In our consumer driven society, it is so easy to get in over our heads. Advertising tells us that luxuries are really necessities. We buy on impulse, instead of planning. When we use a credit card, we’re really gambling that our income will increase, not go down. Any little hiccup in our finances can send us into a tailspin. Here are 10 things you can do to get out of debt and stay out.

1. If you can’t make even the minimum monthly payment, consult a consumer credit counseling service. ( You’ll find them in the yellow pages.)They will negotiate with your creditors to lower your payments and even suspend finance charges.
2. Make the minimum payment plus a little extra. The faster you pay off the balance, the less you’ll pay in the long run.
3. Save all your receipts for a month. At the end of 30, days total up what you’ve spent and where. You can’t get control, if you don’t know where your money is going.
4. Cut out the luxuries for now. Cutting out that latte will save you $1000 a year that you could put towards your debt.
5. Put a date on it. Put a date in writing of when you want to be out of debt. Put it on the fridge so you see it daily.
6. Think of ways to earn extra cash. Get a side job or volunteer to work extra hours and put that money towards your debt.
7. Don’t incur new debts. Except for your house and car, don’t buy it, if you can’t pay it off in 30 days.
8. Clean out that garage or attic. Have a garage sale or sell things on Ebay that you don’t use. Put the money you make towards your debt.
9. Invest in health insurance. Health insurance will save you from bankruptcy, in the event of catastrophic illness.
10. Saving will become second nature. Once your debts are paid off, you will have formed a new habit of saving and you won’t get over extended again.
Written by John W. Maxwell, President
Mission Enterprises
We sell a credit card source directory( with credit repair instructions.) We also sell a home employment catalog.
Visit us at: http://www.missionenterprises.com