According to the February 1,2008 issue of Newsweek, the average household "owes 20 percent more than it makes each year." With the current financial crisis, that percentage may even increase as families go deeper into debt just to maintain their lifestyles.

Avoid the revolving consumer debt trap.
Most credit card debt is revolving debt. Because of the way interest is calculated on revolving debt, it’s hard for clients to know exactly how long it will take to pay off their balance. All that interest can add up to big bucks along the way.

With fixed debt, clients make payments over a set span of time. It’s easy to tell when the principal will be paid off and – even with the same interest rate and monthly payments – the pay off date is usually much sooner than with revolving debt. Consolidating revolving debt into one fixed rate loan can potentially eliminate those debts sooner and reduce a client’s monthly payment.

Understand compound interest.
With a revolving debt account, compound interest can eat away at a client’s financial health. But when a client uses compound interest in their favor, it can really help savings grow. The more a client saves, the more interest they can potentially earn on that money.

Make a lifestyle change.
When it comes to reducing debt, little changes can make a big difference. By separating “wants” from “needs,” and making the “needs” the priority in spending, clients can begin saving toward their future.

Mike Hassard Kelowna