Credit Card Deals Lead to Debt among the Elderly
There has been a lot of talking about credit card debt in the US. We usually consider an 'average American household' struggling with debt. But what about specific social groups suffering from inadequate financial management and credit debt?
The number of elderly Americans with credit card debt has increased significantly in the past several years. People over 65 are often considered to be frugal and wise but financial data clearly shows that a lot of them can not manage their finances properly. According to statistics gathered by a public policy group, a significant percentage of elderly people with household income under $50,000 spend up to 40% of their money on paying off debts.
Of course, some of those debts are secured loans but a big portion of the money goes to credit card companies. In 2001more than 80 000 Americans over 65 declared bankruptcy and numbers are going up. Most likely, bankruptcy seems to be the only solution for those who are not going to live long enough to pay off the debt.
One of the most popular explanations of this phenomenon is that baby-boomers that are now retiring are more tolerant to debt. Credit cards offers are an everyday financial tool for them and they do not worry that much about carrying a balance. They are more used to buying things if compared to the previous generation of seniors.
But if they are so experienced in using credit cards why are they in debt? One of the reasons is that the cost of living keeps increasing but their income drops. Medical expenses are also high because seniors have to spend much on medication and other kinds of treatment. An elderly person often has to take care of her or his spouse. Some seniors even help their children and grandchildren.
People over 65 have problems understanding and even reading terms and conditions. Very often the fine print is just too small for them. Seniors are also more likely to forget to send the check on the due date.
How can seniors effectively struggle with credit debt?
The first step should be contacting the bank and trying to negotiate the terms with its representative. Chances are the bank will lower the interest rate to help the elderly client pay off the debt.
Another solution is to get a part-time job in order to make some extra money. This will be especially helpful if the debt is not very big and it is possible to pay it off in a few years.
If you have both secured and unsecured debts try to pay off the secured one first. According to the law, you children can not be held liable for unsecured debts of their parents.
Credit card deals can be a wonderful tool or a disaster that can ruin your golden years. Plan your finances carefully to make sure that you won't have to work after retirement to pay off your credit card balances. Use your credit card wisely and retire debt-free.
