Credit Cards: How Much Debt is too Much?

Part V of the Credit Card Series: Start at the beginning if you missed a part.

credit cardsBefore we discuss debt, the best advice is: Do not incur debt.

If you have to incur debt to survive, pay it off at the end of the month. Many people have no alternative but maintain debt. They can learn to budget to conquer it. We will explore ways to save during the battle. Before you incur debt, you need the following advice:

How much debt can I handle?

Since you know you could be paying three times as much for your purchase, consider carefully how much debt you incur on your credit card. There is a simple method for determining how much debt you can afford.

(Total Personal Savings/2) – (Credit Card Debt x 15%) = $0

“Wait a minute! $0?” Do not panic. Let’s apply a little algebra to the equation:

Total Personal Savings / 30%

Still confused?

What is personal savings?

At the end of the month, the money you have left over is personal savings. This is the remainder of your income after taxes and personal expenses (bills). Remember how we built your emergency fund from your personal savings?

Why cut it in half?

Even while you are paying down your debt, you still need to be saving. If you have your emergency fund complete, you should be using at least half of your monthly personal savings to pay down secured debt (mortgage) or invest in retirement. The remaining half is what we will use to calculate how much debt you can comfortably handle.

Where did you get 30%?

Multiplying the 2 (denominator from 1/2) and the 15% (from the amount of credit card debt) equals 30%, or 0.30.

I am algebra-phobic.

Example: Your personal savings each month is $1,000. Divide that by 30%. You can comfortably carry $3,333 in credit card debt.

For every $1,000 in personal savings, you can carry $3,000 in debt without spending all of your personal savings each month only on credit card debt.

Warning!

Do not look at $3,333 and think you will be paying it off in three months. Have you forgotten the interest and fees? If you are paying 10% of the balance ($333 each month, regardless of the minimum payment on the bill) at 31% interest, it will take you one year and nearly $4,000 to pay off the debt.

That is too much!

Before you run out and purchase your maximum on your credit card, consider two options:

(1)   Only incur half as much debt as you can comfortably carry.

(2)   Pay twice as much toward your debt.

If you did not take the best advice at the beginning, take this piece: Choose both.

NEXT: What if you are already over your debt limit?

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© Red Dwyer 2011
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13 Comments

  1. As one who relied too much on a credit card to help get my printing business going, I totally agree with everything you say here. Credit card debt is bad, bad, bad.

    Reply
    • Patti, I know many of us have relied on credit one time or another to get a project started (or livable) or to bail out a business venture or just to cover those “Oh, my!” moments. The good thing to remember, is this: There is a way out. Before the Credit Card Series closes, I will be touching on ways to bring the debt under control, without sacrificing every dime.

      Thanks for stopping by! And feel free to leave links when you come again! Red

      Reply
      • I’m out of it now–had to sell property to get out of it which I hadn’t planned on doing. However, getting out from under the debt was worth it. I don’t EVER want to be there again!

        Reply
        • Good for you! You would think a 6 gram card would not weigh much, but when it is on your head all the time, it is tough to carry. Inbox me. I would love to have you do a guest spot on the path you traveled to get out!

          Reply
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