The First Signs of Trouble
Before you can solve your problems, you have to recognise that you have them. The problems often creep up on us, particularly if we are reluctant to recognise them. What are they?
• Not paying off more than the minimum payment on the credit card. We may kid ourselves that we could pay more, but have chosen not to.
• Juggling between credit cards to avoid going above the credit limit on one or more of them.
• Slipping into unauthorised overdraft on our current account at the end of the month.
• Getting final demands from utility companies and having problems in paying them.
• Borrowing more from one lender (or credit card) to pay off another.
• Bank not paying direct debits through lack of funds.
The appearance of one or even two of these symptoms might just mean a temporary problem. But more than that means trouble. So what do you do when you have started to recognise you have a problem?
What you don't do is panic! Nor do you ignore it. Neither do you go to a debt management company.
