I want to share a recent email we received…

I wonder how to get serious debt help. I have never been smart when it comes to finances. It seems like no matter what I do, I can't seem to get out of living paycheck to paycheck.

Every time I somehow get out of one money disaster, the next one arrives so quick that I get right back in a finanical hole. I have never really been told how to get serious debt help and that is what I need.

The overwhelming stress about paying my rent or getting food for my kids to eat causes me to be sick to my stomach all the time. What can I do? I need some serious debt help - how can I get it?

This is unfortunately a common situation for many people — the need for serious debt help to get out of the financial agony roller coaster.

Read other articles on this site for helpful advice to get out of your tough situation.

How To Repair Your Credit Score

You have most likely been inundated with credit card information, credit information and ways to repair your credit. There are many advertisers stating that they can repair your credit and help improve your score. You most likely have received flyers and brochures in the mail that advertise these services. The internet has a multitude of websites advertising credit repair companies and credit information and services.

It sounds hard to believe, doesn’t it?

Well it may be.

The Federal Trade Commission is involved and they have released a statement stating that essentially, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is not!

Some bogus credit repair companies will charge you upfront anywhere from $50.00 to thousands of dollars and then disappear!

There are quite a few scams and the government is attempting to warn people about it. If you have credit problems, the last thing you need when you are already struggling financially is to pay this kind of money for nothing.

Keep in mind, that there is no quick fix to improve your credit score or improve your credit history.

Most likely, if a company is advertising that they can do this, it is a scam. So proceed with caution.

There are ways that you can work on improving your credit score. It does take a great deal of effort on your part, but you can do it.

If you do not have the time and are interested in getting help from a credit repair company, take some precautions. Check out the company first to see if there are any complaints listed at the Attorney Generals office, Better Business Bureau or Consumer Rights Agency. If there are complaints, then chances are this company is not reputable.

Be on alert for grandiose statements like they can erase your bad credit history, or improve your credit score overnight. This is illegal so you most certainly do not want to request their help.

The credit repair company should only charge you a small amount of money. If they ask for a lot of money up front, beware! Sure, they may offer guarantees, but they may disappear and you will never be able to find them to obtain that guarantee!

Keep in mind, that there are honorable agencies and clinics that will help you. Many of them offer advice and free services. However, there have been many fraudulent companies and most states have very strict laws now about operating practices. There are now agencies in place that are investigating these credit repair companies to assure that they are advertising what their actual services are and are truly legitimate.

Take the time to investigate a company thoroughly before paying them to assure that they are a legitimate, reputable company. Make sure you know what your rights are.

Your Credit Score

If you have not heard of Fair Isaac Corporation, you will soon because it is the most widely used software calculator. They use a new, unique mathematical formula developed by the corporation and report to the three major credit agencies.

Your credit score helps lenders determine the type of financing you will obtain or not obtain.

If you have a low FICO score, you may obtain financing but at a higher interest rate.

The company reserves the right to disclose how the information is formulated and will reveal this information at a later date. However, they have stated it is based on a formula which takes into consideration the longevity and payment history. Everyone is evaluated on a case by case basis.

If you are interested in learning more about FICO, you may want to contact the Fair Isaac Corporation directly and request more information. There are some companies that will look at the ‘whole person’ rather than numbers and scores.

There are ways that you can work on improving your score. You may want to look at these closely as there are ways that you can improve your score.

The first step is to get a copy of your report and study it! If there are any errors, work on getting them corrected. Contact the agency directly and let them know. If they do not respond or fix it, send them a letter.

Of course, you need to pay your bills on time. If you are not able to, call your creditor and let them know why. Most creditors are willing to work with you if you let them know what is going on.

You may want to obtain a short term loan and pay it back immediately. This will help improve your credit score.

Keep your loan and credit card balances below the limit. If you have a limit of $10,000.00 try to keep your balance low at all times, around $2,000.00 this will show that you are responsible with money, and are able to manage your money.

Shop around for lower interest cards. You can always transfer your balance to another card with a lower interest rate. This will help you because you will pay a lower interest rate.

Creditors like to examine and consider your overall credit value which is dependent upon whether you pay your bills responsibly, how long you have lived at your address, and what your overall credit history is and has been.

It is best to use your credit cards only for an emergency. This is the best way to think of credit cards and then in turn, pay it off as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that it is in your best interest to work on improving your credit score, so that you will pay lower interest rates and can obtain credit when you need it.

Can Credit Card Debt Calculators Really Make Your Life Easier?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "calculator"? I bet in the back of your mind comes up a picture of your old calculator that you used back when you were still in school. Am I right? A credit card debt calculator is different than your regular calculator.

In fact, it is much more complicated than your high school calculator. In this article I'm going to talk about the features and benefits of a credit card debt calculator.

Usually people use credit card debt calculators in order to help themselves get out of debt. When you have several different credit cards, a credit card debt calculator is especially useful to help you compute how much you actually owe your credit card companies. This allows you to know how much time it will take for you to pay off all your debts.

With a credit card debt calculator, you can also see if a debt consolidation is suitable for your financial condition or not.

Typically, the following financial information can be entered into a credit card debt calculator:

 - your interest rate

 - the monthly payment that you can afford

 - how soon you want to pay off your debt

 You can find many different types of credit card debt calculators on the Internet and use them to compute the time it will take you to pay off your debts, thereby informing you how much a certain credit card is costing you in money.

This in turn will motivate you to work harder in paying off your credit card debts faster.

 In addition, a credit card debt calculator shows you details such as the interest rate you are currently being charged, and how much of your payment is actually interest. Since calculating interest rates is considered by most as a complex task, you should use your credit card debt calculator.

 Now, your credit card debt calculator can also predict the amount of your debt over the next few years. It can also compute the APR interest rate for you.

 Having read this far, you must agree when I say that the credit card debt calculator is indeed a very useful tool to help us get out of debts. Financial experts and consultants have long used these calculators. For people who are not so financially-literate, owning these credit card debt calculators is real life-saver.

 As useful and powerful as credit card debt calculators may be, you should always ask the advice of a qualified financial personnel before making any financial decision.

Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry.