor credit, be prepared to pay high interest. It’s not great news, but that’s the way it is. The better your credit, the better interest rate will be offered to you. Yet, being able to secure a loan when you have poor credit can be a feat in itself. Be sure to use this borrowed money wisely in the direction of reversing your debt problems.
If you’re at the point where even making the minimum payments is getting difficult if not impossible, give your creditors a call. They would much rather hear from you and work something out that will be affordable for you than sit month after month with no payments and have to turn your account over to collections which can later become much worse. Your creditors will be willing to work with you and make things affordable for you.
If you are not the proactive type, contacting a credit counseling service may work better for you. They will deal with your creditors in order to get your monthly minimums down to something that you can afford. They will talk with your creditors for you in order and save you the headache of calling them to tell them that you will not be able to make your payment. They will come up with a reasonable number which you will pay each month and they will disburse to your creditors.
Bankruptcy is always an option, but should be used as a last measure when all other methods have failed. A bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for many years which will affect your ability to receive a mortgage, car loan, student loan, etc. It is an option that’s available to you, but with the new laws, they’ve made them increasingly difficult to get through.
There are several options when it comes to finding help for debt relief. Whichever you choose, be sure it will be workable for you, then determine to get through it and resolve to live a debt free life. This is what will make the stress truly go away.
Scott Peters has experienced debt problems and offers free advice on how to get out of debt. Please see http://www.getting-out-of-debt.com for more information.
How to Repair Your Personal Credit - Part 1
When it comes to a marred credit report, it can be pretty tempting to listen up when you hear advertisements for companies claiming to be able to repair your damaged credit. They will promise to make all of your negatives positive again. They will claim to be able to get your credit in good standing so that you’ll be able to get approved for mortgages and car loans. The bottom line; however, is that these companies are not going to be able to do anything for you. Anything that they would be able to change for a fee, you can do yourself for free.
The first and foremost step to cleaning up your credit report is to get yourself in good standing with your creditors. This is something that can usually be handled with a phone call or two to each creditor with outstanding balances. It can be intimidating to call them when you’ve gotten behind on payments, but it’s better to work with them than to do nothing at all. Most credit companies will be willing to work with your unique budgeting issues and come to some sort of agreement that will return your status as long as you honor the terms of this new commitment.
Once you have completed the task of returning to the good graces of your creditors, you will slowly see pre-approved credit card offers return to your mailbox. Though these can be irritating to receive since to be safe, you have to end up tearing each one to shreds to dispose of it, they can give you an indication that your credit score is going up. This is not a definite way to know, but it’s a way to assume at no cost and headaches that things are looking up in the credit score department. BY NO MEANS am I suggesting that you go out and get new credit cards. You will soon be in the same mess you just got out of if you start charging up your credit again.
At this point, you will have done everything that a credit repair company will claim that they will be able to do for you. Your credit rating will return to the positive and creditor phone calls will stop. This is a process that will take a little time to accomplish, but it’s worth the time and effort to return yourself to good standing on your own. There’s no need to worsen your financial situation by paying a credit repair company for things that you can do on your own.
Finding the Correct information
We all have indiscretions from time to time. You may make a late payment or forget a bill altogether. In either case you will be hit with a late fee and possibly additional finance charges, but you will not have negative information reported to the reporting services until your account has become delinquent which typically means two to three payments behind. Once negative information is reported to your credit report, it is your responsibility to follow up with it and make sure that once the account is brought current, the negative information gets taken off of the report.
If a company has denied your application for credit, insurance, or employment, you are entitled to a free credit report. However, in order to get this report for free you must request it from the denying party within 60 days of being denied. Once you receive this report, you will have all the information that you’ll need in order to clear any incorrect negative information in the report. Also, you are able to access one free report a year from each of the three credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Once you have your correct report, you will be able to comb through it to find false or incorrect information. If there are mistakes, you are able to dispute those mistakes at little or no cost to yourself. The companies responsible for the incorrect information are the ones responsible to investigate the disputed information and ultimately remove it from your report once it’s been verified as inaccurate.
When this has been accomplished, your credit report will reflect the changes made and your credit score will begin its ascent to a more positive number. It will take some time for the score to rise due to the fact that you have to give disputed information some time to get worked out. In a mere matter of months your score will be looking up and your financial outlook will be much improved.
Scott Peters has experienced tight cash flow and high credit. For more information please see http://www.getting-out-of-debt.com.
How To Consolidate Your Debt Efficiently
Mortgage, cell phone, car payment, insurance, cable, household utilities and various other loans can all add up and be difficult to keep track of. Before you know it, you feel like you’re doing nothing but paying bills and feeling like the items you own, own you. It’s a cycle that never seems to end and only gets worse over time. One way to keep a cap on this is to consolidate your debt. There are a few ways you can manage your debts by consolidating them into one lump sum to save you money.
You can consolidate by using credit cards. The goal is to take all of the credit cards that are currently in your possession, and try and find the lowest interest rate between all of them. After you find the lowest issuer, try to transfer all of the balances over to one credit card. You will have one large balance, instead of ten semi-large ones, and you will also only have one payment to make a month.
You can also apply for a new card and make a transfer so that you only have two cards, with obviously two payoffs. However, be careful when applying for new cards. Too much credit can equal a lower rating for your credit score.
Another method you can use is a home equity loan. With this kind of loan you can borrow against the value of your home with a fixed amount of money for a standard period of time. Usually these loans will offer lower rates, lower payments, and their amounts can be tax deductible if you itemize. You may also choose to refinance your home and take out money in order to pay for some of your bills.
There is also another type of loan called a personal security loan. This loan can be tricky because the only thing that you are offering for a guarantee is yourself. These loans are more risky so it is likely that the loan will be more expensive, and you will be repaying on that loan for an average of 10 to 15 years. The personal loans can be harder to get if you have a substantial amount of debt.
You may seek counseling for your debt, but a credit counselor is not going to consolidate your debt, rather they will work out a feasible payment schedule for you to follow. You will make one payment to the credit agency and they will turn around and pay your bills. However, most do not offer this service for free, so make sure that you are unable to get your act together before enlisting the help of a professional.
Many people are now choosing the debt settlement route. This option is when you stop paying your bills and the creditors contact a debt settlement company instead of you. The debt settlement company will then try to negotiate with the creditors on your behalf, and they usually can reduce the amount of your balances (sometimes up to 50%). Many people find themselves debt free within two years of hiring one of these services.
When it comes to being in debt remember that you are not the first, nor the last person to be in a tight situation. Before debt totally consumes your life investigate some of the more common solutions to managing your finances. Try to find other people who may have gone through the same thing you are experiencing and see what they did to get themselves out of debt.
Mike Selvon is the owner of various niche portals. Our credit repair portal at http://creditrepair.trustprofitableniche.com is a great resource for more information on how to consolidate your debt. While you are there don’t forget to claim your free gift.
Debt Consolidation Advice - Where to Find a Free Debt Consolidation Quote
If you have been struggling with financial problems for any length of time, you will be well aware of the stress they cause. Perhaps you have reached the end of your tether and decided to go for debt consolidation, but are not sure where to start. One possibility is to go online and look for a free debt consolidation quote.
The companies who will offer you such a free debt consolidation quote are really there for the benefit of people who are unwilling to take on the responsibility of sorting out their own debt relief. Before you go down this road, remember that there are other ways of arranging debt consolidation.
First of all, before looking for a free debt consolidation quote, did you know that there are free kits available at most libraries to help you find what you need? The staff will usually help you if you are in difficulties, and allow you to take copies of the forms and information.
Secondly, don’t forget that you can approach your creditors direct and negotiate with them. This way you could find that you are able to arrive at a settlement in which they accept a reduced balance outstanding or lower interest rates. In some situations the creditors could agree to write off the debt altogether, especially if they realize that the chances of repayment are minimal.
This may happen if the debtor is disabled or for some other reason is not working and only receiving social security payments. If you are not confident about approaching creditors yourself, you can often do it via the non-profit Consumer Credit counseling services in your locality.
Before seeking a free debt consolidation quote, you should investigate these possibilities, and also make sure you are aware of your legal rights in relation to your creditors.
If you do decide to seek a free debt consolidation quote, make sure you find out all you can about a company before getting the quote. Some of these companies are not genuine and are only out to get your money rather than to help you. However, they make their quotes so attractive and seductive that you could well be tempted.
Try the Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Credit counseling service in your local area. Alternatively, try going online and typing in the company name + “reviews” into a search engine. This will enable you to see what other people have said about it. Alternatively, you can also visit a forum related to debt consolidation online. Get involved, ask your questions. You’ll be surprised at how helpful people are.
You may well be in a panic when you are looking for a free debt consolidation quote. This could tempt you into rushing into a decision too hastily. Don’t do this under any circumstances. If you make the wrong decision, you could end up in a much worse situation than before.
Juzaily Ramli is the proud owner of Valuable Debt Consolidation Advice website which provides advice regarding everything related to debt consolidation. Get the advice at:
http://www.valuabledebtconsolidationadvice.com
More Information About Student Loan Consolidation
Student loans help all prospective students by financing their educational expenses. The cost of higher education is high and not all students are able to pay their fees. The main difference between student loans and other types of loans is that student loans have much lower rate of interest and nearly everyone is approved for a student loan. Unlike other loans, the applicant is not scrutinized for credit history or income.
It is estimated that approximately 20% of all college students rely on some type of financial aid in the form of student loans. These loans are the best option for anyone undergoing a college education and requiring funds to finance some part of that process. While this makes getting a college education easy in terms of finances, the downside is that many students often leave college under heavy debt. This problem is compounded by the fact that they may have taken multiple loans from different lenders ,so managing the finances becomes a serious burden. In order to make things easier in such a situation, it is recommended that you make use of student loan consolidation.
Student loan consolidation is simply the process of taking all the different types of student loans you may have acquired while attending college and converting them into a single loan that you need to repay to a single lender with a new repayment plan. This is quite similar to refinancing a house. Student loan consolidation pays off the outstanding balance on all the loans, then takes that total balance and converts it into a single new loan. This way students have the convenience of repaying a single loan instead of multiple ones.
The biggest advantage of student loan consolidation is the integration of all loans into a single monthly bill. The second advantage is that after consolidation you will be charged a much lower rate of interest on the consolidated loan and this means huge savings. Also, consolidated loans offer a lot more flexibility when it comes to repayments. They have no fees, additional charges, or any prepayment fines. You do not need to provide co-signers or credit checks when consolidating your student loans.
In order to get a student loan consolidation, you may approach any bank or credit union that is a part of the Federal Family Education Loan Program. It does not really matter which way you go because most of the terms and conditions for student loan consolidation are the same. The important thing to do is to check with your current debtors. In case all of your current loans are with a single lender then it is recommended you consolidate your loans with the same lender.
Also remember that you can only do student loan consolidation once, unless if you are going to take more loans. This is why it is important you get the best possible deal when you are consolidating. Though the interest rate is not likely to differ much from one lender to the next, some of them might offer future discounts on prompt payment as well as a discount for monthly payments directly debited to your account. All these options are available to you when you go for consolidation within the 6-month grace period after which your repayment begins. If you are going for loan consolidation, always do it before this grace period expires to get the lowest possible interest rate.
The two critical aspects in your consolidation plan are the interest rate and the repayment plan.
Most student loans have a repayment plan spanning around 10 years. Depending on how you go about your student loan consolidation, you might be able to stretch this to around 30 years. Just keep in mind that this means it will take that much longer before you are free of debt. Also, a longer repayment plan means paying a lot more even with a low rate of interest. The interest rate on a consolidated loan is already low, so it is recommended that you keep the repayment plan as short as possible to avoid long-term payment from nullifying the benefits of a low interest rate.
The student loan process itself is quite confusing. The federal government got involved in student loans since 1965 and over the years there have been many policy changes and bills that have created many types of loan programs. Besides the federal government, there are also many private lending institutions offering student loans. Be wary of the student loan you select because choosing an option like “adjustable rate” could mean a low interest rate that will go up like anything.
Always check with the Department of Education before settling on a loan.
For more information on student loan consolidation go to http://www.ConsolidationFind.com or visit http://www.articleadvocate.com/Category/Debt-Consolidation/100
7 Things To Know About Credit Card Debt Consolidation
If you are having a difficult time handling all the outstanding balances from your wide array of credit cards, it is time to consider credit card debt consolidation.
Most of the time, debt consolidation can help you to pay off your current debts in three to six years time. The purpose of debt consolidation is to speed up your paying time and at the same time makes lower monthly pay back.
There are many companies that specialize in credit card debt consolidation. The representatives from these companies will negotiate with your credit card issuers to get the maximum possible rebate and a lower interest rates. They usually devise a program that last three to six year after bringing all your accounts up to date.
Here are a few things you can take into account when considering credit card debt consolidation.
1) Make sure that the new cost of the consolidated loan is truly less than what you are currently paying for to the various creditors. Many consolidation loan applicants simply leave everything to the debt consolidation companies without verifying such important details.
2) Spend some time to calculate the interest and the fees of all your existing accounts to get the total amount you are paying right now. Compare this figure with the consolidation loan amount. This will determine if you are making a better choice or not.
3) Once you are on a consolidation loan plan, be sure to make your deposits on time. This will assure your creditors that you are serious about paying off your debt as well as proof of ability to pay. Delayed payments can cause the creditors to resume normal collection activities and change your interest rates and fees back to the original amount.
4) With a consolidation plan in place, you will make payment to your debt consolidation company only. Do not pay back directly to the credit card companies. Let the debt consolidation company decide how much each creditor will receive.
5) Keep your representative from the debt consolidation company up to update about your financial situation. You must contact your representative right away if there are changes that will negatively impact your monthly payment.
6) You should monitor the monthly statements sent to you by your credit card companies. Make sure they have reduced the interest rates and waiver of late fee charges. Most importantly, make sure they are receiving payment from your debt consolidation company and the amount is correct.
7) The rates of the consolidation loan can vary according to the type of consolidation loan. A variable rate debt consolidation loan that allows you to make extra repayments anytime with no extra cost. This is great if your financial situation improved significantly and you want to pay the loan as soon as possible. On the other hand, a fixed rate debt consolidation loan will only accept fixed repayments for the duration of the loan.
Regardless how much credit card debt you have now, you must be determined to pay them off as soon as possible. A credit card consolidation loan can be a good option to get yourself out of debt in the shortest time possible. However, it will only be effective if you adhere strictly to the payment schedule and eliminate all other undesirable spending habits.
Stephen Chua is the founder of FindCreditCardsInfo.com. Visit http://FindCreditCardsInfo.com today and where you get the latest credit tips deliver to your inbox for free.
How Does Debt Consolidation Help You
A debt consolidation condenses the monthly bill payments into a single loan. Such a loan is expected to bear low interest rates. A debt consolidation usually finances all other loans, your emergency payments and utility bills. Maintaining separate reminders for each deadline will not be required any more once you have opted for a loan consolidation scheme.
The debt consolidation process allows you to combine your personal loans, car loans, medical bills, utility bill, gas card bills, money from tax back schemes, overdraft charges and various late fee payments into one consolidated payment. There is only a single deadline to maintain and a single repayment schedule to follow.
If you face a bankruptcy, in such cases your debts are cancelled and your credit rating falls miserably. With a debt consolidation measure your debts can be reconstructed into a single monthly payment and can be worked out in such a manner that is favorable to your situation of bad credit.
Debt consolidation services helps to consolidate all unsecured loan into an inexpensive loan with cheaper interest rates. It also helps you to acquire greater negotiation skills to secure a lower interest rate, so that you can save money for paying off your debts and not for paying high interest for the mortgage.
One bill to pay each month is manageable to the borrowers as they do not have to bother about late fees and missing deadlines. It is also more likely that you get one of those threatening calls from your collection agencies frequently with many outstanding unmanageable debts to pay off. A debt consolidation agency serves as a mentor to mend your debt crisis if you co-operate with them in their efforts to get you out of the debt trap.
The most important thing that a debt consolidation program does is it lowers propensity of spending on credit cards. A debt consolidation also helps you to secure the possible advantages of tax rebates on home equity loans. If you have borrowed a home equity loan then the interest you pay on the loan is tax deductible.
A debt circle allures you create debts until they become quite unmanageable and your credit performance is doomed. But there are ways where you place your home as collateral to the debt servicing agency that in turn helps you to get out of this pathetic situation just by consolidating your debts into a low single payment.
When you place your home as collateral you have the fear of it being repossessed by the debt servicing agency if you turn out to be a delinquent or a defaulter.
However, the best part of having a debt consolidation program is that if you have any repayment difficulties due to death, redundancy or disability then the loan is insured and the insurance company pays off the loan on your part.
Find more Debt help info @ http://www.MY-DEBT-SOLUTIONS.INFO and debt reduction info @ http://www.MY-DEBT-SOLUTIONS.INFO/sitemap.html online. For Weight loss related articles: http://www.weightloss-fyi.info
Need Debt Consolidation? - How To Do It With A Cash Out Mortgage
Taking care of your debts can be done rather quickly by getting a cash out mortgage. A cash out mortgage is actually a first mortgage and it will require you to refinance your existing one. There are some real advantages by doing it this way - such as getting the lowest interest rate for any loan. Here is how you can go about getting that new mortgage for you debt consolidation.
A cash out mortgage allows you to get the equity out of your home’s equity by refinancing your first mortgage, which pays that off, and by adding to the loan the amount of equity that you want. The lender, of course, will determine exactly how much of your equity you can get. This will depend on your credit score and your ability to repay the loan.
Getting the equity out of your home for debt consolidation allows you to do it with the cheapest type of loan possible - a first mortgage. You want to time it right, though, and watch the market for dips in the interest rate in order to get the best interest rate possible. Then you will want to lock your rate and remortgage. Wait for the interest rate to be at least 1% below what you are paying now.
You may also want to reduce the amount of repayment time by about five years. This may raise your monthly payment slightly, but it will save you many tens of thousands of dollars if you have more than ten years left. Since the object is to get out of debt as soon as possible, this is a good way to do it. Not only will this method allow you to have your debt consolidation, but it will also give you a brand new start as long as you take some good steps to bring further debt under control.
The equity that is available in your home is calculated by the present value of your home minus whatever you still owe. The balance is the equity. However, you only want to borrow a maximum of 80% of the value of the home so that you do not need to get Private Mortgage Insurance.
Getting a new first mortgage on your home, though, will mean that you should be planning on living in it for at least another seven years or more. The cost of refinancing will be similar to that of getting a mortgage in the first place, and it will take a few years to get back the cost.
Once you get your cash out mortgage, you can do with the money as you wish. The first thing, though, is to consolidate that debt by paying it off, and then see what is left for those extras. Home improvements are always a great way to use some of that money which will bring you the greatest returns in the long run.
Be sure to get several quotes before you get that new mortgage. Wise debt control starts by being careful in all of your purchases. This gives you the greatest amount of savings, and allows you to stay in control. And, hopefully, you will never have to worry about a need to consolidate those debts again.
Joe Kenny writes for the personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/debt_consolidation_loans_doc.html and also http://www.rebuild.org/debt-consolidation.html
Seek Debt Advice That Empowers
Debt is probably the one occasion when you will feel isolated, alone, and helpless. While creating the debt may have be fun, having a debt collection agency trying to get your money is not as much fun by far. A debt collection agency can make you feel degraded and worthless, and those agencies seem to specialize in finding you at work, home and play. Simply stated, bad debt can ruin your life.
No matter how much debt you have, there is help. There are many ways you can get debt relief without feeling you are a criminal. There are debt relief agencies that specialize in advice and helping you decide what plan of action is best for you. These agencies will usually be free or charge a small fee for their advice.
Often, people with considerable debt will find that getting a debt consolidation loan is a good way to start on your path to being debt free. A debt consolidation loan may not always be easy to get, but they can be extremely helpful. You will be taking all of your small loans, and exchange those for one large debt. This means you will owe one credit rather than the many.
Sometimes, the debt consolidation loans will be backed by a mortgage on your home, but if you honestly want to be debt free, you will find this is a welcomed relief because creditors will no longer be calling and writing you at every opportunity. Finding a good debt consolidation loan is not always easy, and you should definitely read the terms or agreement thoroughly.
Once you have defaulted on a debt, you will find that it is almost impossible to get a loan for a home or vehicle or even for tires for your vehicle. Finding a bad debt credit loan is near impossible, and should be avoided if at all possible. These companies will charge you a large interest rate and fee for the privilege of having a loan from their company.
When you find yourself over your head with the debts you have made, getting debt advice is the first step in resolving a debt that may be spiralling out of control. Getting debt management may be helpful if you would like someone else to take care of your money management. Of course, this option may not be for everyone, but for some, this is the best path to follow to get out of debt.
Most people discover that they need help, when they are at their lowest. People do not enjoy the feeling of not being in control because debt will take over your life. Unmanageable debt is different for everyone because it is really a function of the ratio of your expendable income. There is no set number that says you are in debt, but when you have a debt that is over a third of your annual income, you may find you need help.
As you start paying on a debt, you will find something interesting happens. As your debt starts to vanish, you will feel empowered again. You will have found you are in control again and not those credit agencies. The steps you have taken to clear your debt will make you feel powerful, and you will realize that you have done something good for you and your future.
Steve Thomas writes about debt and maintains a debt related resource website at http://www.debta.co.uk
