Regardless of how large your debt is, there is a way out. With debt restructuring, you could eliminate your debt and keep it paid off. As long as you are dedicated and willing to put in the work, you can kiss your financial woes goodbye with a sold debt restructuring strategy. 

What is debt restructuring? 

Simply put, debt restructuring can be considered a proposal you create and made out to your creditors. You offer to repay your debt by renegotiating the terms of your contract that you originally agreed to. When you do this, you’re often paying back a reduced amount on terms that work better for you. 

When you’re overwhelmed with debt, you may need to start picking and choosing which bills to pay. If you have gotten to this point with your finances or you’re struggling to make all your payments, now is the time to consider debt restructuring. Missing payments can lead to additional fees or, in more extreme cases, legal action was taken against you. 

However, if you reach out to your lenders and creditors early on, they may be able to provide you with debt relief options. Many people see their creditors as the enemy. But they will only become the enemy if you stop fulfilling your financial obligations and don’t ask for help.

Regardless of what type of debt you have, you can use a debt restructuring plan to help pay off and eventually eliminate that debt. 

What is the difference between debt restructuring and debt refinancing?

It’s important to note that debt restructuring is not the same as debt refinancing. The big difference between the two is that debt restructuring is renegotiating the terms of an existing contract. Debt refinancing is when you create an entirely new contract with different terms. Debt refinancing is when you pay off or replace your old debt with new debt.  Moving it from basket “A” to basket “B.”

An example of debt refinancing would be using a home equity loan to pay off a credit card. A person may choose to do this because interest rates on a home equity loan are typically much lower than on a credit card. Therefore by debt refinancing, they are able to roll multiple debt payments into one monthly payment to help increase cash flow. However, when you refinance your debt, you often extend the period of time that it will take you to pay off your debts overall which will cost you more interest in the long run. Furthermore, you are taking highly negotiable unsecured debt and securing it against your home while giving up equity. Something to think about.

How does debt restructuring work?

Debt restructuring works by renegotiating the terms of your existing contract with your lender. You do this so you can make it easier for yourself to pay off your debts. 

In fact, it is as easy as this 5 step process: 

1. You reach out to your lender

The first step is usually the hardest. Once you realize that you are unable to meet your financial obligations, you’ll need to start the debt restructuring process. You’ll need to begin by contacting your creditor or lender to explain to them your current financial situation. Your lender may give you options, and usually, debt restructuring is one of them. It’s best to reach out to your lender first before they reach out to you. This shows that you are aware of the issue and are willing to put in the work to fix the problem. 

2. You wait for a response.

A lender is not obligated to give you any help and may not change the terms of your contract. If this is the case and you miss a couple of payments, your account could be sent to collections, or you could be sued for your debt. However, usually, a good first step is to ask for help. It may take some time for your lender to come up with a response, so don’t panic. In the meantime, think of ways to budget your finances more effectively. 

3. You weigh your options. 

If your lender offers you help, you’ll need to weigh out your options. Your lender may offer you temporary hardship assistance or a refinancing plan. You’ll need to review the contracts and consider the pros and cons of each to ensure you’re picking the best option. 

4. You negotiate.

Before you accept an offer, you may be able to negotiate some of the new terms. As an example, you can attempt to get a lower payment amount, have the fees waived, or have the term of your contract increased. 

5. You accept the offer.

Once you and your lender have come to a compromise, you can agree to the new terms of your loan. You’ll do this by formally accepting the terms and signing the agreement. You will then be obligated to comply with the new terms and continue paying off your debt. 

What types of debt restructuring options are there? 

While the process is the same, there are a few different types of debt restructuring strategies you can use to help you pay off your debt. 

These are three main types of debt restructuring: 

Consumer proposal: A consumer proposal is when you follow the formal procedure under the Insolvency Act. An offer is made to pay off the debt interest-free over a period of up to 5 years, and in most cases, the principal amount owing is also reduced. The term tends to be open, meaning if you are able to make additional payments at any time, then your proposal will simply be paid off faster. With a consumer proposal, your assets are fully protected, and no legal action can be taken by your creditors who are included in your proposal.

Informal Proposal: An informal proposal is when your debts are reduced by negotiating directly with your creditors outside of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Rather than making monthly payments, the agreed-upon payment is made as a lump sum. 

Bankruptcy: This is when your consumer debts are extinguished through filing bankruptcy. Bankruptcy should only ever recommend bankruptcy as a last resort. To learn more about reasons to avoid bankruptcy, click here.

How effective is debt restructuring? 

Throughout the years, we have seen thousands of people create a plan to pay off and eliminate their debt using the power of debt restructuring. Everyone’s battle with debt is different, and not all debt-help companies are cut from the same cloth. How are we qualified to determine this?  If the company does not pass our gold standard test, then we will not recommend their services.

If you are looking for the best advice on how to consolidate your debt, fill out our contact form, and we will be sure to refer you to a company that we approve of. Let it be clear, we do not mine your data nor sell your information to all kinds of companies. We are simply looking to connect people who are serious about dealing with their debt to a professional who is best suited to help make that happen. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain, so fill out a contact form and take that first step to a debt-free future.

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Some people may think that people with debt problems are reckless spenders, but it is a problem that can affect the most organized person. Debt repayment is an issue that affects many Canadians. Debts may result from sudden job losses, medical problems, and unplanned expenses, such as car repairs. When you combine these debts with common household bills and mortgages, they become a heavy burden that weighs down many people. Aggressive debt restructuring can help reorganize your debts and give your peace of mind.

The Benefits of Debt Consolidation

Increased Cash Flow

This has to be the main benefit of debt restructuring. Debt restructuring frees up cash that you can use for necessities, such as paying the rent or mortgage and providing food for your family. For instance, a client with $50,000 of unsecured debt may pay between $1000 and $1500 in interest every month. After restructuring, that figure can reduce significantly. It is not uncommon to find clients paying $250 after restructuring. Most clients greatly improve their cash flow and can therefore set up an emergency fund while beginning to plan for their financial future.

Reducing the Period of Debt Payment

If you only make a minimum payment, it can take 20 or even 30 years to clear the debt, especially if the interest rates are high. A properly formulated debt restructuring plan enables clients to clear their debts within 5 years. What’s more is that effective debt restructuring means you trade your credit card and line of credit payment for one nice easy monthly payment, further reducing stress.

Improved Mental Health

Carrying debt can place a heavy toll on your mental health due to the constant pressure of high monthly payments. The stress can be high if you don’t have sufficient funds in your account so restructuring the debt can relieve this pressure. Aggressive debt restructuring relieves the pressure of making large payments every month. A lot of people express improvements in their mental health and attitudes after going through the restructuring process.

We have heard from people who are extremely negative and disillusioned by the hefty debts they have to clear every month. Months after the restructuring, people will express satisfaction and confidence in life. They feel that they are in control of their finances and can plan for the future.

Improved Business Performance

Most business people struggle when debts start accumulating, and from there, they can spiral. Restructuring the business debt so that the payments can be made out of revenue allows the business to get a breath of fresh air and start to record positive cash flow. Once the burden is lifted, it is not uncommon for a business to take on new life.

A New Beginning

For some people, aggressive debt restructuring presents an opportunity to start life afresh. This is because most Canadians accumulate debt during the most hectic times of their life. Some may have been going through a divorce, or a medical emergency may have triggered the borrowing frenzy. For others, it is poor money management and financial decisions that they regret. Whatever the case, debt restructuring gives clients the freedom to reorganize their life.

Debt Restructuring Options

Consumer proposal

A consumer proposal is a formal legal option that allows the client to offer a consolidated and reduced amount to their creditors. Creditors have an opportunity to accept the proposal. The amount of monthly repayment depends on several factors, which include income, family size, and non-discretionary expenses. This option is a great way to deal with debt because it literally becomes a new and binding contract with your creditors. This means you do not have to change your proposal amount if you begin to make more money or other fortuitous opportunities come your way while still in the proposal. Furthermore, in a proposal, you do not have to surrender all of your assets to a bankruptcy trustee. In other words, you keep your estate intact.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a legal provision where a debtor surrenders all their non-exempt assets to a trustee. The trustee sells these assets to repay the creditors. Canadian federal and provincial laws allow debtors to exempt some of their assets from the debt recovery process. Even after declaring bankruptcy, the debtor is still required to make payments and go for financial counseling.

The amount of the payments depends on the income and size of the household. The length of the bankruptcy can be either 9, 21, 24, or 36 months. Licensed Insolvency Trustees have a number of responsibilities to the creditors, which include obtaining the best possible return on behalf of the creditors.

Debt consolidation

Debt consolidation involves collecting all your debts and managing them in one bundle. It involves identifying all your credit card payments and loan obligations and putting them in one package. The most popular method of consolidation is debt refinancing offered by banks. The bank clears all your debt obligations with the other creditors and requires you to service a single loan.

How to Restructure with Minimal Credit Impact

Debt restructuring can have an impact on your credit score. It is imperative first to understand that getting out of debt and improving your monthly cash flow is the top priority. Money lost by paying interest to creditors is gone forever, yet credit can be rebuilt with relative ease.

At GetMeDebtFree, we understand the challenges of carrying large amounts of debt. Our job is to find the best companies to help Canadians deal with their debt. Our goal is for people who are burdened with debt to not end up in a “solution” that ultimately could have been a lot better or that is no solution altogether.

We do not represent any interests of the creditors, nor do we receive funding from creditors. With our industry knowledge and experience, we have searched out who we believe to be some of the best companies in Canada to help our fellow citizens get out of debt. If the company does not pass our Gold Standard Test, then we will not recommend their services. If you are looking for the best advice on how to consolidate your debt, fill out our contact form, and we will be sure to refer you to a company that we believe can help.

The post Benefits of Aggressive Debt Restructuring To Get Out Of Debt appeared first on Get Me Debt Free.