We all know that debt isn’t fun, right? Owing money for something that you technically don’t even own can be quite strenuous. The payments every month, the bills that come along in the mail, the interest that you are paying for whatever object you decided to take a loan out on…it can be stressful.
While many people have independent debt, what happens when you get married to someone who has their own debt? Do those debts combine together as one? Technically, any old debt that was obtained before being married doesn’t extend to the spouse, BUT any new debt that occurs after being married would be debt that would be free-game to be applied to both.
Before marriage, it is important to talk to one another about the amount of debt that each of you has individually. Starting off with an honest and open communication about debt is key to setting a strong foundation for financial conversations in the future. If you’re unable to talk about the debt that you have openly, it could be an indicator in the future that you may have trouble discussing finances in a successful manner. If you have a ton of debt, and your spouse also has a lot, then you two are going to have to find the best route possible to find debt relief, and quickly.
Steps to take for Debt Relief in your Marriage
- Create a debt management plan. While it sounds simple, there is actually quite a bit to it. First and foremost, you and your spouse have to agree to take action to tackle your debt. Debt doesn’t go away. You won’t just wake up one morning and it’s gone…it doesn’t work that way. Instead, debt is something that will stay with you and your marriage and will also continue to grow over time thanks to interest being owed. It is super important that you and your spouse understand that you need to have a debt management plan. Basically, this is where you need to look at enlisting outside help to try to get your finances back on track. And while it may be less than ideal to have someone else help you, you may not have any other choice to get it done. Sites like this one, https://www.crediful.com/best-debt-settlement-companies/, are a great resource to get you started.
- See if debt settlement is an option for you and your spouse. While it may not be ideal, if you have the option to settle your debt, it may be advantageous to get it done. There are a lot of stipulations that one has to take into consideration to get this done, but it is an option that many people utilize. Make certain to get educated on the options when it comes to debt settlement so you are aware of everything that you agreeing to and settling with.
- Be realistic in your approach to handling your debt. If you and your spouse aren’t necessarily good with money, then it’s important to understand that and be able to move forward past that. Just because you made less than stellar financial choices in the past, it doesn’t mean that that has to be your outcome each and every time you want to make a purchase. You aren’t the only ones in the world that have made bad financial choices. And you aren’t the last that will do it either. But what will set you apart is how you handle your future financial obligations and purchases and that is by learning from your mistakes.
Debt is no fun, no matter how you look at it. No one likes owing money, getting calls from collection agencies and dreading answering the phone or opening the mailbox for fear of having another bill staring at them in the face. Take charge of your finances in your marriage and plan ahead accordingly. Just by trying out a few of the simple suggestions above, you may find that debt relief is something that is real and obtainable for you and your spouse. But don’t delay! The longer that you wait, the more that you are accruing in interest and owing. Act while you can and enlist the help of professionals who can be there with you every step of the way. Remember, they are there to help you and be there for you during your debt management process, so utilize them and their skill sets!
