Dependence on a house of credit cards may be debt trouble
Atlanta-born comedian Jeff Foxworthy has made a successful career pointing out signs that someone might be a redneck. Did you know that there are also signs that you might be headed into financial trouble that requires debt relief through bankruptcy or some other means?
The subject isn’t nearly the source of chuckles that a Foxworthy routine is, but it is something that is better brought out into the light of day. Rather than keeping our heads in the sand about tough circumstances, experts agree that it’s better to be aware so that action can be taken if it’s required.
So what are signs that your money matters are more than a mere mud puddle and that you perhaps need help from professionals? There are many. Here are a select few.
- Chronically late on bills. If you receive notices of late fees as often as you receive your bills, you could be in trouble, according to a Virginia financial planner. He says an even more serious flag may be if you are juggling payments just to keep services going.
- A copious cache of credit cards. One credit card may be a necessity. Credit counseling experts agree, though, that having too many cards often leads to you dealing yourself a hand of growing debt. If you can’t make more than minimum payments on the balances, they will rise.
- Zero in savings. Financial instability isn’t improved if you aren’t putting at least a little something into the bank each pay day, advisors say. Exercising such discipline may not be easy, but the risk of a debt downfall only rises if you don’t.
These are just a few indicators offered up by Bankrate recently. You probably can think of others that apply in your particular situation. Bankruptcy remains an available option for some. Whether bankruptcy might be appropriate for you is something to explore with guidance from a skilled attorney.
Source: Bankrate, “8 signs you’re flirting with financial ruin,” Claes Bell, accessed June 24, 2014
