12 Common Mistakes That is Keeping You in Debt 

If you’re in debt, it’s important to understand that you may be inadvertently making things worse by falling into some common traps.

Luckily, in this blog post, Carrington Dean breakdown some common mistakes that you might be making, which is keeping you in debt. Carrington Dean are debt relief experts, able to help anyone struggling with their finances through providing information on everything from trust deeds to wage arrestment and more.

Check out the ten mistakes that can keep you stuck in debt below:

1. Not Having a Plan:

Without a plan for debt repayment, it’s easy to just make minimum payments and stay in debt for years. Create a budget and debt repayment plan to get out of debt as quickly as possible.

2. Not Prioritizing Debt Repayment:

It’s important to focus on repaying your debt, rather than just making minimum payments. Make a list of your debts from highest interest rate to lowest and focus on paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first.

3. Not Negotiating with Creditors:

If you’re struggling to make debt payments, reach out to your creditors and try to negotiate a lower interest rate or payment plan. It never hurts to ask, and you may be surprised at how willing they are to work with you.

4. Falling for Debt Relief Scams:

There are many companies out there promising debt relief, but most of them are scams. Don’t fall for promises of debt settlement or debt consolidation – these won’t help you get out of debt any faster and can actually make your debt situation worse.

5. Paying With Credit Cards:

It may be tempting to pay for things with credit cards, but this can actually make your debt situation worse. If you’re already struggling to make debt payments, using credit cards will only add to your debt burden.

6. Taking on More Debt:

If you’re in debt, taking on more debt is the last thing you should do. Avoid taking out new loans or lines of credit, and focus on repaying the debt you already have.

7. Not Building an Emergency Fund:

An emergency fund is a key part of personal finance, and it’s especially important if you’re in debt. If you don’t have an emergency fund, you may be forced to put debt payments on hold in the event of a financial emergency, which can set you back even further.

8. Withdrawing From Retirement Accounts:

It may be tempting to withdraw money from your retirement account to pay off debt, but this is a bad idea. Not only will you have to pay taxes and penalties on the withdrawal, but you’ll also be taking money out of your retirement savings.

9. Co-Signing for a Loan:

When you co-sign for a loan, you’re putting your own financial stability at risk. If the borrower doesn’t make payments, you’ll be responsible for the debt – so think carefully before co-signing for anyone.

10. Letting Your Debt spiral Out of Control:

It’s easy to let your debt spiral out of control, but it’s important to take action as soon as you can. The longer you wait to get out of debt, the more difficult it will be – so don’t wait, start taking steps to get out of debt today.

11. Not Seeking Help When You Need It:

If you’re struggling to get out of debt, don’t be afraid to seek help. There are many resources available to help you get out of debt, so make sure you take advantage of them.

12. Making Excuses:

It’s easy to make excuses for being in debt, but the truth is that debt is a problem that needs to be addressed. If you’re in debt, make a plan to get out of debt and take action to make it happen.

In conclusion, avoiding these debt traps can help you get out of debt and improve your financial situation. If you’re in debt, make a plan to get out of debt as quickly as possible. And if you’re not in debt, avoid these traps so you don’t end up there!