The concept of over indebtedness was placed in focus by the
National credit act when they implemented the system of debt counselors whose
main task is to determine whether an individual is over indebted and then make
suggestions and implement a plan to eventually alleviate the problem.
This is all fine and well – except that this system implies
an illness of which the main virus is DEBT.
All the gurus will
tell you that the easiest ways to get out of debt is to not get into it. Debt
is like alcohol.
You and me and most people we know will drink a wine ever so
often and we will not become alcoholics
This is the same with debt.
People need to buy a house or a car which is big expense and that is why
there is a thing called DEBT.
Now the best thing you can do when you are intending on buying
a house is to see whether your budget
can handle it. Most people I know do the
maths in their heads and say “Yes!” We
can manage that.
Next is the car purchase.
And the personal loan that the bank told you to take out to furnish the
house and “By the way...Here is a credit card for you to manage the little day
to day expenses”
Sounds familiar?
What is wrong with this picture ?
THE LACK OF A BUDGET OF COURSE............
So you take my advice and draw up a budget..............
You will look at it once a month and say ...yea we are still
all right!
Are you ?
The problem here is the following: Unless that budget of
yours is in writing and updated daily with every minute detail where money is concerned
the Debt monster is somewhere in your future and the next thing you know you
are in his trap !
Why are most dieting programs short lived and not working? It does not become a lifestyle. You do not
have a coach that will guide you and to
whom you are accountable.
It is the same with
budgets: If it does not become a lifestyle and you are not accountable
to anyone it will fail – sooner or later
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Do
not buy anything on credit unless it is in your budget. Every time you use your
credit card it is debt being created and I will guarantee you that that
purchase is not in your budget (Really?
Did you write it down beforehand in your budget?)