Understanding the nuanced distinction between good and bad debts is paramount in personal and corporate finance. While debts are conventionally categorized as either productive or unproductive based on their utility and sustainability, it’s crucial to recognize the role of planning in debt management. Regardless of this classification, effective planning can mitigate risks and enhance sustainability.
In this context, we explore key strategies to avoid falling into the trap of bad debts, including meticulous planning, focus on essential expenditures, proactive expense tracking, and preventing unnecessary debts. By implementing these principles, individuals and businesses can navigate the complex terrain of debts with confidence and foresight, ensuring that financial decisions align with long-term goals and values and fostering financial stability and peace of mind.
Difference Between Bad Debts and Good Debts
According to scholars of personal and corporate finance, debts can be classified into good and bad based on their use and purpose.
In other words, debts are neither good nor bad, but depending on what they are going to do with them and what their purpose is, they are determined to be adequate debts or not. The correct term to refer to them is productive and unproductive.
In this sense, good debts can add value to what is being done, and you can pay that with productive activity. In other words, it is the debts that are “self-sustainable.”
Are All Debts Good, Right, and All Bad, Bad?
Based on the above, everything seems clear about what bad debts are and are not. However, although these are the definitions provided by books and scholars of finance, I allow myself to differ from them. Since, for me, the debts are good or bad depending on the planning.
Note that what is alluded to in the outstanding debt, referring to it as good, is that you can sustain it, and the bad one has nowhere to sustain itself. So, the issue focuses on the sustainability of the debt. Therefore, to the extent that the debt is sustainable, it is good, and it should not be based on whether it is productive.
Keys to Avoid Bad Debts
In that sense, I want to share some keys that you can implement in your personal or business financial management to avoid taking on bad debts. But they are under what you bring value, not necessarily money, but also the peace and tranquility you need.
Plan Your Debt
The first key you must consider to avoid bad debts is the planning of your mortgage. It is not prudent or logical to make a quick mental calculation of whether you can pay. But you must analyze, coldly and consciously, if you can assume this responsibility, which usually has a minimum of 6 to 12 months.
For this, you must see how your cash flow is. You must understand how much you earn and how much you spend to determine whether that difference covers the monthly fee you will pay. You must, within that same analysis, elaborate on your financial behavior during the month.
Focus on What Matters
Then, plan your debt and see the effect it would have on your cash flow. You must focus on what matters, which means that you should not get into debt.
Identify if You Can Avoid Debt
The final key I want to offer you is the one that can be the most important. It prevents you from taking bad debts and is to see if you can avoid getting into debt.
Create a Report for Tracking Your Expenses
Tracking your expenses gives you many benefits as it prevents excessive debt problems. Also, you can save sound money for the future. You must know how much you spend and save and your unnecessary expenditures. For this, making a proper sheet or report highlighting all your monthly expenses is better. You will get an accurate result when you update it regularly. Pay all your bills on your cards and accounts if you don’t want to be a debtor.
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