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9 Danger Signs Your Borrowing is Out of Control

Posted by admin on May 17th, 2011

It is not a pleasant situation, but it can happen easier than most people realize. You may think you have things under control, but an emergency pops up or an unexpected situation arises, and the next thing you know you’re in financial trouble you can no longer ignore. Here are the 9 danger signs your borrowing may be out of control.

You have no idea where your money goes. From month to month, your paycheck comes in but you have no idea where it goes. This is a real problem, because you can’t form a plan of attack to cut back or save money unless you know where it ends up. Budget your money and keep track of all expenses.
You only make the minimum payments on your credit cards. This is a very expensive habit, as when you make only the minimum payment you’re paying the principal and not the interest. This expense will only grow, so if you can’t pay your balance off in full, pay as much as you can above the minimum payment.
Your request for a higher credit limit or a new card has been refused. Lenders will check your credit report regularly to make sure it’s possible for you to repay them. When the debt load is determined to be too high, any request for new or more credit is going to be shot down - a red flag for you.
You take out new loans to pay existing loans. This is financial quicksand and merely postponing the inevitable. The best thing to do is pay off the loans to avoid expensive interest rates. But what about 0% Balance transfer credit cards? , they’re great if you want to consolidate your credit card debts into one and save money in the process, but at the end of the day these also need to be paid.
You have no idea what you owe. Just because you’re not looking at it doesn’t mean it is not there. By getting a clear idea of what exactly your debt is, you have a better chance of gaining control before it becomes too much to handle.
You have no savings. If you’ve plundered your savings account to make payments on your credit cards or outstanding loans, it is evident things are spiraling out of control.
Late or missed payments. This is an indication you have too much debt on your plate and it is time to evaluate your situation to see how it can be repaired.
Post-dating cheques. A red flag that something is amiss, post-dating cheques is just procrastination of the inevitable and doesn’t help solve the problem.
Creditors are calling. You turn off your phone, change your number or let the voice mail pick up every time someone calls in fear it is another creditor. If you hear from them more than your mother, this is a sure sign your borrowing practices are out of control.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is an indication there are major problems with your borrowing and the sooner you take action, the better.