Money-Saving Credit Card Secrets - Debt Relief Plan Basics

Lower the interest rates on your credit card accounts through:

balance transfers on cards that are not used for anything else
negotation based upon your "retainability"
account combinations
strategies in Money Saving Credit Card Secrets.

Stop adding debt to cards with balances.

If you need a credit card for convenience, yet do not have one with a zero balance, get a new card with a small credit limit and pay it off each month.

Involve your family in creating a budget.

Reduce "discretionary spending" (spending on luxuries and "wants".)

Use the "envelope method" to set aside 1/12 of any large yearly expenditure each month, such as for back-to-school expenses. If it's September and you normally spend $600.00 on back-to-school expenses like clothes, binders, books and shoes, then begin setting aside $50.00 per month for the following September. When September arrives, you will have 12 x $50 = $600 set aside, and you'll be able to either pay cash for them or pay the bill in full if you charge them out of convenience.
Budget a little "mad" money that can be spent just for fun.

Reward family members for sticking to your budget by using the strategies and tools you get with our e-book.

Do not wait for the due date on accounts that carry balances. Pay each credit card bill as soon as its statement is issued.

Pay more than the minimum. Pay as much as you can, even if that's only $5.00 more.

Project how long it will take to get out of debt and celebrate important milestones:

having stuck to your budget for the first 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days
each time you reach the quarter or half-way point in erasing a debt
each time a final payment on a debt is made

Use inspirational and educational strategies to keep you and your family motivated:

put up affirmations of success for all to see
check inspirational books out of the library and read excerpts to your family
be lavish with praise when kids do not nag for toys and spouses exert restraint
get encouragement through on-line forums and help from free teleseminars like ours

Sample affirmations:

"We are awesome in working together to create a more prosperous future."

"My great kids, Mary and John, are helping us build a prosperous future."

When creating your plan and devising strategies so you and your family can stick to a budget (that doesn't allow for the expenditures that you and your family once charged and then could not pay off) focus on your goal of "creating prosperity."

Avoid using the word "debt" and especially the phrases "getting out of debt" or "digging out" of debt. These are depressing phrases that can defeat you before you begin.

Perception and attitude are 80% of the battle in achieving any goal.

PHRASING TO USE:

Rather than saying, "You can't have that. You have to stick to this budget so we get out of debt," say: "By continuing with our plan, we are achieving prosperity, and you will be able to have even more of what you want. Would you like that? Because we'll have more buying power once we no longer pay interest on what we buy."