United Debt Experts

October 30, 2009

To Get or Not To Get Student Loans

Student loans can be a good investment after you really take the time to look at it. Since college tuition is rising, more students are putting off going to school to work and save up money, instead of getting a student loan. But if you look at the differences between your salary before and after graduation, you will be able to see that you might actually be losing the opportunity to make more money than if you tried to save up. On average, an entry-level job after graduation, depending on your career, can be about $40,000 - $60,000, where as if you work before college, your salary would most likely only be about $15,000 - $25,000. This is a difference of nearly $30,000 that you could be making each year. Depending on your student loan, you could knock off this debt in a few years.

Take the Good from the Bad

You may think that all debt is bad and it can seem like that most of the time, but believe it or not there are some debts out there that is good for you. Debt that increases in value over time can be good for you. Buying some houses in a rising neighborhood could put some more money in your pocket after you sell it. There’s always the fact that as long as you make your payments on time, your credit rating will go up and in turn get you a job that you would normally not get if you have bad credit. It may not seem like it now, but home mortgages, student and businesses loans can be seen as good credit, as long as you do the math.

Real Estate Investment

Investing in some real estate can be a wise decision. Obviously, as long as the real estate market does not crash again in the US, there can be good in buying a few homes on the side and waiting on how the market does. Buying and selling homes can be a good idea since over time, a house’s value can increase and put some more money you invested, especially if you buy and sell it at the right time. Also the fact that most mortgages have lower interest rates than those of credit cards, can help you build your credit and possibly make you more money. Just be sure that the monthly payments are within your budget.

Pay Your Debt in One Payment


When creditors finally agree to negotiate, keep in mind that they are most likely having financial difficulties as well. You can use this to your advantage and offer lower amounts. If you have access to large amount of cash, either from 401k’s, stocks, bonds, etc, then consider offering to pay your debt in one lump sum. If this will save you money in the long run, then this is the best time to use it. But make sure you consider this option with your accountant before you actually go through with the offer.

Kinds of Good Debt

Good debt can be those that you need, but cannot pay for it at the moment. Cars and homes can be a good investment since you need a place to live and way to get to and from work. Financing a car can also be good if you plan on keeping it as long as it is running. Some simple ways to get good debt is finding the lowest interest rate you can find. Most mortgages have low interest rates and you can take out a home equity loan to pay for a car because the interest rate is lower compared to an auto loan and the interest is tax deductible.

Figuring Out the Good and the Bad Debt

Figuring out which debts are good can help you farther down the road. Making your payments on any debt gives you a good credit rating. This can allow you to find better jobs and borrow money at lower interest rates. Be sure to get something that you need rather than what you want or at least make sure you can afford it before you go and charge something on your card. Credit card debt is probably the worst kind of bad debt since the interest rate is so high. If you do end up with some bad credit, as most of us have, be sure to pay off the cards that have the highest interest rate first and go down from there

Debt-Free “Fast” and “Easy”

Everyone knows that debt is a growing problem in the United States. Americans are finding themselves living from paycheck to paycheck more now than ever. With more than half the population of the United States in serious debt and unemployment up on the rise, more and more debt settlement companies are popping up, each promising to lower your debt and getting you debt free “fast” and “easy”. The question on everyone’s mind is: “Can they really help me?” Make sure you do your research. Some companies out there really CAN help.

Dangers of Debt Settlement

Debt settlement is a procedure where you pay off a portion of what you owe instead of the whole amount from your creditors. This involves negotiating with your creditor on a balance in hopes that you settle at a lower amount than initially owed. But what most people don’t know is that if you choose the wrong people to help you, debt settlement can hurt your credit score and can negatively affect your credit history. Do your research first, before you rush into getting help

Considering Other Options

If you are one of the luckier ones who are barely in debt and are still able to make the monthly payments, consider other options. Most, if not all, creditors will not even consider negotiating until your account is considered “delinquent”. This can take up to four months, in which case, you would rack up more debt from late fees and finance charges. Once you fall behind on your payments, then the collection calls will begin. You don’t have to ignore these phone calls. You can use this opportunity to start negotiating with creditors.

Beware of Fraud Companies

If you decide on getting help from a debt settlement company, make sure to compare different ones. There are lots of fraudulent companies out there trying to steal money from anyone and everyone who is desperate enough to not question anything they say. So do not go by what you see on TV, newspaper, etc. Ask around and see which ones are more popular and have proven to be more efficient. You can call different companies to see if their plans will work for you. Also, see if you can find out if there are any “hidden” fees.

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