Getting out of Debt

Getting out of debt is one of the key elements to becoming financially fit.
In a society driven by financial excess, reaching this goal is increasingly
difficult but can be done with some determination and the right tools to
help you get there.

According to a survey conducted by Impulse Research Corporation, 59% of Americans
stated that they regularly maintain a household budget. This number is shocking
considering the average household debt in America has grown to $18,700, with
credit cards and auto loans combined. This ever-increasing debt load suggests
that American families continue to spend more than they make. Obviously, many
of the methods being used to manage household finances are not effective.

Despite these astounding debt levels, 41% of people still do not maintain
household budgets. The main reasons cited are:

• 57% say, “I have a good idea what I can afford, I don’t need
  to keep a budget.” Statistics, however, show that many American families
  spend as much as 10% more each month than they earn. This can often be
  traced back to not knowing how much has been spent, and how much money
  is left on
  a daily basis.


• 45% say that
  budgeting is “too difficult,” “too
  time consuming,” or “too
  confusing.” Budgeting can be all of the above if you don’t
  have the right tools or information. But with the right tools, budgeting – which
  is really spending management – can be easy and far less time-consuming.
  The key is using today’s technology to simplify the process,
  not complicate it.


• 23% say, “I
  start budgeting, but loose momentum as the year goes on.” One
  of the keys to successful spending management is consistency. By
  using the right tools and putting a plan in place, you can consistently
  spend
  less than
  you earn and quickly eliminate your debt.


• 21% say, “It
  is too hard to stick to a set budget with more than one person making
  purchases and using the accounts.” Budgeting, or spending
  management, can be difficult with multiple people spending from multiple
  accounts, however, by using an envelope budgeting system, everyone
  can be involved in
  the creation of a spending plan, and everyone can see what money
  is available to spend, how much is left, and how long it has to last.
  Using an online application
  like Mvelopes® Personal makes it even easier. Your household’s
  spending plan can be accessed through a secure online connection
  from any PC with Internet
  access. You and your spouse can both see how much is left to spend
  in each spending category and how long it has to last. No guess work
  involved.

In order to eliminate debt, you must consistently spend
less than you make, not incur any new debt, and make payments towards reducing
your existing debt. To do this, you need a spending plan or a budget.
Maintaining a budget can be a daunting task- tracking purchases, manually
recording transactions, balancing
several different accounts, etc. The list goes on and on. In our near cashless
society, it’s harder than ever to keep track of every purchase. It doesn’t
have to be difficult though, by using advanced computer technology, it’s
easier than ever to create and maintain a spending plan that will help you
quickly eliminate your existing debt, and avoid incurring any new debt.

The best way to eliminate debt is using the Debt
Roll-Down Method partnered with your Envelope Budgeting System. The debt
roll-down principle works by determining the total monthly payment you
can make toward debt repayment. Each time you
pay off a debt, you add the payment for that debt to the monthly payment for
the next priority debt. This will accelerate the rate at which this debt is
paid. When the second debt is paid, you add the payment you have been making
on this debt to the monthly payment for the third priority debt. This process
is continued until all debt has been eliminated. The key is to continue making
the same aggregate debt payment each month. Following this debt elimination
principle can often assist you in eliminating all of your debt, including your
mortgage, in as few as seven to eight years.

There
are two ways to prioritize debt repayment: smallest outstanding balance to
largest outstanding
balance or highest interest rate to lowest interest rate. Because, in most
cases, you will eliminate your debt faster if you begin with the debt carrying
the highest interest rate, most financial advisors agree you should prioritize
your repayment based on the interest rate—highest to lowest.

Traditionally, many people managed their money by dividing
their cash into several paper envelopes. An envelope for food, entertainment,
utilities etc.
They then spend their money from these envelopes. They always knew how much
money they had left, and how long it had to last. Today the best way to create
and manage your Envelope Budgeting System is with the online
budgeting system Mvelopes Personal. Mvelopes Personal is a breakthrough in budgeting
and spending management that modernizes
this
same
envelope budgeting concept using advanced Internet technology.

You can quickly set up your rapid repayment plan by following these steps.

STEP 1: Create a list of all debt.

The first step is to create a list of all debt. This list should include the
name of the debt, the current outstanding balance, the planned monthly payment,
and the interest rate for each. Begin with the debt having the highest interest
rate and end with the debt having the lowest interest rate.

STEP 2: Check your monthly spending account allocations.

When you set up your monthly spending plan, you should create an envelope spending
account for each debt on your list. Each month, you will make your debt payments
from the spending accounts you have created. After you pay off the first
debt, you will need to make an adjustment by adding the monthly allocation
for that debt to the monthly allocation of the spending account for the next
priority debt.

For example, let’s say your debt with the highest interest
rate is a department store credit card. The amount of your monthly payment
for this
debt is $75, so the amount of income you allocate each month to the department
store
spending account for that debt is $75. Your next highest priority debt based
on interest rate is a credit card. For this debt, your monthly payment is
$125, so the amount of income you allocate to this credit card spending account
each
month is $125. After four months, you have paid off the department store
debt. When you complete your monthly adjustment, you will transfer any remaining
balance from the department store spending account to the credit card payment
envelope. You also will adjust the monthly income allocation for the credit
card spending account by adding the $75 to the $125. You will now be making
a monthly payment of $200 on the credit card. This will be repeated each
time
a debt is paid off. Before long, you will have eliminated all of your consumer
debt and will be making much larger mortgage payments.

STEP 3: Accelerate your debt payment with monthly spending account transfers.

Once you have created your debt-elimination plan, you can begin to accelerate
your debt repayment by transferring savings from your spending accounts to
your debt repayment accounts. Many people have found they can save an additional
10% each month by using an envelope system. If you have a net monthly income
of $5,000, the additional amount you can save using the envelope system could
be as much as $500. Imagine how quickly you can eliminate your consumer debt
if you are adding 10 percent of your net monthly income to your debt payments.

For most people in America, a significant portion of their net monthly income
is dedicated to the payment of interest. Imagine how much money you can save
and invest if you are not paying interest. For most, this would represent several
thousand dollars each year. Invested properly, this additional money may make
a significant difference in the lifestyle you choose later in life. Using an
envelope system to successfully implement the debt roll-down principle will
help you accomplish this objective.

With Consumer debt at an all time high, it’s no wonder more and more
people are looking for help with personal financial management, debt reduction
and spending management. And given the substantial debt carried by the average
family, it’s not surprising that Financial Freedom is at the forefront
of the American mind – Among the top New Year’s Resolutions for
2004 were increased savings, debt reduction, and increased investments.

• 63% resolve to
  save more money in 2004


• 51% resolve to
  pay off their debts


• 23% resolve to
  dedicate more money towards retirement

Following the steps outlined in the Debt Roll-Down method will
put you on the right path towards eliminating all of your consumer debt.
If you partner
this with your envelope budgeting system like Mvelopes
Personal, you too can
reach financial fitness – regardless
of your income level. The amount of money that you earn isn’t what matters,
its how you spend the money that you do earn. You simply have to spend less
than you make on a consistent basis.