Are Americans Getting Smarter About Debt?
When looking at some recent financial data, it appears that more Americans are shunning debt.
Credit Card Debt Declines
Outstanding consumer debt has fallen over the past year, most recently at $1.59 trillion in November, according to data from the Federal Reserve. Revolving debt, which is mostly credit card debt, was $874 billion.
Personal Savings Rate
The declining numbers do indicate that some people are embracing the trend that it’s hip to be frugal and are paying off debt. The personal savings rate was at 4.5% in November, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). It was near zero before the economic crisis.
But a recent article at TheStreet.com makes the point that the lower overall debt level is probably due in part to credit card debt and other loans being written off, bankruptcies, and loan forgiveness programs. The article concludes that many Americans really haven’t learned their lesson about taking on too much debt.
Debt Reduction Strategies
The fact is that consumer debt levels have dropped, and there are ample opportunities to get help with debt to improve your finances.
So what can you do to dig your way out of a financial mess?
- Negotiate a debt settlement with your creditors
- Get debt help from a reputable debt counseling firm
- Consolidate credit card debt to lower the amount of interest paid out
- Stop buying stuff you don’t need and can’t afford
Credit Debt Relief
In the end it doesn’t matter what other people are doing. It’s up to you to secure your own financial future, and dumping debt and boosting savings can help you do that.
Post written by Francine Huff
2 Responses to “Are Americans Getting Smarter About Debt?”
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Chris Rocks is the Regional Director of the National Credit Federation (NCF). NCF is a nationwide membership-based organization that assists consumers recovering from a financial difficulty and those who need a significant increase in their credit score.
Chris began his financial services career as a Financial Advisor helping young families with risk management and asset accumulation strategies. It was during that time that Chris realized that many of these young families also needed someone to guide their choices with regards to debt management.
He made the transition into the mortgage industry where he first worked as a loan originator and later the Vice President of a small mortgage company. As Chris came across clients who had suffered through financial challenges and saw the difficulty they had in re-entering our credit driven economy, he discovered there was a real opportunity to leverage his unique background and help others.
He can be contacted by visiting his personal site, GoodCreditLiving.com.
Francine L. Huff is the Publisher and Editorial Director of Super Savvy Publishing, LLC, which provides editorial and publishing services. She is a gifted author, freelance journalist, and motivational speaker who has entertained and motivated a variety of audiences through workshops, panels and keynote addresses. Francine is the author of The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women, which has inspired and motivated many readers to rein in poor financial habits, become good stewards over their money and work toward a debt-free life. She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows. Francine previously worked for the Wall Street Journal, where she was the spot news bureau chief, a news editor and a copy editor. She has interviewed a variety of financial professionals about financial issues and strives to present information about managing money in an easy-to-understand format that is accessible to people of all backgrounds and income levels.
Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience working in mortgage banking and loan servicing. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. She enjoys writing informative articles about debt management and personal finance.
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February 5th, 2010 at 1:07 am
I think your conclusion is great! And your advice to “stop buying stuff you don’t need” is excellent!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Jacqueline,
It’s a simple solution that people often think of too late.