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Written by Jon Arnold
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Saturday, 25 October 2008 |
If you have a lot of debt, one thing you might consider is debt consolidation. There are two different basic types of debt consolidation that for unsecured debt and secured debt. Unsecured debt consolidation is what we'll be talking about.
What is unsecured debt? Unsecured debt is any debt that doesn't have collateral attached to it. As an example, most credit card debt is unsecured. That means that when you acquired the credit card, you didn't put up collateral in exchange for having a lender give you that credit card. In other words, if you don't pay off the balance on a credit card, the lender or credit card company cannot seize your possessions in lieu of being paid the balance owed. Instead, what happens is that that particular account gets turned over to a collection agency.
By contrast, secured debt is something that has collateral attached to it. That means that if you don't pay this particular debt, the collateral can be seized. For example, a mortgage is usually backed by your house itself as the collateral. If you don't pay your mortgage, the mortgage lender can seize your house.
Benefits and drawbacks of unsecured debt consolidation
When you engage in unsecured debt consolidation, you are taking several smaller sums and consolidating them into one large loan. Usually, what happens is that you take your credit card balances, for example, and pay them off with a consolidation loan in one lump sum. Then, you become responsible for that consolidation loan instead of the individual balances on your credit cards or other unsecured loans.
In some cases, when you take out an unsecured debt consolidation loan, you do so with a debt consolidation company. Oftentimes, the company that consolidates the debt buys the debt, often at a discount. You can shop around for companies that will cut you in on the savings they get. This can help you save money in the long run.
However, be careful. Because unsecured debt is something that the lender can't come after you for (other words, you're not going to lose your house or other important possessions because you can't pay this debt), you and your house and other important possessions are relatively safe even if you find yourself in a situation where you can't pay the debt off. However, if you take out an unsecured debt consolidation loan, that loan is likely to be considered secure, so that you'll have to provide some collateral for it. You also have to then be at risk of losing whatever you put up as collateral if you can't pay that loan off.
In short, is unsecured debt consolidation a good idea? It is ONLY a good idea if you are in a position whereby you know you're going to be able to pay that debt back. If you're not, stay away and simply pay back your credit cards yourself slowly, over time and as you're able, while taking care of your most basic needs such as rent, food, etc., first. But this IS a much better option than bankruptcy for many reasons, not the least of which is the long term negative effects of bankruptcy on you.
About the author For more insights and additional information about Unsecured Debt Consolidation as well as getting some very aggressive and free online debt consolidation quotes, please visit our web site at http://www.debtconsolidationstrategies.com |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 26 October 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 22 September 2008 |
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The demand for UK businesses for sale has been steadily growing over the past decade. Every year there are more and more new businesses, but at the same time the number of businesses for sale has also been growing. When you are in the market to buy one of these businesses for sale you will definitely want to do some research and find out as much as possible before you sign any contracts. At the foundation of any business are the customers. No matter how great your marketing skills are, without customers a business cannot survive. You will want to find out information, such as what has been the recent level of business? What about the current demand and any historical growth or even decline in sales?
What is the neighborhood like? How good is the location? Location is important for every business and especially for UK businesses for sale. Are there things you can do about the location? Do the surrounding businesses help or hurt the business you are trying to buy? If you are not clear on the local market, don’t be afraid to get out and ask other business owners. They may have also bought their business from someone else and probably had to do the same research you are doing. Finding the gems in a big list of businesses for sale can be time consuming, but if successful, it is all definitely worth the effort.
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 05 September 2008 |
When a homeowner faces the threat of repossession, finding a way to make those monthly mortgage payments jumps to the top of their priorities list. Their first port of call should really be their mortgage lender, who may let them reduce or reschedule their payments until they can get their finances under control again.
There are, however, other places they can turn to. Often, people can’t pay their priority bills (such as their mortgage) because their non-priority bills (credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, etc.) simply take up too much of their monthly income. In cases like this, they may have a wide range of debt solutions available to them, from debt consolidation to IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangements).
Helping them reorganise their non-priority payments, these debt solutions can free up the money they need for their mortgage payments. Different debt solutions are right for different people, so they should start by seeking debt advice from a professional debt specialist, who can help them decide which debt solution (if any) is right for them.
Debt consolidation
A debt consolidation loan may be a simple idea, but it can really help people with multiple debts. If they take out one new loan that’s big enough to pay off all their unsecured high-interest debts, they’ll have just one repayment to make per month, rather than many. This can greatly simplify their finances as well as reducing the interest they’re paying on their debt.
A debt consolidation loan can be an effective way for someone to reduce the amount they have to pay every month, as they can arrange to repay the consolidation loan more slowly than the original debts, although this could well mean they end up paying more in total.
Depending on their situation, they might consider consolidating their debts by remortgaging – taking out a larger mortgage and using the cash to pay off their unsecured debts. Even if this increases their mortgage payments, it can still reduce their overall monthly expenditure, as they won’t have to make any payments to other debts. Of course, it’s always important to think carefully before securing any debt against property.
But debt consolidation isn’t always the best way forward, and some people may be better off with an alternative debt solution, such as a debt management plan – or an IVA.
IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)
For homeowners with significant debts (over £15,000, in most cases), an IVA could be a good way of reducing their monthly payments, freeing up cash for mortgage payments and writing off a portion of their debt. Normally lasting five years, an IVA is a legally binding agreement between an individual and their unsecured creditors:
• The individual agrees to make regular fixed payments throughout the IVA – basically, the maximum they can afford once they’ve taken their living expenses into account. They may also have to free up some equity in their home towards the end of the IVA, so they can pay their creditors more of what they’re owed.
• If enough of the creditors accept the terms, they’ll agree to write off any outstanding debt once the IVA has been successfully concluded. They also agree not to take any (further) legal action, as long as the individual keeps making the payments.
An IVA is only an option if the individual genuinely can’t make their normal payments to their unsecured creditors – but can commit to making those reduced payments for the duration of the IVA.
Guest Post by Melanie Taylor of www.DebtAdvisersDirect.co.uk |
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