Today our question is, “How much debt is too much debt?” And really, at Consolidated Credit, we think any amount of debt is too much. But ideally you should never spend more than 10% of your take-home pay towards credit card debt.
Your particular ratio in addition to your overall monthly income and debt, and credit rating are weighed when you apply for a new credit account. Standards and guidelines vary, most lenders like to see a DTI below 35─36% but some mortgage lenders allow up to 43─45% DTI, with some FHA-insured loans allowing a 50% DTI.
If your monthly income is $2,500, your DTI ratio would be 64 percent, which might be too high to qualify for some credit cards. With an income of roughly $3,700 and the same debt, however, you'd have a DTI ratio of 43 percent and would have better chances of qualifying for a credit card.
Most prospective lenders are looking for a debt-to-credit ratio at or below 30%. A lower ratio may be seen as an indication that you're a responsible debtholder, while a higher ratio marks you as a risk and could lower your credit scores.
What is the 15/3 rule in credit? Most people usually make one payment each month, when their statement is due. With the 15/3 credit card rule, you instead make two payments. The first payment comes 15 days before the statement's due date, and you make the second payment three days before your credit card due date.
Your credit utilization rate — the amount of revolving credit you're currently using divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available — is one of the most important factors that influence your credit scores. So it's a good idea to try to keep it under 30%, which is what's generally recommended.
Generally, a person with a 30,0000 salary usually gets a credit card with a limit of 50,000 to 1 lakh, depending on the credit score and other factors discussed above. Suppose you think that 50,000 is not enough amount for you and you require a higher amount of card limit for yourself.
Make sure that no more than 36% of monthly income goes toward debt.
By the time you reach your 40s and 50s, debts should be lower or almost gone. Student loans should be non-existent, you may be paying for cars in cash, you might be pre-paying your mortgage, and credit card debt should not exist.
U.S. consumers carry $6,501 in credit card debt on average, according to Experian data, but if your balance is much higher—say, $20,000 or beyond—you may feel hopeless. Paying off a high credit card balance can be a daunting task, but it is possible.
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is how much money you earn versus what you spend. It's calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “good.”
The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.
While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.
35% or less: Looking Good - Relative to your income, your debt is at a manageable level. You most likely have money left over for saving or spending after you've paid your bills. Lenders generally view a lower DTI as favorable.
You will need to report your gross income on a credit card application. That's your annual salary before taxes and other deductions.
Key takeaways
Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
Paying off your debt as fast as possible may seem like the responsible thing to do, but not having an adequate emergency fund or saving for your future could leave your finances at a permanent disadvantage down the road.
How much can you borrow on a credit card? The average credit card limit in the UK is between £3,000 and £4,000, but how much you can borrow on a credit card will depend on your financial circumstances and history. The riskier the provider thinks you are as a borrower, the lower your credit limit will be.
While it's broadly true that higher income enables higher credit limits, there is no formula for determining credit limit based on income alone.
The golden rule of Credit Cards is simple: pay your full balance on time, every time. This Credit Card payment rule helps you avoid interest charges, late fees, and potential damage to your credit score.
Using more than 30% of your available credit on your cards can hurt your credit score. The lower you can get your balance relative to your limit, the better for your score. (It's best to pay it off every month if you can.)