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Much debt - a lump sum to use - where should I put it?

Date: Fri, 10/02/2009 - 12:34

Submitted by Jillian
on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 12:34

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Total Replies: 2


I have 6 credit card debts totaling around $43,000, and a first and second mortgage. I have gotten an inheritance which will pay off MOST of my credit card debt, but not all ($34,000). I know about the debt snowball, where you start paying off cc balances from smallest to largest. I really want to refi my first and second mortgages into one - at a lower interest. First mortgage is around $50,000 at 6.25% and second is around 42,000 at 9.25% with a balloon payment in 14 years. I was late on 3 of the cc payments for a month or two, so I'm concerned about my credit score for the mortgage refi. I want to use this inheritance to the best advantage. I haven't looked at my credit score for awhile. I was going to wait until I used this money to pay things off and then check it. Up until I was late on these cc (BOA and Chase raised rates & payments!!), I was on time with everything, so I think my credit score up until then would be okay - now I'm not sure what it is. Should I totally pay off my largest cc debts? (which would leave full balances on the lower cc debt) Should I spread it out and pay a portion on all of them? I've heard that cc's should be paid down to 90% of available credit in order to raise my credit score. My inheritance isn't enough to pay down 90% on all. I would just do the debt snowball, but I want to raise my credit score as much as possible in order to get a good mortgage refi. I'm a little lost - any suggestions?


Okay, I'd have done it this way, paying on all the credit cards to increase the gap between the card limit and the balance outstanding. Putting larger portions on higher limits and expensive cards and smaller portions to lower limit cards. This will not pay off any of the credit cards but it'd definitely look better on your report and may boost your score even. Once the refinancing is done I would work towards paying off the expensive debts completely.

Meanwhile, you may negotiate with your lenders to lower the rate of interest. If they come to know that you'd likely to default on the cards if they continue charging higher rates they may consider lowering the rates even.

However, you may wait for more feedback from the other members and then decide accordingly.


lrhall41

Submitted by SC on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:14

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