Can You Have Too Much Debt?

Most families have some kind of debt at one point throughout their lives. It might be a mortgage loan, a car loan, student loans, or plain old credit card debt. Having debt isn’t always a bad thing as long as you are taking steps to pay it off in a timely manner. It’s having TOO much debt that can cause an unhealthy financial situation and create real problems for you.

Credit cards and loans can seem like lifesavers when you want to make a big purchase and don’t have the cash on hand. That is until you’ve exceeded your credit limit and realize that what you will ultimately pay back goes way beyond the initial cost of the item. You’ll then find yourself wondering if you have accumulated TOO much debt.

Use this free online calculator to see if you currently have too much “bad” debt: https://www.calcxml.com/calculators/too-much-debt.

Another way to figure out your total debt load is to find out what your debt-to-income ratio is. Here’s a blog post to explain what debt-to-income ratio is and how you can find yours: https://www.advantageccs.org/understanding-what-debt-to-income-ratio-means

You May Have Too Much Debt If:

• You don’t have a clue on how much you truly owe.
• You’re in denial or you don’t think it’s that big of a problem.
• You are receiving numerous calls from creditors and/or collection agencies.
• You’re losing sleep and your health is deteriorating because of your financial situation.
• You are only able to pay the minimum on your credit cards.
• Your finances affect your overall work performance.
• All of your credit cards are maxed out or close to it.
• You’ve been turned down for a new credit card or loan
• Being denied a credit limit increase is also a sign.
• Your bank account balance is regularly at or even below $0.
• You have no emergency savings account or funds.
• You have zero money to spend on “extras” like a movie or going to a restaurant once all of the bills have been paid.
• You hide your spending habits from your significant other or family.
• You’ve taken or have tried to take advances on your paychecks.
• You use a personal loan or credit card to pay off another loan or credit card.
• You pay most of your bills late because you don’t have enough money in your bank account to cover them when they’re due.
• You rely heavily on overtime pay just to pay the mortgage and buy food.

These are just a few examples of how you might be feeling or what’s happening in your financial life right now. It’s a good idea to update and refresh your budget to see if you have any wiggle room or where you can possibly make some cutbacks to free up some money. You need to get that debt paid down as quickly as possible.

It’s rather easy to find yourself struggling with debt and wondering how on Earth this happened to you. Between student loans, mortgage loans, auto loans, and unsecured credit card debt, many Americans are currently carrying too much debt.

Options For Debt Relief:

In general, debt payments of more than 40% of your gross income are an indicator of financial distress. If you believe that you have a debt overload and need some assistance, reach out to a non-profit credit counseling agency for help. They can help you set up a budget, create a debt repayment plan, and give you some much-needed relief and reassurance.

If you are faced with too much debt and not enough income, one of your only options may be to file for bankruptcy. The credit counseling agency would suggest that you speak with a reputable bankruptcy attorney to see if they can help you. If you do decide to file, you can usually use the same credit counseling agency to go through bankruptcy counseling and receive your certification that is a federal law requirement and needed by the courts.

A Debt Management Program might be just the thing you need to reign in your debt and get it under control. It will lower your interest rates and give you one affordable monthly payment to make to the credit counseling agency. It’s a great way to get out of debt and fix your financial troubles.

Consequences Of Too Much Debt:

Getting calls from creditors, collection agencies, lawyers, and dealing with overdue bills might cause anyone to lose sleep and develop unhealthy stress—not to mention what it does to your credit score. Here are some things that could happen:

• Lower your credit score. Credit reporting agencies keep track of late and missed payments and how much money you owe. These will all be derogatory marks on your credit report and in time they will negatively affect your credit score.
• Limit your capability to get new credit in the future. A low credit score can make it much more difficult to borrow money in the future. You might find yourself getting denied.
• Cause major undue stress. Worrying about how you’re going to pay your bills can cause you to feel stressed out. This will have a negative impact on your health.
• Limit your “wants” and “needs.” You may no longer be able to afford the things you like to have. You might have to adopt a more frugal lifestyle from here on out.
• Create a vicious never-ending cycle of debt. When you’re in over your head and paying only the minimum or even missing payments, you are adding additional interest and penalty fees to your balance.

In Conclusion –

Many people face financial stress at some point in their lives. Whether it’s caused by sickness, job loss, gambling, addiction, or overspending, too much debt can feel overwhelming. No matter how terrible your financial situation is there are things you can do to keep it from getting worse. Contact a reputable Non-Profit credit counseling agency and find out what your options are. The call is always free and completely confidential.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, Advantage Credit Counseling Service will help you resolve your debt problems and get you back on track. Unlike high-pressure debt settlement companies, we will help educate you to make good financial decisions and possibly recommend a custom debt solution such as a Debt Management Program that works for you. We are headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and we’ve been in business since 1968. We’re a Non-Profit Credit Counseling agency that has paved the road to financial freedom for over one million clients. Visit us online at www.advantageccs.org or call us at 1-866-699-2227. We’re always here to help!