Mobile Credit Counselors Offer Solutions

By Chad Petri Reporter

Officials at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Mobile say more people are looking for help. Mobile Credit Counselors Offer Solutions

Published: Thu, September 04, 2008 - 2:54 am Last Updated: Thu, September 04, 2008 - 6:26 am

Chad Petri

Sandra Dunaway leafs through pages and pages of financial layouts. To get a hold of your money, you have to start with a budget and write down everything you spend.

“Because if you don't have a budget you don't know where your money's going and you don't know where to cut back,” says Dunaway. She says most people coming to them say they're tapped out and don't know where to get money. Dunaway suggests freezing credit cards in blocks of ice and forcing yourself to save.

“Psychologically you have to be determined to make this work, in other words you have to make a commitment I will do this,” says Dunaway. She says the budget won't necessarily be set in stone, so you can alter it to stay motivated.

“The spending plan you're developing is not a static instrument, in other words it's going to flow just as your income and expenses do,” says Dunaway. Another trick is to pay with cash more often, when you pay w/ cash you feel yourself spending money and it hurts.

“If you write a check or u pay cash you pay less for items as well as buy a less number of items,”
Sandra says the extensive forms detailing personal spending allow you to look at needs versus wants. She says you may consider increasing insurance deductibles to save.