3. Estimate Cost of Selling

• Advertising costs, if you plan to sell home yourself.

• Real estate commissions.

• Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees.

• Excise tax for sale.

• Property taxes and home owner association fees, if applicable

4. Make Necessary Repairs

You don’t want to put off a buyer because of minor repairs which you haven’t attended to so far. If you’ve decided to sell your house, it’s time to finish with any pending repairs you may have felt minor and unnecessary to fix up till this point of time.

5. Get House Ready to Show

Apart from repair work, you’ll also want to see that your house is sparkling clean and everything is organized and in it’s place when a buyer comes to see your place. A clutter-free environment is essential if you want house to appeal to buyer.

Only if there is no way to avoid it should you reduce amount of your monthly savings commitment.

Start with 2-4% of your monthly income if you have to. A little is better than nothing, and then you can build it up from there to at least 10% of income as funds become available.

Some Important Points: Applying extra funds to your debt first will not help you gain financial security. Emergency savings and variable expense savings goals should be met before debt is reduced in order to remain debt free. After all, these sources will be foundation you will fall back on in order to remain debt free. If you can build a reserve for emergencies you won’t have to use those nasty credit cards. This is an important defense that builds financial security. If you use a good debt reduction plan, debt will reduce, and in a reasonable amount of time. As long as you stop creating debt. Just be patient.

Paying more on your debt, instead of saving, is not going to help you pay for that major car repair when car breaks down. It will most likely do opposite of your intended plan and send you running for credit card to bail out.

Of course once you have reached your goals for savings and your variable expense account, then you should start applying extra funds to your debt reduction plan. Using money saving tips reduces expenses in your budget in an effort to help you build that financial security. Through saving money on everyday expenses and living a frugal lifestyle, you free up monies to apply to your savings and variable expense account. These are defenses that build a strong foundation for your financial independence.

These "defenses" prepare for inevitable expenses that will arise. Many of us had just forgotten to plan correctly for these types of expenses. That's how we got in "big red mess" to begin with. Properly preparing for necessary variable expenses is your defense against feeling need to use credit cards.

Once you have balanced your expenses with your income, you have created a Budget for Debt Free Living. Congratulations! You are on your way to financial freedom and security. Enjoy! This concept is simply “living within your means.” Something that many of us in today’s “plastic society” have forgotten to do.

Live Debt Free to Be Free. You Deserve It!