How to Keep Your Debt Under Control in 2016

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If you’re anything like the rest of us, then 2016 is the year that you are finally going to get the cumbersome debt under control. But what choices can you make on a daily basis that will allow you to keep this promises. What alterations can you make to your life that augur a lasting change? By following these five helpful tips, you can lower your debt and avoid those harassing phone calls from your creditors.

1. Keep Track of Purchases

When you are struggling with debt, you need to swallow your pride and begin recording all of the purchases that you are making. While swiping your credit card for that Starbucks mocha latte every morning might not seem like a major extravagance in the current moment, that money will start to add up over the course of time. By recording all of the purchases you make, it is much easier to review your spending habits and make the necessary cuts.

2. Always Know Where Your Balances Stand

In 2016, there is no longer any good excuse not to have intimate knowledge of your balances, whether it is the amount of money that you currently have in your bank account or the amount that you owe your creditors. Keeping a closer eye on your balances will save you from costly overdrafts and provide you with a far greater opportunity to eliminate those credit card debts that are keeping you from financial prosperity.

3. Make a Budget

This should go without saying, but the average person seems to believe that they can freestyle and guess their budget as they go. Whether it is making a budget for the year, a budget for the month, or even just a budget for the next trip to the grocery store, making a budget and sticking to it is key when it comes to eliminating debt and keeping it under control in 2016.

4. Comparison Shopping

When major purchases need to be made, it is imperative that you shop around first, as opposed to accepting the first price that is remotely within your budget. By shopping around and consulting with a wide range of outlets, you guarantee yourself the best possible price. Think back on all of the times that you pulled the trigger on a purchase too quickly, only to have buyer’s remorse when the item went on sale two weeks later the next time you are in a rush to buy.

5. Use the Resources at Hand

Credit cards are great to have during an emergency, but they cannot become your primary purchase method. Use the cash that you have on hand to pay for all of your daily expenses and keep the credit cards in your wallet or purse. This will keep you from accruing any additional debt as you pay down your old balances.

 

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