Guide to Avoiding Bankruptcy
by Chris Blanchet
There are several reasons why you
must avoid bankruptcy at all costs. In the first instance,
it may look like the best solution, as it offers a clean
state, freeing one from all the debts that one owes to
various creditors and that were almost impossible to pay
off otherwise. Still, it is not the right solution because
you may get instant relief because of this but in the long
run it will make your financial life terrible. You can
realize the severity of the consequences with the very fact
that it may even affect your future employment. That is the
reason why you should do everything that you can to avoid
bankruptcy.
These are some of the things you can do to determine the
likelihood of avoiding bankruptcy.
Analyze the true status of your debt load.
The first thing that you have to do is to total all your
debts. You must have complete knowledge about the total
amount of money you have to repay to your creditors. You
can do this by gathering all the documents that are
affecting your financial situation in one way or the other,
including all the bills and statements. Here, it is
important for you to understand that your mortgage is a
debt for you, but the value of your home is an asset.
Healthy versus unhealthy debt.
In conjunction with the above, wherever you have an
offsetting asset you can categorize the debt as "healthy."
Some examples of "unhealthy" debts include medical bills,
car loans that exceed the market value of your vehicle, and
credit cards.
Create a Budget
After analyzing what your net worth is, consider your
solvency. This means taking your income and subtracting all
monthly expenses from this amount.
Spend Less and Earn More
Since you are in debt, you will need more money to repay
the same. The only way to get that money is to increase
your income and reduce expenses. When it comes to making a
reduction in expenses, even saving a single dollar can make
a big difference. If you seriously want to avoid
bankruptcy, you should not lose any opportunity to save
money - no matter how small it is. Such amounts when
accumulated on an annual basis can take care of a good
amount of your debt.
In instances where you are unable to find a way to make
heads or tails out of your debt levels, consider seeking
the advice and guidance of a state-qualified credit
counselor. Such a professional can offer unbiased
assistance. Alternately if you are unable or unwilling to
speak with a professional, considering purchasing an e-book
and computer programs that are devoted to improving your
personal finances. Such a purchase should cost no more than
$50 and can make a world of difference to overcoming your
financial problems.
About the Author:
Chris Blanchet is the author of
the Personal Finances e-book
Help Fix My Finances, which also
serves as the foundation of the Members Only website of
the same name. You can visit his Debt-Free Blog at HowToRepayDebt.com.
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