Be Debt Free...

As soon as one hears the word ‘debt’, the immediate feeling or thought that flashes the mind is ‘bad’, and gets the treatment of an enemy to be evaded or destroyed at all costs. But debt has assumed the position of an unavoidable evil in the present day modern society. Due to social pressures individuals are tempted to make more expenditure to lead a lavish lifestyle. The aim and objective of a specialized professional debt help is to make individuals totally debt free and not to make them fall further in deeper debt trap.

Having huge debt and bad credit does not mean that the individual cannot lead a life with self respect. There is nothing to feel guilty about having enormous debt. There is no need to conclude or arrive at a judgment on indebtedness as worse, since any prejudiced opinion may cause an individual caught with stress, fear, anxiety, and head ache. It is a popularly accepted principle that the obsession which is constantly focused ultimately gets expanded and grows further. The aim in debt relief should be to get out of the debt which is an important job to be done in the beginning. Paying off the creditors with meticulous planning and action is the only way to deal with rising debts. There is no need to develop stress or anxiety about living and spending beyond resources and means. There is nothing to feel uncomfortable or painful on discussing the topic of debt and money. The subject of money or debt management is not conventionally taught in any business school, but has to be learnt by actual practice. An effective training on debt management can be learnt from friends, families, neighbors, TV shows and co-workers. They all pass on their outdated beliefs and opinions based on their experience which have to be filtered while applying them to solve the present day debt problems.

Without treating or concluding debt as good or evil, a workable and practical solution can be explored based on financial situation and circumstances. Becoming debt free is the real and actual freedom and economic independence with which one can live in peace. In our day to day affairs, everyone wishes to offer credit, be it a grocery store, local bank or petrol station. Though credit, as a tool, serve all the purposes of life, it should be kept under tight control and restraint according to budget.

To become totally debt free, first of all there should be an admission of debt and need of a strong will to become free. Only when the whole of responsibility of debt is owned, a long lasting solution can be attempted. A road map, plan and strategy have to be designed to walk freely and not fall in further debt trap. The mind should be kept open to find a permanent solution.

A resolution against debt should be drawn psychologically and no more new entry of debt should be added to the existing list of debts. A paradigm shift can be brought about by having a change of outlook in beliefs, attitudes and habits on buying products and services on credit. Attitude and outlook about credit/money serves the mind to make fresh choices in support of financial freedom. If one is not able to control expenditure to become debt free, expert and professional debt help should be sought immediately to save the boat from sinking.


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Get Me Out of Debt - Fast!!!

For millions of peoples, being is debt is just a fact of life. Most people can’t conceive of how to be able to afford a car or two, a mortgage, raise children and still have spending money without debt such as loans, credit cards, etc. Well it doesn’t have to be that way. You can get out of debt and not have to worry about those interest rates, long-term loans and other financial burdens – and you can do it faster that you ever though possible.

If you are in debt already, you have probably tried many solutions to help your financial situation. As a matter of fact, there are dozens upon dozens of programs and books available that are meant to help people get out of debt and get back on their feet. However, many of these programs are complicated, time-consuming and downright impractical for the average person or family to stick to.

If you are serious about getting out of debt than you may need help, but do your research before you spend money on a program to help you. After all, you can’t afford to waste time and money on a program that isn’t right for you. If you want to get out of debt fast, you need to find a good program.

There are many things to look for when looking for a get-out-of-debt program. First of all, look for a program that is honest, legitimate, and is practical enough for anyone to use. A program that asks for you to get involved in a scheme, do something illegal or is just not practical to follow won’t work and may get you into more problems.

Secondly, find a program that is guaranteed to help you. The best way to get out of debt is through a program that is reputable, has testimonials from previous clients and a money-back guarantee. Many programs ask for you to pay outrageous amounts for a program without guarantees, testimonials or any proof that it actually works. These programs usually sell by clever marketing and lots of fluff. A good program should be reasonable in price, and should outline how it works and promise money-back if it doesn’t.

When you find yourself asking “How do I get out of debt?” you may decide that you need some help getting back on your feet. If you choose to get help from one of the many get-out-of-debt programs available, make sure you choose one that is right for you. Check out the website of the program, look for testimonials, experience, and guaranteed results. With a good program, some patience and a positive attitude, you can look forward to a bright and debt-free future.


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Credit Card Debt As A Silent Financial Killer

In fact, studies show that credit card debt and personal bankruptcies have increases bank profits to the highest level in the last five years. It only shows that more and more card holders were unable to manage their finances that lead to debt. If you are a cardholder and having some debt troubles at this early stage, it' now time to think over the possible outcomes of this minor glitch so that a more serious problem with credit card debt would cease to arise. Credit card gives people the feeling of invincibility. And it also gives them tons of uncertainty about their financial management capability when they encounter problems with their debt. Although it is true that that credit cards solve financial matters especially when it comes to safety and convenience, they also creates hassle especially when the person using it doesn't know what you he or she's getting into.

Indeed, paying off credit card debt may take a long time especially if the person has high interest rates. But, it doesn't mean that you can do nothing about efficient management of your debt. When you find yourself overwhelmed with credit debt, don't fall into a pit of depression. You can get through it with discipline and a change in spending patterns. Start eliminating problems with credit card debt by getting tips and techniques on how to pay off your balances easier, how to consolidate of frequently encountered problems, look for free debt consultation agencies that can help you, and try'inch by inch'to rediscover ways on how you can regain your financial freedom by reducing you credit card debt.


The power to eliminate credit card debt

People who are having problems managing their credit debt or those who are near in bankruptcy often don't realize that the power to eliminate their debt troubles totally is in their hands. Today, more and more people need financial help badly. The main problem is that these families are having difficult times paying high interest for credit card debt. And instead of lifting the burden of debt, more people are paying much in interest every month than that of the actual expenditure.

There are actually more lawful and moral ways to zero-out thousands of dollars in credit card debts. And if you only take the time to research and know your rights and how bankruptcy laws have changed, you will discover that there are valuable facts to eliminate credit card debt. Actually, the possibility of reducing or eliminating the high interest credit debt is now more possible when a person takes action to get his or her finances back on track.

Apart from knowing your weapon in terminating credit card debt, it is very important that you develop a sense of control and perseverance first. Since credit debt elimination process requires organization, clarity, and commitment to your own growth, it is a must that you are ready for the responsibility and to stand free and independent.

For those people who consider having a credit card indispensable but afraid of getting one because of the possibility of debt nightmare, you must remember that credit card can be a powerful tool in managing your finances but there will always be glitches when not used properly. Of course, there are countless reasons why you should and shouldn't get one depending on your needs. Whether you decide to get one or not, managing finances it still takes a sense of good budgeting, willingness to change spending habits, and the humility to avail low interest consolidation loans when you are already burdened by too much debt.


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Hidup Melebihi Kemampuan Sebenar

SECARA rasionalnya, perspektif permikiran kita dalam melihat sikap golongan muda yang suka berbelanja dan bergaya lagak yang di luar kemampuan mereka ini bukanlah sesuatu yang baru dan menghairankan kerana ia seolah-olah sudah menjadi gaya hidup yang diterima oleh golongan muda khususnya dan masyarakat Malaysia amnya yang memang suka berhutang dan memberi hutang dengan mempunyai pelbagai maksud dan tujuan hidup.

Di sini kita boleh ambil satu contoh mudah dengan melihat senario graduan yang telah tamat belajar dari universiti atau kolej. Dengan usaha, pengetahuan dan tuah badan, kita andaikan graduan yang telah tamat belajar tersebut terus diterima bekerja dengan purata gaji RM2,000 (contoh ini tidak termasuk bagi graduan yang kurang bernasib baik yang mendapat gaji yang tidak setimpal dengan kelulusan yang mereka capai iaitu RM800 - RM1,000).

Dengan gaji RM2,000, maka bermulalah kerjaya graduan tersebut sebagai eksekutif muda yang bekerja di bandar atau di kawasan pinggir bandar di mana mereka ditempatkan. Dengan semangat yang berkobar-kobar berserta dengan iringan doa dan kata-kata rangsangan ibu bapa, maka bekerjalah eksekutif muda tersebut dengan azam untuk membangunkan diri ke arah masa depan yang gemilang dan membantu ibu bapa dan keluarga yang telah banyak berkorban untuknya.

Tetapi setelah mengharungi hidup sebagai eksekutif muda dan terdedah dengan persekitaran kerja yang mencabar mental dan fizikal, perubahan demi perubahan yang positif dan negatif telah banyak mengubah hidup eksekutif muda sehingga perubahan tersebut telah menjerat diri dan kehidupan mereka sebagai individu, pekerja dan sebagai anak dalam keluarga iaitu hutang.

Bagaimana eksekutif muda ini boleh terdedah dengan hutang dan akhirnya hidup dikelilingi hutang?

Mengapa........
Marilah kita bersama-sama melihat situasi ini dengan spesifik dan telus, mengapa eksekutif muda ini berhutang:

* Gaji bulanan, RM2,000

* Sewa rumah bilik, RM200 (berkongsi rumah dengan rakan).

* Ansuran kereta, RM300 (bergantung jenis kereta, kalau mahal harga keretanya, mahallah ansuran bulanannya).

* Duit minyak dan tol, RM450 (anggaran perjalanan pergi dan balik kerja, tidak termasuk perjalanan lain).

* Makan dan minum RM500 (hanya tanggung makan sendiri dan tidak termasuk belanja rakan dan teman wanita atau belanja keluarga, kebiasaannya jarang belanja keluarga kerana belanja diri sendiripun terlepas.

* Sosial dan riadah, RM300 (urusan sosial bersama rakan dan hal peribadi, meraikan hari jadi rakan, tonton wayang, hari kasih sayanglah dan pelbagai aktiviti rehat minda bagi orang-orang muda, kononnya).

* Bayar bil, RM200 (bil api, air, telefon, bil pelbagai).

* Bayar kredit barangan RM300 (hutang set hi-fi, TV, peti sejuk, dapur masak dan pelbagai barangan elektrik).

* Barangan peribadi, RM200 (top-up kad prabayar, barangan kesihatan dan kecantikan, pakaian, kasut, aksesori diri bagi wanita, aksesori kereta dan pelbagai barangan kesukaan diri sendiri).

* Hal-hal kecemasan, RM100 (sakit, beri pinjam kawan, kereta rosak dan sebagainya).

* Simpanan RM100 (kerana memikirkan hendak kahwin, simpan sedikit, lama-lama jadi bukit).


Ini tidak termasuk lagi dengan arahan “perintah bayar” daripada pinjaman pelajaran mereka di universiti yang sering eksekutif muda ini saja-saja buat lupa tapi tidak pernah lupa untuk bayar perbelanjaan yang berkaitan dengan urusan peribadi mereka. Katakan eksekutif yang memaksa diri untuk bayar pinjaman secara minimum RM100, berapa gaji bulanan mereka yang tinggal?

* Pendapatan daripada gaji, RM2,000

* Perbelanjaan daripada gaji, RM2,750

* Baki gaji, RM – 750

Daripada contoh di atas, kita lihat tiada langsung baki daripada gaji bulanan eksekutif tersebut malah menunjukkan ketidakcukupan gaji setiap bulan iaitu sebanyak RM750. Ini andaian bagi gaya hidup eksekutif yang paling minimum dengan kos hidup semasa.

Cubalah bayangkan jika eksekutif tersebut mengamalkan gaya hidup mewah yang langsung tidak sepadan dengan gaji bulanan yang diterima. Berapalah agaknya kurangan gaji yang perlu mereka hadapi setiap bulan. Itu tidak lagi termasuk jika kita mempersoalkan duit yang perlu diberi kepada ibu bapa yang tidak berhenti-henti berdoa agar anak mereka mampu menghantar wang untuk membantu meringgankan perbelanjaan keluarga.

Tapi apa yang nyata, harapan tinggal harapan yang tidak kesampaian. Tambah menyedihkan lagi, anak yang diharapkan membantu keluarga setelah bekerja, malah meminta wang lagi pada ibu bapa dengan alasan kos hidup tinggi dan baki gaji bulanan memang tidak cukup.

Bagi eksekutif muda yang sering tidak cukup wang kerana wang memang tidak akan pernah cukup bagi mereka kerana gaya hidup mereka itu akan mula memikirkan alternatif untuk mendapatkan wang tanpa perlu meminjam duit ibu bapa atau rakan-rakan kerana malu akan dicop muka subsidi akan menjadikan kad kredit sebagai “abang long” mereka.

Dengan pelbagai promosi yang menonjolkan gaya dan aura kad kredit sebagai satu gaya hidup bagi eksekutif muda masa kini, maka terpesona dan terpanalah eksekutif yang sering putus wang ini untuk menggunakan kad kredit sebagai sumber kewangan alternatif mereka. Tanpa mereka sedari atau dengan sengaja tidak sedar diri, kad kredit itulah yang menjadikan mereka terus berhutang dan akhirnya menjadi hutang melilit pinggang.

Mengapa eksekutif muda ini berhutang? Persoalan ini bukannya susah untuk difahami tetapi tidak mudah untuk dicari penyelesaiannya. Jawapannya terletak kepada lima P:

1. Personaliti - peribadi dan sikap seseorang yang sememangnya suka berhutang kerana sudah menjadi satu kebiasaan kepada dirinya melihat ibu bapa, adik beradik dan saudara maranya yang memang suka berhutang untuk memenuhi kehendak dan keperluan diri. Ibu dan kakaknya suka berhutang beli perabot, hutang kain, hutang pinggan mangkuk, hutang langsir sehinggalah beli alat solek pun hutang. Jadi budaya berbelanja lebih dari pendapatan yang ada dan berhutang sudah jadi amalan biasa pada dirinya, malah mendapat sokongan padu daripada keluarga.

2. Pengaruh Persekitaran - hidup mereka sentiasa di kelilingi oleh mereka-mereka yang menjadikan hutang itu sebagai gaya hidup malah rakan-rakan sendiri memberi galakan untuk berhutang bagi membeli kereta yang kononnya setaraf dengan kerjaya sebagai eksekutif. Malah ada yang beri nasihat songsang pada rakan dengan mengatakan shopping and spending is a part of happiness, so go for it!. Pengaruh negatif inilah yang menjadikan seseorang itu terus lena dibuai mimpi indah di atas tilam dan sofa yang juga dibeli secara hutang di kedai perabot!

3. Promosi - institusi kewangan dan yang berkaitan dengan kad kredit ini memang menyasarkan golongan muda dan berkerjaya sebagai pelanggan berpotensi dengan membuat promosi besar-besaran dan habis-habisan untuk menarik eksekutif muda ini menggunakan kad kredit. Pelbagai iklan dan mesej yang digunakan untuk memaksa eksekutif ini menggunakan kad kredit. Kehadiran jurujual yang tidak pernah penat senyum dan ketuk pintu pejabat memang menjadikan taktik-taktik promosi ini sebagai strategi untuk menarik golongan muda ini menggunakan kad kredit.

4. Pujian dan Perasan- sebagai eksekutif muda, banyak puji-pujian dan dorongan agar mereka ini terus kelihatan anggun, cantik dan bergaya selaras dengan umur yang masih muda dan kerjaya yang disandang. Kerana terlena dan perasan dengan pujian tersebut, maka berlumba-lumbalah eksekutif muda wanita dan lelaki ini membeli-belah barangan berjenama yang bukan murah harganya, falsafah mereka biar papa asal bergaya menjadikan mereka akhirnya papa dan merana kerana muflis. Siapa yang perlu dipersalahkan jika keadaan ini berlaku? Tepuk dada tanyalah selera!

5. Kehabisan - selalu pokai atau tidak cukup duit kerana gaya hidup mewah inilah yang menjadi fokus utama mengapa golongan muda banyak berhutang. Mari kita lihat gaya hidup mewah yang menyebabkan golongan muda ini terperangkap dengan dunia yang mereka cipta sendiri dan bandingkan dengan gaya hidup ala kadar yang boleh membantu mereka berjimat cermat dalam menjalani kehidupan seharian mereka.


Bagi golongan muda khususnya, tidak salah memilih apa juga gaya hidup yang anda kehendaki tapi ukurlah baju di badan sendiri, jalan mana yang hendak anda lalui, jalan menuju kebahagiaan atau kesengsaraan, andalah yang menentukannya. Jika hidup dikelilingi hutang, banyak tekanan secara mental dan fizikal yang perlu anda hadapi. Tekanan fizikal seperti sukar tidur malam, keresahan, gangguan fikiran, panas badan, pening kepala, kekeruhan air muka, kelesuan, kemarahan dan pelbagai simptom fizikal yang akhirnya menjejaskan kreativiti, prestasi dan produktiviti pekerjaan anda sebagai eksekutif yang baru hendak mencipta nama dalam bidang yang anda ceburi. Tekanan mental pula menjurus kepada gangguan jiwa sehingga menjadikan seseorang itu murung, beremosi yang tidak terkawal, sensitif, mengurung diri, takut pada bayang-bayang diri dan akhirnya boleh menjadi gila kerana tekanan jiwa yang dihadapi kesan daripada hutang tersebut. Jadikan diri anda debt free dan hiduplah secara ala kadar mengikut kemampuan diri.


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9 Ways To Avoid Yourself From Debt

You should always differentiate between good debt and bad debt. A good debt will help your life and bad debt could make you life miserable. Read on to learn further 9 ways to avoid youreslf from debt trap.

1. Don’t sweep your debts problem under the carpet
You must learn how to manage your debt properly. You shouldn’t ignore your debt problem. There are always ways to get out from debt trap. But you must learn. You should get a professional advice. Don’t forget the debt because the debtor won’t forget you.

2. Don’t live far above you means
A smart things to do is live within your means. You may look ordinary, but it is better than you have a big debt problem that you can’t handle. A life is great when the is no creditors calling, creditors letter which disturbing you life isn’t it?

3. Don’t spend too big in a special ocassion
Anniversary, birthday, festivals always make you spend your money very fast. Learn to plan your expenditure properly. Avoid making last minute shopping which could always lead you to make improper financial decision. Special ocassions celebration do not always mean to spend lavishly, but be simple and thankful.

4. Don’t be influenced by advertisement and salesperson
Aware of excessive advertisement and salesperson. They were both professionals in their job. Don’t make decision after the advertisement or after any sales presentation. Think properly. Be informed. Don’t rush. There will be always better car to be produced next year.

5. Control your credit card usage
Credit card is the best way for banks to create money from the thin air. The interest imposed is too high but you need only to pay minimum payment. That’s the bank purpose to make you give them your hard earned money every month. Don’t pay everything by using credit card. Learn how to use the borrowed money properly.

6. Don’t buy on hire purchase if you could afford lump sump payment
Hire purchase payment basically means you have no money to pay cash. Thus, plan your budget properly. Save your money as much as you can. You earn more money by saving more but you pay more money to debtor if you buy on hire purchase.

7. Buy a house when you can’t afford to pay installment
Though a bank may approve the loan, but they never know your money management. Thus, don’t buy a house first if you have a deficit budget. Rent a house could be a better choice until you become really affordable.

8. Don’t become a guarantor
Think properly before you become a guarantor for any people. If the borrower fails to pay off the debt, by default you should pay all his debt. You may inherit all his debt.

9. Don’t gamble
Why visit casion when you know the odds of winning will always with the casino? You’re making a financial mistake when you think that by buying lottery, go to casino could always make you a millionaire.


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