Basic Steps to Getting Rid of Debt and How Can the Bankruptcy Lawyers Help You

As we started our family, it can’t be denied that we got debts. It took us about three years before we could say we paid off our debts. Almost all of us have debt. We all want to get rid of that debt. The task of doing so can seem overwhelming, can’t it? Since last year getting out of debt is one of our family’s top priorities. With dedication and by following a few simple steps, you too can get out of debt and reduce your stress level at the same time. 

1. Always spend less than you earn. It’s simple math; it frees up the money you need to pay off your debt. If you earn $30 a day, why spend more than that? Spending less than you make sounds much more difficult than it actually is if you have developed a habit of regular credit card use. If you must use a credit card to cover every day expenses between paydays, you are spending more than you make. In order to break this habit, you will need to develop a budget that you are able to follow. In order to develop a good budget, you must be honest regarding the money you bring in compared to the money you spend. Make a list of all income and expenses, being sure to include expenses that do not occur monthly, such as insurance premiums. 

One of the best ways to do this is to review your bank statements for the past six months. Categorize and total every expense, no matter how small and then total all expenses. If your expenses are higher than your income, you will need to find ways to reduce expenses or increase income. 

2. Reducing Expenses or Increasing Income. There are several ways to balance your budget. The first step is to look at all expenses and determine which can easily be eliminated. The $20 a week you spend at the local coffee house is an expense that can be eliminated by purchasing a travel coffee mug and making coffee at home. 

• Pack your lunch rather than visiting the cafeteria. This proves very helpful to me.

• Clip coupons and use grocery store rewards cards to lower grocery expenses. Thank God for Tops Spot Rewards, I saved a penny every time I buy and I received cash coupon about $10-$20 every 3 months. If expenses are still higher than your income after cutting them down to the bone, you may need to investigate ways to increase your income. Monetizing my blogs helps me bring food to our table and cater my beauty necessities.

• Give up shopping for fun. Shop only for necessities until your debt is paid off.

• Refuse to watch or read advertisements. They encourage you to buy things you don’t need!I also try to avoid skimming on the pages of Avon, Friday, and Mistine!

• Put any extra money towards paying off the debt. Get a bonus at work? Immediately use it to pay off debt instead of doing anything else with it.

3. Create a Debt Acceleration Program. Make a list of all of the debt owed. Include who you owe, what amount you owe, what interest rate you’re paying and what your monthly minimum payment is. Keep a physical copy of this list where you can see it.The list should include the balance, minimum monthly payment and the interest rate. Organize the list so the debt with the highest interest rate is first and the lowest is last. For all debts except the first one on the list, pay only the minimum monthly payment. For the first debt, pay the minimum plus any extra money you were able to squeeze out of your budget. Once you have paid off the first debt, move to the second one, paying the minimum monthly payment on that debt plus the total amount you were paying on the first debt. 

If you are struggling with debt, following these simple solutions will help you eliminate the debt, stop any collection calls and get you on better financial footing. 

4. Get Professional Help. If you are still having trouble getting out of debt, then I suggest that you seek help. The longer you allow yourself to sink deeper into debt, the more challenging it will be to get out. So time is of the essence. If you have debt in excess of $5000, then why not take advantage of a free consultation like the Bankruptcy Attorney New Orleans.  Contacting a Bankruptcy attorney will help you find a solution that will help you get rid of debt once and for all.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Educational Craft: Sun Catcher Keychains!

We bought this Sun Catcher Keychains for 69 Baht ($2.25) for Hyzyd to paint. It's easy for 3 years old to try on . This activity increases your child's visualization skills and creativity development.

Hyzyd paint the car keychain red like Lightning McQueen! I let him paint on a flat surface so that the colors spread evenly. It's Ok to paint generously to prevent streak lines when dried.

Here's Hyzyd's finished product. We allowed it to air dry for at least 4 hours. It's now hanging on his school bag.

It's one of the activities we did last Saturday. I encourage painting for tots. It helps improve your child's hand-eye coordination and muscle control.

Amp at Home

Part of our Saturdays are usually spent in church. My hubby plays the drum while my brother plays the guitar. Hyzyd and I will just watch them practicing the songs for Sunday's worship while chitchatting with friends or doing some church chores. After the practice, my hubby stays for awhile to teach basic lessons on drums for those who are interested. Methinks, I'll join next time. If not with drums, with guitar. The church have this fender rumble 150 amplifier that makes the sound of the guitar pretty good.The church have lots of amplifiers and some of them were broken already but were able to salvage one of them. Our Pastor let us brought it home . It's currently used at home as stereo. 

Milk: The Best Sports Drink for Active Kids

Hyzyd drinks milk twice to thrice a day. Milk is the best sports drink for active kids. According to a new study, skim milk does a better job of replacing lost nutrients than water or traditional sports drinks."Milk is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium and electrolytes", says lead researcher Brian Timmons, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in Ontario. Milk also has twice as much sodium as sports drinks, which is good for kids who are sweating a lot. "We're not saying that kids shouldn't drink water," says Dr. Timmons. "But when you want to rehydrate the body after practice or a game, milk is better."

What I want on Valentine's Day

Hi dear,

Still can’t figure out a Valentine's Day present for me? Let me offer you some suggestions:

Pink acoustic guitar!

You know how my love for guitar was revived few weeks ago since I saw Taylor Swift's live concert. She looks sooo cool with acoustic guitar! I know I won't be as good as she but learning the guitar once again will be cool enough for me. Few more practice and I'm sure I gonna rock your world...LOL!

FITNESS GYM IN A BAG in pink!

Yes my love, I hear you right. I need some physical activities to get physically healthy. Why won't you encourage me to get fit with this PVC clear drawstring duffle bag with pink trims and strap that contains the following:

• 1 x lightweight skipping rope with foam grip handles (pink handles,grey rope adjustable length)
• 1 x resistance band for exercising abs, legs or arms (pink)
• 2 x  handle grips with pink foam grip handles - for exercising hands, wrists and arms

I know...Valentine’s Day for both of us is not only on February 14.  LOVE is everyday and all year long. So, you got plenty of time to buy them for me. ..LOL!

Kidding aside, what I really want need on Valentine's Day is YOU coupled with hugs , kisses , comfort, appreciation and prayer. We don’t need a holiday to force us to buy gift to one another to show that we care. You're one of the real men  who knows that everyday is Valentine’s DAY. I love you.

Lovelots,