STRAIGHT
TALK & "EXCUSE BUSTERS"
TO HELP YOU STAY DEBT-FREE
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By
now, you may well have quit the extra job...because the goal
of that was never to become a lifestyle anyway. But, as for
the other money you've been paying out to all those paid-off
(and now closed) accounts...start putting a good chunk of that
into savings. NOW you have the financial self-discipline to
institute a budget. Take a financial course, see a financial
counselor...increase your financial intelligence...so you don't
fall into this trap again.
"OK, this all makes sense...but I know myself well enough to know...I don't have the discipline to do this."
Fine. Make yourself accountable to a trusted friend or relative. Share with them exactly where you stand and what you're trying to do. Ask them to hold you to your goal. Find the right person, and they'll do it because they care about you. They may be tough on you (because you've just admitted that you can't do that part yourself), but they'll also be your friend and fan thru the process...and you'll need that!). |
"Nah...I'll
just get another debt consolidation loan. I've done it before.
Works fine."
Yes, there can be some value in debt consolidation for certain
situations. But your comment is very telling. You've been
here before. And...the chances are, you'll be back again
in the future! Because they work fairly painlessly, these loans
are a tempting solution...but, most everyone ends up using the
extra money for living expenses...or, worse yet...to splurge!
Consolidating debt (or negotiating a lower rate for your cards)
can be a worthy investment of your time...but it's important
to use ALL the freedom you gain to pay off your debt. Otherwise,
you're just enslaving yourself further...and, one of these days,
you're just gonna be sucked down the drain! |
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