 |
| Diese Tipps zum Umgang mit Schuldenmüdigkeit werden Ihnen helfen, Ihren Stress abzubauen |
gestiegen Obwohl seit der Finanzkrise von 2008 mehr als ein Jahrzehnt vergangen ist, ist die Verschuldung der Verbraucher weiterhin in Rekordtempo . Verbraucher haben schon immer ein gewisses Maß an Schulden aufgenommen, um ihre finanziellen Ziele zu erreichen, etwa um ein Haus zu kaufen oder in Bildung zu investieren. Leider haben Faktoren wie sinkende Löhne und Arbeitsplatzsicherheit dazu geführt, dass die durchschnittliche Haushaltsverschuldung in Kanada mittlerweile 163 % des verfügbaren Einkommens beträgt . Zum Vergleich: Im Jahr 1980 betrug das Verhältnis gerade einmal 66 %.
All dies führt dazu, dass viele Menschen mit so hohen Schulden belastet sind, dass der Gedanke, sie jemals zurückzuzahlen, unerreichbar erscheint. Obwohl das Leben mit Schulden aus finanzieller Sicht schmerzhaft ist, übersehen (oder minimieren) wir allzu oft die Auswirkungen, die es auf unseren emotionalen Zustand haben kann. Je länger Sie Schulden haben, desto mehr wird es Sie psychisch belasten. Dann setzt die sogenannte Schuldenmüdigkeit ein.
Schuldenmüdigkeit kann verschiedene Formen annehmen, aber im Grunde handelt es sich dabei um eine Situation, in der die Vergeblichkeit Ihrer Bemühungen, aus der Verschuldung herauszukommen, dazu führt, dass Sie sich nicht mehr darum kümmern oder sogar ganz aufgeben. Es ist ein schrecklicher Ort und verschlimmert Ihre finanziellen Probleme nur. Wenn Sie derzeit unter Schuldenmüdigkeit leiden, finden Sie hier einige hilfreiche Strategien, die Ihnen helfen, damit umzugehen und wieder auf den richtigen Weg zu kommen.
Erstellen Sie einen Rückzahlungsplan und bleiben Sie dabei
Schulden ohne Plan in den Griff zu bekommen, gleicht dem Versuch, durch ein Labyrinth im Dunkeln zu navigieren. Sicher, vielleicht schaffst du es irgendwann, aber auf dem Weg wirst du so oft in die falsche Richtung geraten, dass du am liebsten aufgeben würdest, lange bevor du dein Ziel erreichst. Um schuldenfrei zu werden, ist vor allem Kontinuität erforderlich. Der beste Weg, dies zu erreichen, ist ein klarer, umsetzbarer Plan. Auch wenn es keine einheitliche Strategie gibt, die für alle Situationen geeignet ist, ist die Befolgung einer der beiden unten aufgeführten Methoden ein guter Ausgangspunkt, wenn Sie ernsthaft gegen die Schuldenmüdigkeit vorgehen möchten.
Debt Avalanche
The debt avalanche method is designed to maximize the money you save on interest payments while eliminating debt. You focus on your debt with the highest interest rate first, while making minimum payments on everything else. Once the first debt is paid off, move on to the one with the next highest interest rate and so on until all debts are eliminated.
Debt Snowball
It’s easy to confuse the debt snowball and avalanche methods given their wintery names, but there are some key differences. Whereas the debt avalanche saves you money on interest, the debt snowball is designed to build motivation. It may actually be your best option if you’re experiencing debt fatigue.
Instead of focusing on high-interest debt, the snowball method involves paying off the smallest debts first before tackling the big ones. Although it won’t save you as much money in the long run as the debt avalanche, this method is a great way to get some quick wins early on.
Of course, creating a repayment plan can be quite difficult if you’re suffering from debt fatigue. Interest rates, repayment calculators, spreadsheets — it can all be overwhelming when you’re just starting out! The good news is you can make things much easier on yourself just by getting a little digital assistance…
Use An App
Once you have a repayment plan in place, you’re going to need a way to stick to it. Debt repayment apps are an excellent resource as they handle a lot of the legwork for you. For example, a service like Undebt.it takes all of your debt information and generates an easy-to-follow payment plan. The app handles calculations for you and provides up-to-date information on your payment history to help keep you motivated. This takes any guesswork out of the equation, as you’ll have a clear road map to a debt-free date in the future.
It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by debt and feel fatigued by the whole process. Repayment apps — many of which are free —– can help you avoid this fatigue from ever setting in by making everything easy to understand and motivating from the start.
Celebrate Milestones
Having an aggressive repayment plan is a great strategy for handling debt fatigue. Unfortunately, focusing so much of your time and energy on your debt can come with an emotional cost. When you’ve framed your budget around paying off debt, it becomes all too easy to beat yourself up anytime you “slip up” by spending money on wants rather than needs.
Depriving yourself of simple pleasures can take its toll. Don’t be afraid of enjoying small splurges. Even more importantly, leave room in your budget to celebrate payoff milestones. Eliminating debt is a huge accomplishment and you should reward yourself appropriately, whether it’s going out for a nice dinner or taking in a sporting event. Just make sure you don’t go overboard and take on more debt while you celebrate!
Consolidate
The debt that truly holds us back is high-interest dues like credit cards and payday loans. When interest rates climb to 20% or higher, it becomes significantly harder to pay off because so much of your money is just going toward interest. If you’re carrying a large amount of high-interest debt, consolidation may be one of your best options for getting it under control.
Basically, debt consolidation involves obtaining a new loan with a lower interest rate and using it to pay off your outstanding high-interest debts. This way, you’ll not only put yourself in a position to pay off your debt faster thanks to a smaller overall interest rate, but it will all be combined into a single monthly payment.
In general, it’s best to avoid taking on more debt if you’re already drowning in it. If a consolidation loan won’t pay off your other financial obligations entirely, it could end up just adding to your debt pile. Under most circumstances, however, the pros of getting a debt consolidation far outweigh the cons. Especially if you’re on the verge of giving up. If you’re currently balancing several high-interest bills each month and are looking for some relief, consolidation could significantly reduce your debt fatigue.
Increase Your Income If Possible
One of the best ways to ramp up your debt repayment process — and thus, manage your debt fatigue — is to increase your payments. If you’re finding it difficult to come up with enough money to put a dent in your debt, it may be time to increase your income. The easiest way to do this is to pick up a side gig that doesn’t require a whole new skill set to take on. Adding even just a few hundred dollars in income to your budget each month can make a big difference, as all that extra money can be put directly toward debt.
The downside is if you already have a full-time job, adding more work hours onto your plate can erode other aspects of your life. If you do pick up a side gig, be mindful of your mental and physical health. Don’t be afraid to drop it if it becomes too much to handle. Viewing it as a temporary life adjustment can also help, as you shouldn’t feel obligated to continue with your side hustle after your debt is paid off.
Don’t Keep Your Struggles To Yourself
Shame can be a major contributor to debt fatigue, as we see it as a sign of failure or weakness in ourselves. First of all, this is not true. Go back and read the numbers at the beginning of this post, so you remember that debt is something millions of people struggle with. Unfortunately, being in debt can still be a deeply lonely experience because nobody wants to talk about it. While it can be frightening, sharing your struggles with a close friend or family member is actually one of the best things you can do to manage debt fatigue.
Having someone to confide in and who won’t pass judgment on your situation can help you gain confidence and support from an external source. Plus, you’ll have someone in your circle to keep you accountable as you continue paying down your debt. If you find yourself unable to talk to someone in your personal life, try posting about it anonymously on a financial support group’s message board. Odds are you’ll find both sympathetic ears and helpful advice!
Social Media