DEBT MANAGEMENT » Get out of Debt

By Tim Chen

Saving money vs. paying off debt: The debate is always raging. When you have to make the choice between blasting through debt and establishing precautionary funds in case of a financial emergency, the right course of action is rarely self-evident.

By Peter Anderson

As the new year begins, many of us are looking back on the preceding year, examining our goals and figuring out what resolutions we want to set for the new year, like lose weight or get out of debt. The problem is that many of us set goals to make changes in our lives, but so few of us actually succeed.

Sound Advice from Jeff York

With loan interest rates at record lows, you might be considering rearranging your debt to help your monthly budget. Lowering the interest cost on your consumer loans means you pay less—right? Well, not always. Consolidating debt can make good sense, but what is good in the short run may actually cost you more in the long run.

As President Barack Obama and Congress are relaxing on their winter holidays, Obama’s administration is said to be hard at work pushing for a $1.2 trillion national debt ceiling increase. The increase would be the final action taken by the administration as it wraps up one of the year’s biggest debates.

National Debt Ceiling Rise Despite Supercommittee Failure

By Ethan Ewing, Bills.com

The beginning of a new year offers the chance for a fresh start with your budget and financial strategy. For those in debt, it should mean the opportunity to commit yourself to saving money and reducing what you owe. To help, the team from Bills.com has outlined some advice to assist with both of these goals so you can pay off debt once and for all.

Christmas day marks the climax of the holiday season as many Americans prepare for one last week of festivities from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1. Despite the moderately tame post-Christmas spending, however, 2011 holiday shoppers put quite a dent in the retail scene over the course of the last three months.

Outright.com provided statistics on holiday shopping, putting this year’s spending in perspective and making consumers more aware of the holiday debt hangover they could be headed for in January.

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By Peter Anderson

As the holiday season shifts into high gear after Thanksgiving, it can be easy to get caught up in the spirit of the season and fall victim to Christmas debt. When you go out, retailers all play festive music and decorate their stores to the nines. They arrange their stores to put you in the right mood to give and to spend.

This is the final post in our 12 Days of Finance series. Keep voting until December 31st!

No finance expert list is complete without acclaimed financial counseling specialist, Dave Ramsey. He is most widely known for his Christian-based finance advice given through The Dave Ramsey Show, a nationally-syndicated radio segment which reaches millions of listeners eager for advice on their personal finance dilemmas.

This post is part 11 of our 12 Days of Finance series. Make sure to cast your vote for your favorite finance expert below!

Stacy Johnson has been a resource for those interested in better money management or struggling with debt for decades, providing guidance through his series, Money Talks News, which is syndicated to 80 cities nationwide via major television networks, NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC.

This post is part 9 of our 12 Days of Finance series. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite expert!

David Bach is a financial and motivational speaker who has helped Americans strategize for a debt-free lifestyle. He has authored the Finish Rich Series, which discuss his core principles including: Spend less than you make, don’t waste money on little things and pay yourself first, just to name a few.