Financial Websites Offer Free Advice for Your Debt Troubles
They say that the best things in life are free. And when it comes to lowering debt on your own, they could be right.
As the number of Americans struggling with debt grows, so do the options for free financial advice at websites like Mint.com and HelloWallet.com.
Of course, do-it-yourself has its drawbacks. You can't ask questions and you don't have a real, live person to make sure you stay on track. But for folks who are too embarrassed to ask for help - or who need simple advice, like assistance creating a budget - online software is a step in the right direction.
Mint.com is one of the originators of free online financial organization. It's what I use to keep track of my bank accounts, personal investments and credit cards and how I (usually) stick to my budget. But recently, Mint announced that it's also launching a financial advice program to help you meet your financial goals, like increasing your emergency savings, buying a house or, maybe most popular, getting out of debt. For instance, if you've got too much credit card debt, the site can tell you which card would be best to pay down first, how long it will take to pay it off depending on how much you pay each month, and how to set up a payment system.
At HelloWallet.com, new customers are said to discover an average of $600 in savings. The site seeks out better deals on banks, credit cards and other financial services while offering an easy way to track your finances. It also warns you when you're racking up too much debt and, like Mint, walks you through the process of lowering your debt.
Sometimes all we need to improve our finances is a little encouragement, in which case a financial website might just do the trick. But not all debt is created equal. If you find your debt is so big that you can't manage the bills or the mortgage no matter how hard you try, a bankruptcy plan can offer more specialized help. Fortunately, learning how bankruptcy can help your unique financial situation is free as well when you sign up for a complimentary personal debt analysis with one of our Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. With today's options, you can't afford not to get help for your debt.