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Credit cards are practical and make life easy. You can pay for groceries, holidays, and shopping with your credit card while also paying off the credit balance at the end of each month. But what happens if you can’t afford to pay the balance in full? What happens if you only pay the minimum payment and the credit card balance starts ballooning? Are you in too much credit card debt?

Some may view bankruptcy as a reasonable and common way out of debt and an opportunity for a fresh start. The damage bankruptcy does to your finances, however, is life-disrupting and lasting.

Debt relief and debt repair come in many shapes, including debt management and debt settlement. Debt management usually comes with a debt management plan (DMP) that lasts for up to 5 years: during this time, you are expected to repay your debt on more favorable terms. Debt settlement aims at settling your debt whereby you repay only part of your debt.

Debt settlement saves you money by shaving off a set amount of your credit card principal. It’s a viable solution when you feel that the debt amount on credit cards you have accumulated is simply unmanageable on your current income.

You will, however, owe taxes on the money you save this way. In many cases, it is considered income, and you are required to report it as such to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For example, if you owe $25,000 in debt and your creditors agree to settle personal loans for $15,000, you will be taxed on the remaining $10,000.

If you are struggling with heavy credit card debt, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore your debt reliefoptions and find ways to manage your debt. You can choose from balance transfer cards to debt consolidation loans and debt management plans offered by debt counseling agencies. However, debt settlement can be the best option for you if you wish to pay back less than you owe. The sooner you settle your credit card debt, the lower interest rates you'll get, the easier you’ll pay down debt, and the sooner you can find your way to true financial freedom.

"The number one problem in today’s generation and economy is lack of financial literacy." - Alan Greenspan, former Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States. Learn how improving financial literacy can benefit you.

Warren Buffett, the world-renowned billionaire and financial expert, advises:

“Don’t save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.”

Debt has become ingrained in American culture. Today, few of us can imagine a car without payments, a house without a mortgage, or a college student without a loan. In addition to these debts, Americans are also carrying a significant amount of credit card debt.

The financial implications of the coronavirus global lockdown have rippled across the country, affecting businesses and their employees. About 16.8 million Americans filed for unemployment in the past three weeks as COVID-19 adversely affected every industry nationwide.

Congress approved a significant stimulus package on March 27 to assist Americans struggling with the COVID-19 emergency. Most people will receive an additional $1,200 from this plan. If you have children under the age of 18, you’ll also be provided $500 for each child.