Jeans > How to Start a Debt Reduction Plan

How to Start a Debt Reduction Plan

Copyright 2006 Stephen Ashton

Whether you simply want to pay off your mortgage or car loan sooner, or you've run up a huge pile of credit card debt, starting a debt reduction plan is always a good idea.
Follow these five steps to setting up your own debt reduction plan:

1. Find out where your money is really going. You can't cut your expenses if you don't understand where you're spending your money in the first place.
Pull out all of your receipts, credit card bills, and bank statements for the last 3 ? 6 months.

Make a list of everything you spend money on, by breaking things down into categories (food, entertainment, clothing, travel, bills, interest, taxes, etc.).
Then figure out what percentage of your income is going towards each group of expenses.
While you can't change certain expenses, you can change most of them.
Decide what general areas you can cut expenses in, and which areas you should be spending more money on.

2. Trim unnecessary expenses.

Now that you've decided what general areas you want to cut expenses in, start looking at specific bills and receipts.
Some expenses will be justifiable, and others won't.
Just because something was inexpensive, doesn't mean you can justify spending money on it rather than putting more towards reducing your debt.
For example, perhaps you spent $80 on a pair of jeans, and $10 on a clearance top you found.
At first glance, you might think the $80 expense could have been cut by finding a less expensive pair of jeans, while the $10 expense is easily justified, but that's not necessarily so.

If you truly love that pair of jeans, they're of high quality and will last a long time, and you'll wear them regularly, then the $80 expense is justifiable.
But if you purchased the clearance top simply because it was cheap, and you'll likely wear it only on rare occasions, then that expense is the unjustified one that could have been cut.
You need to evaluate the benefit of what you spent the money on versus the benefit you would have realized if you had spent that money paying down your debts.

3. Set a timeline and goals for yourself. You've already decided where you can cut your expenses.

So what should you do with that extra money in your pocket?
Each debt reduction plan will revolve around different goals and timelines.
Set your own now.
For instance, if you have a 30 year mortgage, your goal might be to pay it off in 20 years instead, to save thousands of dollars in interest payments.
If you want to pay off your credit card debt, your goal might be to pay off one card completely (and get rid of it) by the end of the current year.
Your goals and timeline will be highly personal, so spend some time deciding what's most important to you.

4.

Pay the small, high interest debts first. When you've decided on a timeline and general goals for yourself, it's time to pick the specific debt to deal with first.
The general rule is to start with the smallest debt with the highest interest rate.
That usually means a credit card.
By eliminating a small high-interest debt, you'll cut down on the total interest you'd pay over time, and by choosing a small debt first to eliminate completely, you'll free up those regular payments to go towards a larger debt later.

Once that small debt is paid off completely, keep paying those monthly payments, but pay them towards your mortgage, car payments, or other large expenses.

5. Reward yourself with savings. As you reduce your debt, make sure there's something in it for you (although for some, the peace of mind may be enough).
One of the best ways to reward yourself is to set up a savings account, money market account, or some other kind of interest-bearing account with the money you used to put towards your debts.
For once, let interest rates work in your favor, and when a large expense comes up you'll have funds to draw from (whether it be an emergency or a pleasant vacation).

You won't need to rely on creditors when you can rely on your accumulated wealth.
.

Find out more tips and advice about how to clear your credit card debt at http://www.clearcreditcarddebt.com . You can find debt consolidation loans at http://www.finddebtconsolidationloans.com

Baseball Cap Turns Fifty

Golfers wear them and so do Brownies. Every Hollywood director since Steven Spielberg did ?Jaws' considers it part of their work wardrobe. It's a US import which like jeans, has become a design classic and an integral part of global culture. And this year it has a special birthday. The baseball cap is fifty.Up until 1954, it was up to individual baseball players to choose a hat to keep the sun out their eyes.

Some went for straw boaters, others preferred jockey caps. There was no consistency amongst players, let alone teams. So, in 1954, a hat company came up with the standard issue cap known as the ?59Fifty'. This brought uniformity to the game and fifty years on, it's still the official cap of Major League Baseball.In the late 70s and early 80s the American public became interested in wearing the caps worn by their favourite team and the big names in the game. The trend took hold and the baseball cap eventually made its way into every part of American society, including Hollywood...

Baseball Cap Turns Fifty

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My Wabi-Sabi Master is My Dog

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My Wabi-Sabi Master is My Dog

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LillaBoo Heads to Cannes for Nikki Hollywood Style 2006

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LillaBoo is the only baby accessories label present during the event with the likes of other vendors such as Frederic Fekkai Hair Products, Face Stockholm cosmetics, Le Silla Shoes, Corleone Jeans, and Remy Martin Cognac. A limited number of LillaBoo products have been shipped to Cannes which include, their best selling...

LillaBoo Heads to Cannes for Nikki Hollywood Style 2006

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A SELF-TEST FOR MEN: DO YOU LOOK OLDER THAN YOU FEEL?

REPRINT GUIDELINES=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=You are free to publish the following article in itsentirety in your eZine or on your website. Our onlycondition is that you MUST keep the information about theauthor,(c) notice and resource box at the end intact.Please let us know when you use an article bysending us an email... mailto:howto@leanmarketingpress.com=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Word Count: 196Character Width: 60Resource Box:
at www.BookShaker.com==========================================================="A SELF-TEST FOR MEN: DO YOU LOOK OLDER THAN YOU FEEL?" - by (Top UK Image Consultant) (c) . All Rights Reserved.http://www.BookShaker.com===========================================================Aging. It's an inevitable fact of life.

But just because youmight be getting a little bit older and wiser it doesn'tmeanyou can't look as vibrant and youthful as you...

A SELF-TEST FOR MEN: DO YOU LOOK OLDER THAN YOU FEEL?

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Searching Tips For Womens Casual Shoes

Casual shoes for women are without a doubt the most comfortable shoes you can ever put on your feet. It doesn't matter what kind of foot pain you may be suffering from -corns, flat feet, fallen arches, once you find the right pair of womens casual shoes; you're not going to want to ever leave home without them. Casual shoes for women could be the most versatile shoe you can have in your closet. Casual shoes can virtually be worn with any type of clothing. This includes, but is not limited to tee shirts, shorts, jeans, sweat suits, sweaters and yes, even swim suits.

So, the million dollar question - where do women look when looking for designer casual shoes and what is considered comfortable? There are many factors to consider when looking for casual women's shoes but they depend on your lifestyle needs as to what factors are important to you. Whatever your choices may be, the ultimate goal is to find that perfect casual shoe which is most comfortable to you. Casual Shoe ConsiderationsThe...

Searching Tips For Womens Casual Shoes

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My Wabi-Sabi Master is My Dog

My Wabi-Sabi Master is My Dog

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Is That My Butt?

Is That My Butt?By Is that my butt? Now that's an interesting question. But to be perfectly honest I'm not concerned with my butt. Not your butt. Not any one's butt.But...It sure got your attention. Just like it got mine.

And that is the purpose of a killer headline.Let's start this story from the beginning:Here I am sitting at the doctors office. I'm waiting for mywife to get done with her check up. And "no", we are not expecting a baby, thank you.Anyway... Here I sit. Notebook in hand.

I brought it towrite some content for a new website. So I'm looking aroundjust waiting (hoping?) for the creative juices to start flowing.You know how it is waiting at the doctors office. I startedstaring at all those magazines. You know... All those womenmagazines.

No Hot Rod or anything interesting like that.And then I saw it. "Is That My Butt?". Right on the frontcover of Seventeen, April, 2002 Edition.Normally that's not the type of reading I'm into. But I couldn't resist. I...

Is That My Butt?

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Plus Size Clothing Online Fashion Bonanza

Have you been looking for the right fit in all the wrong places? Does your laughter echo throughout the mall when you hold up a size two halter-top and ask the sales-clerk if they have these toe-warmers in beige and purple? Are you tired of the lack of selections that Department Stores offer? Want to find, quality, name-brand, plus-size denim jeans, cotton tee-shirts, hooded and plain sweatshirts, knit tops, sweaters, blazers and much more at bargain prices without the hassle?

With today's high gas prices, why travel all over town when you can safely, easily and conveniently shop online and have your merchandise shipped right to your door?

Let's face it, wearing clothes that are made to fit means no longer having to lie on the bed and hold your breath in order to zip up your jeans. It's being able to reach for something without the seams coming apart. It means going out to dinner with friends and being able to order more than just a glass of water. It...

Plus Size Clothing Online Fashion Bonanza

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