The Burden of Debt

Home
>
Debt Consolidation
>
The Burden of Debt

The Burden of Debt

Over recent years personal debt in the UK has exploded. Since 1997 the total debt including mortgages was in the region of £940 million. Approximately 18% of that figure is unsecured credit, accounting for about £8000 per household.

This is a staggering amount of money. With interest rates being raised several times last year, the strain of maintaining our debt is taking its toll. Sources reveal that the UK's debt "has increased every single month without fail since April 1993".

As it has been relatively cheap to borrow money over that last few years it has been very easy to get access to money. Interest rates are widely predicted to rise further adding even more to the current £5 billion we are paying every month in interest.

According to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) one pound in every 10 we spend is borrowed money. It's very easy to shop around for good rates when borrowing money. Most of us still buy our financial products on the high street and the big Financial Institutions base the price of their products on what they think is the maximum borrowers are prepared to pay.

With the internet people are able to shop around for much better rates and this is driving the average price of borrowing money down. This does pose a catch 22 situation as the cheaper the cost of borrowing becomes the more people will feel they can borrow more. This does breed a nation of people that are living beyond their means. Debt can be very dangerous as you are effectively borrowing from your future to pay for today.

The wage rate is not growing in line with rising debts so somewhere along the line something has got to give. This may be in the form of the slightest interest rate rise which may be the straw on the proverbial camels back. One could associate it with a brick that is attached to an elastic band. You can gently pull and pull and nothing will happen, sooner or later the brick will finally budge and most of use will be walking around with a black eye.

If you do find yourself in debt then don't despair it's not the end of the world. As long as you face up to the fact that your financial position needs a makeover then you are on the right path. The first thing to is gather all you credit statements and get an exact figure of what you owe in total and what those monthly payments add up to. You need to be clear in your mind what you earn and what you owe. This sounds simple but you can't service your credit if your repayments are more than what you earn. If you find yourself in this position you need to consolidate all your loans into the lowest rate you can find. This will bring down you monthly payments and hopefully be more manageable.

If you need help on doing this then contact the National Debtline on (Freephone) 0808 808 4000 or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service on (Freephone) 0800 138 1111. These numbers are for UK residents only.

Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.only-credit-cards.co.uk where you will find advice and more articles on Low interest Credit Cards and Bad Credit Credit Cards

In The News:

Debt Consolidation Site Introduces New Small Business Debt Solutions
Empowered News (press release)
A debt consolidation website provides an advantage to budding or old small businesses through small business debt relief solution. Adriana Spears directs you to a website where you could find help in solving your debt problems.
Credit Counseling Site Announces Its Debt Settlement Service As One of the ...PR Web (press release)

all 4 news articles »

DebtConsolidation.com Helps Over 100000 Consumers Choose the Best Debt ...
MarketWatch (press release)
NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- DebtConsolidation.com, the top-ranking debt consolidation company, today announced that the company, in conjunction with quality debt relief companies, has helped over 100000 consumers deal ...
Will consumers take on personal credit card debt to make business purchases?Debtmerica Relief

all 6 news articles »

Brenda Shanahan: Four types of debt problems
Montreal Gazette
Q: I was reading your article about debt solutions and it was very interesting and helpful. I am wondering if you know any good accredited debt consolidation company that was reliable and could reduce my debt and stop interest?

and more »

Debt Guides to Tomorrows Future
SBWire (press release)
San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2012 -- Debt consolidation is a great option for people who are struggling to manage multiple debts. People who benefit from debt consolidation are individuals who are paying back their debt at very high interest ...

and more »

Age UK raises debt concerns
ClearDebt
According to the organisation, the double-dip recession and wider economic turmoil in Britain and on the continent is driving up the number of people in need of debt consolidation advice. The charity commissioned a study by TNS, which found that the ...

and more »

Debtconsolidation.com Affirms Its Lead in Providing Credit Card Debt Relief ...
PR Web (press release)
Debtconsolidation.com, an information and referral source for debt management and credit counseling, cements its key position as a top debt management service provider after successfully helping 100000 consumers take control of their financial issues.

and more »

P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program Deal Managed by First Metro ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Manila, May 15, 2012 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) -- The Philippine government's P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program won The Banker Magazine's Deal of the Year 2012 for SSA (Sovereign, Supras and Agencies) Bonds category in Asia Pacific.

and more »

Kansas City Star
Cutting debt, economic growth go hand in hand-Merkel
Reuters
| BERLIN May 24 (Reuters) - Budget consolidation and pursuing economic growth are two sides of the same coin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, also reiterating her opposition to joint euro zone debt issuance.
Germany Leads G8 On Fiscal PolicyTax-news.com

all 305 news articles »

USA TODAY
Euro Falls to 22-Month Low After EU Leaders Clash on Debt Sales
San Francisco Chronicle
"There needs to be a greater focus on growth, but at the same time, there also has to be a credible long-term plan for fiscal and debt consolidation throughout the region. At the moment, you have neither," he said. The Dollar Index climbed to the ...
Euro Trades Near 22-Month Low Before European Composite IndexBloomberg
Eurobonds will not fix eurozone problems: Angela MerkelEconomic Times
Merkel Pressed on Debt Sharing as Opposition Chafes at AusterityBusinessWeek
The Sunday Business Post -Wall Street Journal -Money Morning
all 6,471 news articles »

Seven Real Tips for Getting Out of Debt and Avoiding Debt Consolidation Loans ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Many Americans continue to struggle with repaying debt and look to debt consolidation loans as the only option. Yet there are many other ways to reduce debt while maintaining credit and the little extras in life. As the numbers for consumer spending ...

and more »

Google News