A debt trap is when you spend more than you earn and borrow against your credit to facilitate that spending. While this can certainly be caused by unnecessary spending, having inadequate savings to handle unforeseen costs can also result in a debt trap.
For example, if your loan balance is ₹25 Lakh and your ₹10 Lakh, your loan-asset ratio is 2.5. Experts recommend this ratio to be under 0.5. If you are not taking any steps to increase your income, reduce your loan amount or grow your assets, you can easily fall into a debt trap.
Making impulsive purchases just for the sake of offers
Eventually, such urges become the root cause of many people failing to repay their entire dues on time, and gradually falling into a debt trap.
The biggest trap that people fall into in life comes down to one word: debt. Your credit score should really be called a "sucker score" because it's a number that exists for only one reason: to tell banks how much money they're going to be able to make off of you. The higher it is, the more of your money goes to them.
One major reason people pay bills late: They simply forget.
Of those that were delinquent, 35% said they paid late because they forgot to pay their bill. Another 33% said they paid late because they needed the money to pay for essentials. And 32% said it was because they had an unexpected emergency.
If this happens: Your lender will contact you to demand the missing payments are made. Then if you don't make the payments they ask for, the account will default. And if you still don't pay, further action may be taken, such as employing debt collection agents to recover the money you owe them.
If you're ready to escape the debt spiral, the first step is to stop borrowing money. Credit cards are often the lead culprit in creating consumer debt, so that means putting the plastic away. Pay in cash, write a check, or use a no-fee debit card to make your purchases.
A credit card could offer several benefits in the form of reward points, discounts, cashback etc. However, irresponsible use of credit cards – spending carelessly without having the repayment capacity, missing your card bill payments or paying only the minimum amount – can lead to piling up of your credit card debt.
The short answer to this question is No. The Bill of Rights (Art. III, Sec. 20 ) of the 1987 Charter expressly states that "No person shall be imprisoned for debt..." This is true for credit card debts as well as other personal debts.
But this is a damaging myth: lenders and banks don't see this as a sign of active use or creditworthiness, and carrying a balance doesn't help your credit score. In fact, it increases your debt through interest charges and can hurt your credit score if your total card balances are over 30% of your total credit limits.
The average credit card debt of U.S. families is $6,270, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. This information comes from data collected through 2019, representing the most reliable measure of credit card indebtedness in the U.S.
FICO considers a credit score to be poor if it falls below 580. According to FICO, a person with a FICO score in that range is viewed as a credit risk. Why? Their research shows that about 61% of those with poor credit scores end up delinquent on their loans.
For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use. Once you've made it to the good credit zone (670-739), don't expect your credit to continue rising as steadily.
A poor credit history can have wider-ranging consequences than you might think. Not only will a spotty credit report lead to higher interest rates and fewer loan options; it can also make it harder to find housing and acquire certain services. In some cases it can count against you in a job hunt.
15% of Americans Have Been in Credit Card Debt for 15 Years
A separate survey conducted by Inside 1031 found that 55% of people carry a credit card balance from month to month. In addition, 40% haven't been credit card debt-free since before 2018 — and 15% have had credit card debt since before 2006.
The bottom line: Credit card debt is considered "bad" debt because of its high interest rates and low minimum payments, and the fact that it isn't used to buy appreciating assets. Use your credit cards for the rewards and other benefits, but pay the balance in full each month.
And yet, over half of Americans surveyed (53%) say that debt reduction is a top priority—while nearly a quarter (23%) say they have no debt. And that percentage may rise.
Is being debt-free the new rich? Yes, as long as you have money and assets, in addition to no debts. Living loan-free is a fantastic way to stay financially secure, and it is possible for anyone. While there are a couple of downsides to being debt-free, they are minimal.