Your Debt Documentary

Did you ever imagine what it would be like if cameras filmed you as you overcome your debt problems? Envision creating your own documentary that may help others in the same situation while saving for debt settlement. Below are some episodes that may be included in 6-week documentary series.

Week 1: Don’t let creditors get the best of you

If cameras were filming you on a daily basis, they may see you lose your temper with a collector. Although persistent collectors may give you reasons to get upset, yelling and screaming may only create more stress for you. Some creditors want to “press your buttons” so you will become annoyed and pay your bill. If your caller identification shows that it may be a collector, we recommend that you do not answer the phone to avoid starting a dialogue with them. Collectors do have to abide by the laws of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Contact your debt settlement company if you feel a collector was out of line.

Week 2: Never give up

You may experience tough challenges as you strive to overcome your debt problems. A documentary of your day-to-day life may show how you handle an unexpected expense or how you manage a dwindling bank account when payday is still a week away. Viewers may see your stress and frustration, but also how you can conquer these dilemmas. For example, use the food in your cabinets before buying a new order of groceries. Try calling your utility company to ask for a more convenient due date. Settling your debts is usually not an easy goal to accomplish. But, it is possible. Although you may feel like giving up, try to stay focused on your ultimate goal of becoming debt-free.

Week 3: Avoid temptation

People that are tackling debt problems may be faced with constant temptation. Your documentary can show viewers that you are able to avoid the allure of a great sale or buying the next latest gadget. Merchants make it especially difficult to avoid temptation in the current state of the economy. Many stores are eager for consumers to spend money, so you may see enticing sales at many retailers. Unless you have a planned purchase, try to ignore stores that are having a “sale of a century.” Grocery stores also have many marketing ploys that can make you sway from your list. Be careful of convenient online shopping sites. It is easy to add more items to your shopping cart with a few mouse clicks.

Week 4: Fix your financial house

Many popular television shows focus on renovating, cleaning, and organizing homes. Demonstrate to your viewers in your documentary how these ideas relate to your finances. Keep your bills organized with financial software or a filing system. Track expenses and review your budget to see if you can eliminate financial “clutter”. For example, do you use your debit card a lot for dining out or for small purchases? Are you able to reduce your cable or cell phone bill?

Week 5: Earn money by using your talents

If you are employed, the majority of your documentary may be filmed at your job. One way to earn extra income to fund your reserve account is to work overtime or a second job if it fits into your schedule. Certain skills such as programming, writing, or data entry may help you earn money doing freelance work or short-term assignments.

Week 6: Show your results

On your last episode, you can show your fans how much your situation may have improved. Although debt problems are usually not solved in six weeks, viewers can see how many good money-management skills you have acquired. One way to continue your progress is to focus on educating yourself about personal finance. Tell your viewers to visit educational money sites such as www.bankrate.com, www.dolans.com. You can also find many helpful tips if you borrow books about personal finance at your local library.

By: Bill Loughborough

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