Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “There is enough on this Earth for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” Today there is a trend that dictates people buy more and more and more - there's no limit to it. What's worse, there is no feeling of contentment. The key to happiness is simple living and to ensure a safe future.

How do you ensure a safe future for yourself and your family?

If and when you ever find yourself in need of credit repair services, know that you are walking on the wrong path in respect to the security of your future. Here are a few tips that will ensure that you have a worry free life (from financial requirements).

1. Retirement planning starts with your first check – don't think that retirement plans are only for those who have crossed middle age! If you want to enjoy a good and carefree senior life, start saving for your retirement from your first paycheck. The earlier you begin to put aside for your old age, the more comfortable will be your golden years.

2. Begin saving for your children’s college education right from the day of their birth. Start an investment plan that requires as little as $50-100 per month. By the time it's college time for your child, you will have a comfortable nest egg ready for their expenses.

3. Save, save, save – aim at saving 15-35% of your income. Pay your saving plans first - and then your bills. While saving, don't only put money together in a saving account. Either educate yourself on what would the best investment options for your budget and time span, or consult a professional agent/agency.

Don't worry! This expense is well worth it!

4. Say "no" to credit cards – as much as possible avoid using credit cards. However, in case you find yourself in a jam with credit card bills, the first step is to immediately transfer the balance from the highest to the lowest possible interest rates.

Pay down as much as you can, and liquidate the outstanding balance with the credit cards on a fire-fighting basis. It's critical to your financial well being to pay the credit card bills in full before the due date; avoid at all cost paying the minimum amount due, as this is a trap that will lead you into crushing debt.

5. Stop trivial expenses – having a cup of cappuccino once in a while is a lovely treat. However, if you do it on a daily basis you will find that it drains your funds without any actual gain. The pleasure it gives does not justify the huge amount that you'll have spent at the end of the month.

If you like coffee, invest in a good thermo flask and carry hot water and Nescafe pouches with you. You can have amazing coffee whenever you want at a fraction of the cost.

Stop smoking. Stop impulsive shopping for things that you don't really need.

Always look for value for your money. Let this be your ground rule. Get the most out of every cent you spend, and you will find at the end of the month that you're more content and happy with the way you've spent your money.

You find yourself suffocated by debt from all quarters and you do not have the means to clear up the mess. What do you do? What are your options? Do you have any options in such a situation?

You hear of many people who declared bankruptcy because they could not handle the pressure that mounted because they had bills to pay and no means to pay them. Is that the only way out?

Stay Away From Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy seems the best way out because it provides you the "morphine" you so badly need to block your pain. However, though this is one of the options available, this is definitely not the optimal solution.

Bankruptcy stays with you for a decade and will haunt you every step of the way. It's not easy to wait for the 10 years that one typically has to wait for this "black mark" to be removed from his credit report. Do you really want to go through that?

Check out all your other options before throwing in the towel. Bankruptcy is worth it only if there is absolutely no other way out for you. Fortunately, this is rarely the case.

The best way out is to find a good and reputable credit repair agency and ask their assistance. Ensure that the credit repair agency you choose is genuine by checking its affiliation and past experience and credibility.

Credit Repair Agency and You

What do you ask the credit repair agency? First of all, ask for counseling. It's extremely important that you understand what led to your present financial problems. The identification of the trigger and path to financial destruction is one of the most important findings on the path to recovery from debt. This is because, unless you know what went wrong previously, you will be likely to commit the same mistakes again and land yourself into trouble in the same manner.

Next, ask to re-negotiate your debts. The credit repair agency will, in most cases, have expert negotiators who will reduce your debt by as much as 30-40% only by re-negotiating the loan/debt terms and conditions with the creditors.

Lastly, ask for debt settlement. Many will point out that debt settlement sets your credit score back by a few notches. True. However, these two steps backwards will enable to walk with your head held high in no time, because you will be able to liquidate all your debts within 6 – 36 months. The regularity with which you will pay your bills will also add to your credit score and therefore, the positive aspect of repaying your debts will overshadow the fact that you asked for debt consolidation.

Credit Repair Agency as Your Personal Financial Advisor

As soon as you have signed for debt consolidation, utilize the help of the credit repair agency to open an investment account where you can make the money you save work for you. The higher your savings become, the higher your credit score will rise. Savings and money management (read this as making money earn for you) are critical to ensuring that you stay out of debt.