Debt


We all know about debt. If you don't have too much as an individual you can increase the quality of your life, but with more than you can handle it can make your life a nightmare.

There are two kinds of debt. Usually it is personal and used to buy a depreciating item such as a car or entertainment. Today a car has become a necessity, but it doesn't mean you have to buy a new one every 2 years or one that is beyond your means. It should be thought of as transportation.

The second kind of debt creates an asset that produces income that will more than pay off the debt. For a business this can be a truck, a new machine, even a new building for office or production. A person may borrow money to continue education so there can be career advancement. Money borrowed for production is very healthy.

A mortgage is a necessity and can be classified as creative debt. You have to live some place so you have a choice of rent or mortgage payments. Most everyone prefers the latter as it creates an asset as well as shelter.

Before taking on any type of debt it is wise to determine the risk. Debt creates risk. For personal noncreative debt you must consider your income that will allow repayment of the obligation especially if it is one that has no value to anyone else such as a vacation or flying lessons. Do not borrow money to go to the racetrack or gamble in the stock market. The first consideration when borrowing is what will happen if I can't make the payments? Will what I have purchased have any remaining value that can be sold to reduce the balance remaining?

If the balance cannot be repaid you want to do everything possible to avoid bankruptcy as that can haunt you for the rest of your life. Debt consolidation is sometimes a solution. For a business there is a preliminary bankruptcy that allows the court to appoint a special manager to watch over even run the business until it is back on its feet or declared defunct.

The world as we know it swims in a pool of debt. Business today could not survive without some form of borrowing nor could the consumer have all the conveniences that make living a pleasure - washing machines, TVs, air conditioning, garage door openers, can openers, computers just to mention a few most of which are obtained with the help of a credit card.

Keep in mind the 2 kinds of debt - the kind that creates an income producing asset and the kind that does not. You must decide how much of each you can afford.

There is nothing wrong with debt as long as it is used intelligently.

Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

Copyright 2005

al@mutualfundstrategy.com; 1-888-345-7870







Related News



Firms Seek More Action to Unfreeze Lending - Wall Street Journal

Firms Seek More Action to Unfreeze Lending
Wall Street Journal -7 hours ago
So far, the Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, and Fed programs to ease the financial crunch have focused on banks and, more recently, ...

HIPC: Togo Gets Debt Relief - THISDAY

HIPC: Togo Gets Debt Relief
THISDAY, Nigeria -Nov 30, 2008
The statement said that Togo would receive interim debt relief from certain creditors, but in order to qualify for irrevocable debt relief at the completion ...

Togo qualifies for debt relief - afrol News

Togo qualifies for debt relief
afrol News, Lesotho -Dec 2, 2008
afrol News, 2 December - Togo has been approved for debt relief under enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, after reaching a decision point under the ...

Six financial gifts that let you do more with less this season - MarketWatch

Six financial gifts that let you do more with less this season
MarketWatch -22 hours ago
That said, I think that providing some debt relief to your loved ones is different. You're using the money that would have gone to a traditional gift, ...

C& subsidiaries granted debt relief - 중앙데일리

C& subsidiaries granted debt relief
중앙데일리, South Korea -11 hours ago
Creditors yesterday agreed on a debt workout program requested by the companies. The market has closely watched the shipbuilding and construction arms of ...

Know the Details of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act - RisMedia.com (press release)

Know the Details of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act
RisMedia.com (press release), CT -Dec 1, 2008
... in December 2007, Congress stepped in to provide temporary relief in the form of forgiving this debt, but only for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 tax years. ...

UPDATE 1-Pininfarina sees agreement with banks by end-2008 - Reuters

Calgary Herald

UPDATE 1-Pininfarina sees agreement with banks by end-2008
Reuters -4 hours ago
MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is also in talks with its main creditor, Royal Bank of Scotland, to gain relief from its 3 billion euro debt. ...
Europe stocks rise as buoyant pharmas offset minersReuters
all 1,719 news articles

Home > News > World Bank Launches Facility to Prevent ... - World Bank Group

Home > News > World Bank Launches Facility to Prevent ...
World Bank Group, DC -Nov 30, 2008
The Bank also called on donor countries to meet their debt relief commitments. “The debt relief provided by the World Bank and other creditors to heavily ...

Andhra pays for fiscal profligacy, may be denied debt relief - Economic Times

Andhra pays for fiscal profligacy, may be denied debt relief
Economic Times, India -Dec 1, 2008
In FY08, the state got a debt-relief of around Rs 1889 crore. “We have been attaining a revenue surplus despite huge allocations for revenue expenditure ...

Obama pledges relief to governors - The News Journal

Obama pledges relief to governors
The News Journal, DE -10 hours ago
"We don't believe economic problems that were in large measure created by too much debt will be solved by more debt," Sanford said Tuesday. ". ...