Forget Wall Street's Debt -- Pay Off Your Own

Sept. 22, 2008 — -- When I sat down to compose this week's column, it seemed inadequate to write about any topic other than the economy. What good are warnings about common scams and rip-offs when something uncommon is happening to our markets? But in my role as a consumer reporter, it's not really my expertise to tell you how to make money. My focus is more how not to lose money.

Then it dawned on me: in these wild financial times, not losingis the new gain! Here are three great examples. Not every one will help every family, but consider your financial situation carefully, get professional advice if necessary, and see if any of these strategies will work for you.

Pay Off Credit Card Debt

If you're one of those paradoxical people who has liquid investments but also credit card debt, you are facing a great opportunity.

Huh?

The way I figure it, when the financial markets are rosy, it's way too tempting for folks to try to make money in stocks or mutual funds even though they are simultaneously saddled with credit card debt. Now that the markets are sort of scary for average investors, perhaps I can press my point about the benefits of paying off credit card debt instead.

I get into this argument with people all the time. I know lots of smart people who have savings and credit card debt. I know, I know, you feel it's important to save for emergencies. Trust me, credit card debt is an emergency. Think of it this way -- if your savings account (or money market or whatever) yields 3 percent interest and your credit card charges 19 percent interest, you can instantly "make" a 16 percent "profit" by using your savings to pay off your credit card debt. That would be an impressive gain in any market! Then, instead of pulling out your credit card to make impulse buys, you could fall back on it in emergencies -- a much sounder use.