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How do you keep yourself out of credit card debt?

Digging yourself out of debt will undoubtedly serve as one of the most difficult financial hurdles you will overcome. Of course, once you find your way back out of it, it would make sense for you to avoid getting back into it at all costs. To this end, you can take steps to improve your financial health and work toward keeping yourself out of credit card debt. Avoid borrowing money you cannot repay The Balance discusses ways that you can avoid credit card debt in

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Can communication prevent foreclosure?

Financial hardship can bring added stress to many areas of your life. Your ability to repay debts you owe, such as a home mortgage, may dwindle and leave you questioning the stability of your future. A foreclosure could impact your family and disrupt your children’s educational commitments, your career and everyone’s social life. If you feel concerned about keeping your home, proactive communication with your lender may slow the process so you can have the upper hand. Know your options A blow to your income

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Do you know your debt-to-income ratios?

For many Americans, money seems to be in short supply nowadays. Because most cannot afford to pay for even a $1,000 emergency, turning to credit cards is often the only option. If you have too much debt, though, you may worsen your financial situation considerably. How much debt is too much varies from person to person. Still, calculating your debt-to-income ratio is a good way to know whether you have accumulated a potentially problematic amount of consumer debt. What is your debt-to-income ratio? Your debt-to-income

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Improving the costs of a home mortgage

Owning a home can provide many benefits, including shelter and financial security. Affording a home requires the careful collaboration of financial goals and strategies. Because a home mortgage is often one of the higher debts that people owe, lowering its cost can provide substantial savings. Knowing how to effectively improve mortgage costs can help people determine a solution that best suits their needs. Proactive planning A home mortgage payment is often a long-term commitment. According to MarketWatch, approximately six out of 10 people dismiss the

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Taking legal action against a debt collector

If you are dealing with a debt collector, you likely have a number of hardships to work through. Aside from struggling with intense levels of anxiety and uncertainty, some people face hardships because debt collectors violate their legal rights. If you have experienced unlawful debt collector harassment, it is pivotal to understand your options and stand up for yourself. However, there are many factors to take into consideration when it comes to addressing illegal debt collector harassment. Filing suit against a debt collector If a

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What are some common reasons for credit card debt?

Many Americans deal with the stress that often comes with large amounts of debt and, in some cases, acquiring too much credit card debt, in particular, may make it difficult for individuals to secure loans for homes or vehicles because of how debt impacts their credit score. CNBC News notes that most people need a good to excellent credit score to use tools like balance transfer cards to help manage their credit card debt, but before they do, they may want to learn about why

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What is debt collector misrepresentation?

When dealing with debt, the last thing you want on top of this already profound stress is the pestering of debt collectors. While debt collector harassment often gets a lot of press, that is not only wrong they can do. Debt collector misrepresentation is another big issue. But what exactly is this, and what sort of impact does it have on you? The definition of misrepresentation The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau discusses debt collector misrepresentation, which often gets minimal press compared to harassment. This is

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How to handle credit card debt as a recent graduate

As a recent graduate, you are likely trying to manage your money and debt as you leave your college days behind and go into your new career. When you plan your budget including your new income and expenses, you will need to account for any credit card debt you carry.  No matter the reason you accumulated credit card debt during college, it is imperative that you make a plan to tackle that debt post-grad through repayment or filing for bankruptcy.  1. Review your credit card debt Although this

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How long may it take to pay debts through a Chapter 13 plan?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is available for filers who earn regular income. As noted by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, if you qualify, a Maryland bankruptcy court may work with you to create a payment plan that typically lasts between three and five years. The payment-plan timeline generally depends on how much income you earn each month. If you receive less than the average monthly income of a Maryland resident, a payment plan may last three years. If your monthly income is higher than

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Will I lose my home to Chapter 7?

It is well known that there are two kinds of personal bankruptcy in the United States: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. However, it is not necessarily a choice which one that you will file. It is your income that determines whether you file a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13. In the event that you are lower-income, it is highly likely that you will file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Another name for the Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a “liquidation” bankruptcy. This means that you may

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