Are you managing your debt? Or is it managing you? If you're stuck in a money quicksand trap, you may not even realize at first that you're in a financial predicament, especially if you're sinking slowly and have been poorly managing your cash for a long time.1. You're spending more on your credit card than you're paying off. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's 2014 Financial Literacy Survey, which surveyed 2,016 adults last March, about 1 in 3 U.S. adults admitted to carrying credit card debt from month to month. Approximately 15 percent of adults – more than 35 million – roll over $2,500 on credit cards from month to month.2. You're having trouble paying bills. It may be an obvious sign that there's a problem, but you still may not see it as a true red flag if you've been having trouble paying bills for a while. You may just see it as a sign that your salary is pitiful and your boss is a skinflint. That may be true enough, and if you aren't paying your bills on time, you certainly aren't alone: Twenty-four percent of Americans, according to the aforementioned survey, are constantly late with their bills. Still, if you're frequently paying late fees or getting burned by your bank's overdraft fees, that's generally a sign that you need to get your financial house in order before an emergency hits.3. Your retirement isn't being properly funded. It may not be troubling your bank account now, but it is a huge red flag for your future4. You're buying merchandise without putting much down. Have you ever driven a car away from a dealership without putting any money down or furnished your home while paying absolutely nothing? That could be a problem.5. You've created opportunities that could make you overextended. If you have a lot credit cards or lines of credit you rarely use, you could, in theory, end up spending a lot of money and getting yourself into trouble that way, but having those lines open isn't itself a bad sign. It's a sign that you have good credit, and your creditors trust you. Still, it's good to remember that if you aren't monitoring yourself, you could ultimately max out and find yourself buried in credit card debt. At least in that scenario, you have control over what may or may not happen.
Enrolling in a DMP itself is not reported to the bureaus. However, creditors may note that accounts are being paid through a counseling plan, which some lenders may view negatively, though the positive impact of consistent on-time payments usually outweighs this.
Some providers may accept a reduced lump-sum payment to settle a debt, especially if you’re experiencing financial hardship. Always request this in writing.
Your self-worth is not defined by your net worth. Financial difficulties are a life circumstance, not a character flaw. Practicing self-compassion is essential for maintaining the mental strength needed to navigate the path to financial recovery.
Conspicuous consumption is the public acquisition and display of luxury goods or services primarily to signal wealth, status, or social standing, rather than to meet essential needs.
A late payment can remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of the initial delinquency. Its impact on your score lessens over time, especially if you re-establish a consistent pattern of on-time payments.
