Financial stress and the weight of debt can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. The burden of unpaid bills, high interest rates, and constant calls from creditors can lead to anxiety, strained relationships, and a diminished quality of life. Recognising the significance of addressing these financial challenges is crucial to tackling your debts head-on. This article will shed light on an effective strategy – the Debt Management Plan (DMP) – so you can regain control of your financial situation and alleviate your debt woes once and for all.
What is a Debt Management Plan?
Before delving into how a Debt Management Plan (DMP) can improve your financial situation, it’s important to understand what a DMP is. Put simply, a DMP is an informal agreement between you and your creditors to repay your non-priority debts, such as credit cards, store cards, and personal loans, through a series of monthly payments. Most DMPs are set up and managed by a third party and can last anything from five to ten years depending on your outstanding debt level. Because your arrangement isn’t legally binding, you are also free to cancel it at any time if it is no longer working for you. Now that you know the basics of a Debt Management Plan, what are the advantages of a Debt Management Plan?
Single Monthly Payment
Dealing with multiple debts can be stressful, but a DMP can consolidate your debts into a single monthly payment split among your creditors. This can reduce the likelihood of you missing payments and remove the need to communicate with each creditor directly, providing some much-needed peace of mind during the debt repayment process. Because your monthly payments are based on what you can reasonably afford, you’ll also never be left in a position where you can’t afford to make payments towards your debt or cover the cost of your basic essentials.
Lower Interest Rates
One of the biggest advantages of a DMP is the ability to negotiate lower interest rates, which can be useful considering interest rates are typically higher on unsecured debts. Having multiple debts can be daunting enough without the added interest, but a DMP can lead to you paying less each month which can make the repayment process much more manageable and affordable. With lower interest rates, a larger portion of your payments will go towards reducing the principal balance, helping to clear your debts faster. However, creditors are not required to freeze or lower interest rates when you enter into a DMP and your total debt level could continue to increase over the course of your arrangement.
Informal Solution
DMPs are informal solutions, meaning you can leave at any point during your arrangement if you feel it is no longer benefiting you. By avoiding formal insolvency, you can prevent your details from being added to a public register and avoid serious restrictions and limitations that you would have faced had you opted for a formal debt solution. This gives you greater flexibility if your financial situation were to change as your creditors may be more willing to decrease your monthly payments to ensure you continue making payments towards what you owe. However, if you are looking to write off your debts, a formal solution, such as an IVA, may be better suited to your financial situation.
Clear Your Debts
With a DMP, your arrangement will come to an end when your outstanding balance has been cleared. This means that, when you leave your DMP, you will have no remaining debts to pay and will be officially declared debt-free. While this may result in a longer repayment period of up to ten years, it means your financial obligations will be significantly reduced and you can demonstrate an ability to stick to a repayment plan for an extended period of time. Proving you can make consistent payments until your debts have been cleared may work in your favour during future credit applications.
Save Time
When you first enter into a debt solution, it can sometimes feel like you have a long road ahead of you. However, with lower interest rates and a structured repayment plan, you’ll likely clear your debts in less time than if you were to continue making separate payments to each creditor directly. With a clear timeline, you’ll also have the added benefit of knowing when your debt will be paid off, which can allow you to budget effectively and plan for a future free from debt.
Improved Credit Score
Enrolling in a DMP, or any debt solution, will initially have a negative impact on your credit score and impact your ability to be approved for credit, such as a loan, mortgage, bank account, or even phone contract. However, the long-term benefits of a DMP significantly outweigh the minor impact it will have on your finances. Making consistent payments towards your DMP will also gradually reduce your debt load and lead to your credit score improving over time, which will open you up to better credit opportunities.
Negotiation
Some debt solutions leave no room for negotiation, but a DMP allows you to negotiate your monthly payments based on what you can reasonably afford. Most creditors will be open to collaborating and potentially lowering your monthly payments if you’re experiencing financial hardship or your income has dropped. This is why DMPs are often compared to self-negotiation. The key difference, however, is that instead of reaching out to your creditors directly, a third party will manage creditor communication on your behalf.
Taking control of your debt is crucial for financial freedom, and a DMP can allow you to take the first step towards achieving this goal. Enrolling in a DMP can provide structure, relief, and the potential for renewed financial wellbeing, not only alleviating your debt woes but building a foundation for a more secure tomorrow. Remember, every journey begins with the first step. If you’re struggling to juggle multiple debts, consider a DMP to help you simplify the debt repayment process and regain control of your finances.
