In A debt Trap? Know Your Rights As A Borrower
June 22, 2024
Akshaya Tritiya also known as Akha Teej, is a very auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. This is celebrated to propitiate Goddess Laxmi. An auspicious day, it is considered ideal to start new ventures, make investments or buy property or gold. As it is a propitious occasion to start new endeavours, it is a good time to use debt management solutions to pare down your total debt or even if you take a new personal loan, to invest the same in appreciating assets like digital gold.
Debt management plans are strategies or programs designed to help individuals or businesses effectively manage and repay their debts. These solutions aim to alleviate the burden of debt by providing structured plans, negotiating with creditors, and offering financial guidance. SingleDebt (SD) is a renowned credit counselling agency and India’s first choice solutions company for offering value-added debt management solutions and financial, legal and anti-harassment guidance.
Debts accumulate more quickly than you realise and two out of three millennial Indians are prone to accumulate debt. In August 2022, the total student loan in rupees stood at Rs 1,45,785 crores.
Interest rates vary between 10% to 11% p.a. The number of credit cards in existence in India has soared to 10 crore users, all labouring under costly EMI payments and high interest rates which range from 10.5% to 11% p.a. Post Covid credit growth in personal loans has been exceeding 20% p.a. in the post-Covid period.
Also, borrowers accumulate different types of loans including secured debt like home and auto loans and unsecured student loans, personal loans and credit card debt. For an individual borrower, the cumulative debt is reaching unmanageable proportions.
Debt management is essential for several reasons:
Financial Stability: Managing debt effectively ensures your financial stability. It helps prevent falling into a debt trap where your debt payments become unmanageable relative to your income.
Credit Score: Your credit score is influenced by your ability to manage debt responsibly. By effectively managing debt, you can maintain or improve your credit score, which is crucial for obtaining favorable terms on loans, mortgages, and credit cards in the future.
Interest Payments: Debt management can save you money on interest payments. By paying off high-interest debts first or consolidating debts into lower-interest loans, you can reduce the overall amounts you pay over time.
Reduced Stress: Financial stress is a significant issue for many people, and debt can be a significant source of that stress. Effective debt management can reduce this stress by providing a clear plan to address your financial obligations.
Financial Goals: Debt management helps you achieve your financial goals. Whether it’s saving for retirement, buying a home, or starting a business, managing debt effectively frees up resources to invest in your future.
Overall, debt management is crucial for maintaining financial health and achieving long-term financial goals. It involves budgeting, prioritizing debt payments, negotiating with creditors when necessary, and making informed financial decisions.
Aligning debt management goals with cultural rituals like Akshaya Tritiya can provide a psychological boost and a structured approach to reducing debt burdens. Akshaya Tritiya is considered an auspicious day in Hindu culture for making significant investments and purchases, as it is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune. Here’s how aligning debt management with this ritual can be beneficial:
Psychological reinforcement: Associating debt repayment with a culturally significant event can instill a sense of purpose and motivation. It can make the process of managing debt feel more meaningful and rewarding.
Setting intentions: Akshaya Tritiya is often seen as a day to set intentions for future wealth and abundance. Similarly, individuals can use this occasion to set clear debt management goals, such as creating a repayment plan or reducing unnecessary expenses.
Discipline and commitment: Rituals often involve adherence to specific practices and traditions. By aligning debt management with Akshaya Tritiya, individuals can commit to disciplined financial practices, such as regular payments towards debt reduction.
Symbolic significance: Akshaya Tritiya is associated with the idea of eternal prosperity and abundance. By tying debt management efforts to this concept, individuals can cultivate a positive mindset towards their financial situation, believing that their efforts will lead to lasting financial stability.
Community support: Rituals like Akshaya Tritiya often involve participation within communities. Sharing debt management goals and experiences with others during this time can provide support and encouragement, fostering a sense of solidarity in tackling financial challenges.
Cultural values: Many cultural rituals emphasize virtues like responsibility, discipline, and financial prudence. By incorporating these values into debt management practices, individuals can draw upon cultural teachings to guide their financial decisions and behaviors.
Overall, aligning debt management goals with Akshaya Tritiya rituals can provide a holistic approach to addressing financial challenges, combining practical strategies with cultural and psychological support.
During Akshaya Tritiya, you could forge a new beginning by
Attending Financial Literacy Workshops: Learn more about the perils of excessive debt through workshops or webinars focused on financial literacy, debt management, and smart investment strategies
Debt Consolidation Offers: Financial institutions can roll out special offers on Akshaya Tritiya for debt consolidation loans, allowing you to combine multiple debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate. This can make debt repayment more manageable.
Promote Savings and Investment Plans: Encourage people to invest in schemes like SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) or RDs (Recurring Deposits) rather than resorting to loans for discretionary spending. Promoting the idea of saving and investing regularly can help individuals avoid financial pitfalls.
Counselling Services: Opt for credit counselling services that include financial counseling services on Akshaya Tritiya to be able to assess your financial situation, create budgets, and develop sound debt repayment plans.
Incentives for Debt Repayment: Financial institutions can introduce incentives such as cashback or discounts for borrowers who make timely repayments on Akshaya Tritiya. Get motivated to prioritize debt repayment. Instead of accumulating debt.
Debt Management Plans: Credit Counselling agencies also structure debt management plans. This mainly consolidating all the payments into a single payment and distributing it among your many creditors according to an agreed upon plan. They will also provide you with a grounding on budgeting and financial planning to enable you to manage your indebtedness better.
Financial Counselling: This is a third-party agency like SingleDebt who assesses your financial situation, provides budgeting advice and helps develop a debt management payment.
Debt Settlement: In this, a credit counselling agency will negotiate with the creditors to accept a lower, lumpsum payment in lieu of the multiple outstanding amounts on your total loans.
Debt Consolidation: This is rolling multiple debts into a single debt with a lower interest rate. This reduces the overall absolute payments and monthly consolidated repayments.
Aligning debt management goals with Akshaya Tritiya rituals can provide a culturally resonant framework for individuals to tackle their debt burdens. By leveraging the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, which symbolizes prosperity and abundance, individuals can imbue their debt repayment journey with a sense of purpose and positivity.
Teaming up with a financial counselling agency like SingleDebt will enable you to put a sound debt management practice in place. This alignment encourages disciplined financial planning, fostering a mindset of wealth preservation and responsible spending.
Moreover, incorporating rituals such as offering prayers, charitable acts, and investing in gold during Akshaya Tritiya can serve as tangible reminders of financial goals and reinforce commitment to debt reduction. Thus, by integrating traditional beliefs with modern financial strategies, individuals can find renewed motivation and empowerment in their quest to alleviate debt burdens and achieve financial freedom.
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