Menu
Log In
Sign Up

How Emma Saved $12,000 In Credit Card Interest Payments And Was Debt-Free Six Years Sooner

Administrator

Nov 18, 2015 4 min read

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkedin
How Emma Saved $12,000 In Credit Card Interest Payments And Was Debt-Free Six Years Sooner

Emma would often come to her job with bags underneath her eyes. Her colleagues were constantly asking her if things were alright at home and if she was okay. Emma did not want to be sick anymore. She was also tired of being asked questions about her personal life. Emma had several sleepless nights, and the effects of that showed on her face.

There were several things that caused Emma to have trouble sleeping at night. She had problems at both home and work. She also had credit card debt that she was struggling to pay. Emma’s credit card balance was $10,000.

Emma did not think that she would end up with credit card debt because she had a good-paying job and a good credit score. She paid for a Caribbean cruise that she took with her husband with her credit card. She thought that she would be able to pay the balance off quickly. She also thought that she would pay the balance off before any interest was charged. However, she had to pay for a leak and unexpected dental expense.

Emma was carrying a credit card balance that she was struggling to pay off. She felt stressed, depressed and out-of-control. Although she made the minimum payments every month, it did not seem to have much of an effect on the overall balance.

Emma felt like she did not have any control of her finances because of her credit card debt. She felt as though she was in a boat with no anchor. When you take a look at the numbers involved, it is easy to understand how difficult Emma’s situation was. The credit card balance was $10,000, and the annual percentage rating was 19.99.

The minimum payments on Emma’s credit card totaled out to be $200 per month. The minimum payment would decrease as the balance on the card decreased. It would take Emma about nine years to pay off the card. She would also end up paying a total of $11,191.

Emma read a post from Borrowell while she was at work. She learned that people with good credit would be able to get a loan from Borrowell. She also found out that getting a loan with a low interest rate would help her get out of debt much faster. Below is a list of some of the key things that Emma learned:

Revolving Credit Vs. Term Loans

Emma learned about the differences between term loans and credit card. She found out that revolving credit is a great option if it is used responsibly and is paid off before the interest kicks in. However, if you have a term loan, then the payment will remain the same for the duration of the loan. You will always know how much money you will be required to pay on the loan each month.

You Can Get Out Of Debt Faster With Higher Monthly Payments And Lower Interest Rates

One of the reasons that Emma decided to take out a loan because she found out she could get out of debt quicker. She had the option of selecting a three or five-year term. She selected a three-year loan, which allowed her to get out of debt three times faster. She paid about $1,500 in interest.

Emma was paying about $200 per month in credit card payments. She took out a $10,000 loan with a minimum payment of $318. She managed to get out of debt in just three years. If she would have continued to make the minimum payments on the credit card, then it would have taken her nine years to pay off the debt.

Emma had to live on a tighter budget so that she could make the higher payments every month. However, making the higher payments and budgeting are definitely wise moves. Emma is now debt-free.

If you are dealing with credit card debt, then it is important to research and find out about the options you have. There are options that will not only help you reduce your debt, but they will also help you save money on interest. Borrowell is a company that is committed to helping you reduce your debt faster.

Borrowell Logo
Administrator
External Link
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkedin

Borrowell is dedicated to making financial stability possible for everyone. With over 3 million members, the company offers free credit scores in Canada, education, weekly credit monitoring, credit building solutions, as well as digital tools like AI-powered credit coaching and personalized financial product recommendations. For more information, visit borrowell.com or download the mobile app for Android or iOS.

Similar Topics

8 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

How To Improve Your Credit Score in Canada

Here are eight tangible steps you can take to improve your credit score. Your credit score directly impacts your ability to get approved for financing, including credit cards, loans, and mortgages.

The Borrowell Team

Feb 04, 2021

Learn More

Can You Build Credit by Paying Rent?

Thanks to rent reporting services, you can now build your credit score by paying your rent on time every month.

Janine DeVault

Jun 17, 2024

Read More

Loan vs line of credit

With all the different credit options available in Canada, it’s important to understand the differences between each one so that you can find the right product for your needs. Credit can be useful to help you establish a history and finance purchases, but should be used mindfully.

In this Borrowing 101 article, we’ll give you an overview of personal loans and lines of credit to help you understand how they work, when to use them, and what to be careful of in order to protect your credit score.

The Borrowell Team

Feb 28, 2023

Learn More