Getting Out Of Debt Without Declaring Bankruptcy: 3 Essential Actions

Are you drowning in debt? If so, bankruptcy may seem like the life raft that you so desperately need. However, there are significant disadvantages to declaring bankruptcy, including the fact that it can leave a nasty stain on your credit score for years. Bankruptcy can even impact your employability, and so your the opportunity to earn and stay out of debt in the future. Fortunately, there are some strategies for getting out of debt that do not require taking such a drastic step. Read on to find out what they are. 

Reduce your outgoings 

If you are to get in control of your debt, the first thing you need to do is to reduce your outgoings. The reason for this is if you have less to pay out for, more of your money can be spent on clearing your debts. 

In fact, there are two things you can do that will help you here. First of all, set a limit for all the essentials you need to spend money on during the month. Such as groceries, utilities, travel, and the like. In fact, you will often find that by doing this, you will start to think more carefully about what you are purchasing and therefore spend less.

Secondly, it's also vital that you don't allow yourself to get into any more debt during this time. Otherwise, you will be just making things much more difficult for yourself. With that in mind, do not take out any credit or loans or invest in any large purchases unless absolutely necessary. 

Debt relief

Of course, even with more money coming in and less going out, clearing your debts completely can be tricky. Especially if things have gotten really out of control. The good news is that there are options available apart from declaring bankruptcy. 

One of these is to choose to consolidate your loans. This involves working with a provider that will buy up all of your debts. They will then put them all together into a single sum. The advantage of this is that they can offer a more favourable rate, and it's much easier to keep track of your debts. Something that means you won't end up incurring fines and fees for late or missed payments. 

The other debt relief option to consider is an attorney negotiated debt settlement. This is when an attorney negotiates a significant reduction in your debts without bankruptcy. In fact, this can be a beneficial option for many people. This is because it allows them to get their debts into a manageable position without increasing all the disadvantages of full bankruptcy.

Increase your income 

Another smart move is to increase the money coming into your household. In fact, the more you have coming in, the faster you can use it to pay off your debt. 

Fortunately, there are many ways that you can generate extra income and so avoid bankruptcy. From starting a side hustle to taking on additional overtime. Many people even choose to lease out spare rooms in their homes or other properties they own for this purpose. Something that can help them to raise the additional funds they need without going into bankruptcy.