Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress

by Gerri
(gerridetweiler.com)

Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress: Real Life Solutions for Your Credit Crisis

Sick and Tired of Bills Piling Up?

When it comes to reducing debt, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. But there ARE solutions, and Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress will help you decide which ones are right for you ... then, we’ll help you take action, avoiding the traps that keep many people in debt.

Too many Americans are facing unprecedented credit and financial problems, often for reasons beyond their control. If you’re one of them, you may be cringing when the phone rings or the mail arrives. Maybe you're losing sleep, having trouble concentrating at work, snapping at family members, or experiencing many of the myriad emotional and physical symptoms that go hand in hand with money troubles.

I'm Here to Help Cut Through the Confusion!

My e-book, Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress: Real Life Solutions for Solving Your Credit Crisis, which I coauthored with Marc Eisenson and Nancy Castleman, will make it easy for you to choose your best options for getting out of debt and staying out of debt.

It shares our simple and effective "Debt Triage" approach, based on our combined sixty years of experience helping people meet financial challenges.

Our goal with Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress is to give you step-by-step, objective advice for navigating these tough times. You’ll learn:

• How to figure out today whether you can conquer your debt on the money you bring in, or if you need to see a "specialist." Links to reputable experts are built right into the book.

• How to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.

• What the pros and cons are of the most popular debt reduction options - so you can decide realistically if they will work for you.

• Which debt busting programs will affect your credit the least and which are scams.

• How new social lending websites can cut your interest rates in half or more.

• The best – and worst – ways to use your retirement money to pay debt. (Please read this before you tap your retirement plan to pay debts!)

• Why the critics are wrong about debt settlement.

• The biggest mistake most people make when it comes to bankruptcy.

• And much more – including success stories from people from all walks of life who have paid off as much as $200,000 in credit card debt!

Retail price: $14.95. Florida residents will be charged 7% for sales tax.

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Sep 28, 2015
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Home equity line of credit
by: Vince

My ex wife took out a HELOC with Wells Fargo and paid extra for a Wells Fargo Smart Payment plan. She assumed it was insurance in case she got disabled or died and the loan would be paid off.
wells Fargo is telling my son that he must pay the $9,000.00 cause the plan only paid interest for 6 months. Oh by the way the ex died. The form she sign does say Optional Debt Cancellation Protection.

What can my son do?

Reply from Gerri

Why is the lender saying your son must pay off the loan? Is he a cosigner? Or did he inherit the home with the debt?

Jun 21, 2015
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Unsure
by: Laura Caudle

I am going to try and make it short and to the point. My husband went with me to find a decent and reasonable car 15 months ago, with my trade in and total of the 2004 Mazda 6 it was to be 5500.00 clearly shows on paperwork. My husband had to hurry sign paperwork I had to go get full coverage so we had 30 mins before they closed. My husband first gets 1200.00 a month disability second he told the salesman he forgot his classes, salesman said I'll read you sign. When the paperwork with payment book I about flipped out I'm raising a grand child disabled I'm in college 50 bad very bad health, the interest added to the 5500.00 came to get ready 15 grand yes 44% interest. I was mortified shocked and mad. Well his check is a scheduled check every month on the 3rd and we have never not paid it. We have begged them change date from 18th to the 3rd they refuse. The car isn't even slightly worth it, my husband gets harassed for a week straight hounding him for money. The car they said bumper to bumper warranty lied, goes on and on. Can they garnish his disability check?

Reply from DebtCollectionAnswers.com

His disability check should be safe from garnishment by a creditor, as long as it's not mingled in an account with other funds. Have you talked with a consumer bankruptcy attorney? They attorney may be able to either help him keep the car and reduce the amount he owes or give it back and avoid further consequences.

May 04, 2015
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help me
by: Anonymous

i don't know what to do. I don't have any money. i had taken a loan and now i don't know how to repay them. The loan company regularly send people after me, bothering me with the same questions. Suicide is inevitable, but i am strong. Please help me. I am undergoing severe depression.

Reply from Gerri Detweiler

Please contact the suicide hotline or a mental health professional if you are thinking about ending your life or harming yourself.

As for the debt, have you talked with a credit counseling agency or a bankruptcy attorney? You can find a bankruptcy attorney through the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. You'll find a recommendation for counseling on my Resources page.

I know this feels overwhelming, especially if you are dealing with depression. But debt is just a business transaction. The lender made a business decision to lend you money, and it didn't work out. It does not mean you've failed as a human being.

Jan 30, 2015
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cheater dealer
by: Jodee

my I had purchased a vehicle from a small auto company are credit was not at that time well it was the worst car on the the lot but I dealt with it .. I had gone through five sets of tires with in the first 10 month, I lost my turn signal unable to fix them and then a oil leak start well I was short of $100 to pay off so he switch me up to a van which was a little better still need several repairs.. he could never fit me in for work on it...by now I have entered into a locate bank ..so then my son had seen a vehicle he would like to purchase through them also he had my husband and my son all sign for this car .. so we do with the stipulation if my son fail on the payment both vehicles will by repoed (is this even legal?).. so times go by my son had the car 5-6 months and maybe drove it 4 times so the dealer finally switches him out into a pretty pretty red one the very next day the engine blows no oil what so ever so four engines later I'm very upset so I'm mad enough to tell the owner of this dealership I would be returning the both on Monday well Monday mourning I guess h made him feel like a real man he came and got the van the son car was already there no engine.. so I wait for about two days and try to call and maybe you could work to get her on this ..I never got a word in he started yelling at me so loud my husband came our of his room packing who it was I was in tears.. there within the week they have talked toy son about buying it all over again I could not believe ..(is this even legal?) ... well guess what before he could take the car off lot the owner made my son buy a battery $160.00

Reply from GerriDetweiler.com

I would suggest you do two things:

1. Talk with a consumer law attorney in your area who handles lemon law cases to see if the dealer acted legally,

2. File a complaint with your state attorney general's office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Oct 21, 2013
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Went from 6 figures to no figures
by: Living in Hell

My husband had a Stroke and had to stop working in 2011 prior to that I lost my job due to Severe Depression and we have 2 teenage Sons. Our credit hit rock bottom and we are having a hard time paying our mortgage, utilities, car, credit cards and medical bills. Our utilities our eating us alive but we can't move because we can't get another Mortgage for a smaller house.

I am literally loosing my mind even more so and cannot do this anymore. Ready to divorce and just run far away. Several credit cards have gone into discharge. And on top of all that I found out my Identity was stolen by my Mother and Brother. I have lost it completely and have tried Suicide so I wouldn't have to live this MISERABLE LIFE. We had it all and it is gone can't provide for my Son's and I am embarrassed someone is always turning something off and my neighbors see this happening. Living In Hell

Reply from Gerri:

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I don't have any easy answers for you - I wish I did. But the first things I would say is: First, get a hold of your local legal aid office. Hopefully they can help you get a handle on the bills and what options are available to you for dealing with these bills and utilities. There may be programs that can help, and if there are, they should know about them.

Secondly: Get medical help for your depression. There are many programs that can offer low-cost or free medications to patients who don't have the financial means to pay for them. I shared in my book Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress that I have experienced clinical depression myself and it's a very dark place to be, but if you can find the right help hopefully you can come out on the other side. It's not something you can just snap out of. You need help to get through it. And I know it's hard to get the help you need when you are depressed but please try to find someone who can help you get the help you need to get through, at least until your sons are independent. Don't leave them now. I am sure they need you, and no matter how you feel they are not better off with you gone.

Please let me know how you are doing.

Aug 01, 2013
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Lost wages
by: ms.E

I recently have a garnishment of wages,is it too late for me to take funds from my retirement and pay off this debt.

Reply from Gerri:

You should be able to settle this debt. But please, before you do, meet with a bankruptcy attorney. Retirement funds are usually protected from creditors in bankruptcy and most people are going to need every penny they've saved for retirement. The attorney may be able to help you stop the garnishment and keep your retirement funds.

May 02, 2013
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For struggling
by: Gerri Detweiler

This is in reply to "struggling": I am really sorry to hear what you are going through. You're not alone - so many people have experienced similar things - but I know that doesn't make it a whole lot easier.

I would suggest you do two things:

1. Now that your husband is back to work, get a free consultation with a credit counseling agency to see what other resources they can suggest for getting back on track. I know it's probably been hard on both of you, and having someone else give you some suggestions can help relieve some of the stress you are both feeling. This podcast will explain how credit counseling works and how it can help.

2. Focus on one thing at a time. I know it's hard to see your credit scores drop, but I would suggest you try not to worry about that at the moment. Focus on getting your financial situation stablized. Get caught up on your bills (that's where a credit counselor may be able to help) and putting aside a little money for emergencies. Then when you've accomplished that, you can start focusing on rebuilding your credit. I have a whole page of podcasts that explain how to boost your credit scores and I suggest you start here. I am happy to answer more questions once you've been through the basics. But again, I think your first priority is your finances - then your credit.

I hope this helps and I hope you'll be back on track soon!

Apr 12, 2013
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Struggling
by: Anonymous

My husband just recently went back to work, meanwhile we've been struggling with mortgage pymt., utilities, grocery, car note, paying IRS for a business that failed and student loans. Our credit score has dropped tremendously. How can we get back on track.

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