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Credit Card Advice

Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:20 pm
Posted by BeastmodeTiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
237 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:20 pm
I have about $10,000 in credit card debt and make about $40,000/year. I can only afford to pay the minimum right now which is about $400 a month. Are there any other options out there?
This post was edited on 12/9/08 at 12:22 pm
Posted by jlsutiger
Member since Nov 2004
3523 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:21 pm to
Advice
Posted by Cash
Vail
Member since Feb 2005
37617 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:21 pm to
Get another job
Posted by BeastmodeTiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
237 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:22 pm to
great advice so far keep it coming
Posted by Ric Flair
Charlotte
Member since Oct 2005
13873 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:25 pm to
Cut up the card.
Don't eat out/bring sandwiches to work for lunch/cut other costs.
Call the CC company to try to negotiate a lower rate.
Posted by Parliament
Member since Dec 2007
5787 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:26 pm to
Do have any savings you could tap? Assets you could sell? Home equity to tap?

You say you make $40k which is not chicken feed. I'm guessing that's, what, $2200/month take home? Were is the other $1800 going?
Posted by BeastmodeTiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
237 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:29 pm to
I haven't put anything on the card in awhile...and don't plan to. I have some student loans and car a car note which is almost done as well. has anyone tried negotiating a lower rate with a credit card company?
Posted by dawgorama
Member since Jun 2004
14690 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:29 pm to
quote:

I can only afford to pay the minimum right now which is about $400 a month.


Why? Do you have other debts? If so, what?
Posted by Colonel Hapablap
Mostly Harmless
Member since Nov 2003
28791 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:30 pm to
- get rid of cable vision.
- bring lunch to work instead of going out
- run heater (or A/C in summer) less
- scale back your cell phone package and usage, get rid of landline.
Posted by dawgorama
Member since Jun 2004
14690 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:30 pm to
quote:

I have some student loans and car a car note which is almost done as well. has anyone tried negotiating a lower rate with a credit card company?


When is the car note done?
Posted by Ric Flair
Charlotte
Member since Oct 2005
13873 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:32 pm to
quote:

a car note which is almost done


How long until it's paid off? You could put your carnote toward the CC once it's paid off, or sell your car, buy a beater for $1500 to drive, and pay it off that way.
This post was edited on 12/9/08 at 12:33 pm
Posted by tigerdup07
Member since Dec 2007
22268 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:33 pm to
if all you can afford is the minimum then, put everything (or most of it, at least) that you get back from taxes on credit card debt yearly. oh, and stop using the cards. cut them up and throw them.
Posted by Ric Flair
Charlotte
Member since Oct 2005
13873 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:33 pm to
Drink at home instead of in bars.
Posted by MileHigh
Most likely a mile high
Member since Jan 2004
7920 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:36 pm to
cut all spending. No eating out. No drinking at bars. No gifts. No travel.

Two ways to knock out debt, both have merits
- Dave Ramsey way - knock out the smallest first. Then move on
- Rational way - work on the highest interest rate first.

Either works fine. If you have a hard time focusing go the dave ramsey way, if you can do math go the rational way.

I will say getting a second job is a great idea, just to eat at the balances a little bit.
Posted by BeastmodeTiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
237 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:38 pm to
thanks
Posted by Cash
Vail
Member since Feb 2005
37617 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:44 pm to
quote:

I will say getting a second job is a great idea, just to eat at the balances a little bit.


He didn't seem to like it when I suggested that.
Posted by Chicken
Jackassistan
Member since Aug 2003
27317 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:50 pm to
quote:

I can only afford to pay the minimum right now which is about $400 a month. Are there any other options out there?

Your best option is to cut other costs and get that debt to zero.

How much you spend on things like cellphone, home phone, cable tv, internet, subscriptions...etc?

Do you eat out much?

If you can't cut your spending at all, and I hopefully doubt that you can't, then you need to consider increasing your income...new job, second job. Yeah, that might be tough in this economy, but it is worth exploring.
Posted by MileHigh
Most likely a mile high
Member since Jan 2004
7920 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:53 pm to
quote:


He didn't seem to like it when I suggested that.

well, that really is the best option to pay down debt. There are only so many factors in the equation.
Posted by Cash
Vail
Member since Feb 2005
37617 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:54 pm to
quote:

There are only so many factors in the equation.


just 2
Posted by MileHigh
Most likely a mile high
Member since Jan 2004
7920 posts
Posted on 12/9/08 at 12:58 pm to
quote:

just 2

I think we are agreeing here. Probably more than 2 (fixed/variable expenses), and other income.
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