Most people have some kind of debt. It might be a mortgage, an auto loan, a student loan, or even a credit card balance. Having debt isn’t a bad thing as long as you are taking steps to pay it off. It’s having too much debt that can cause an unhealthy financial life. If you think you might have too much debt take some time to add up your debt and decide what that number means for you.
One of the easist ways to calculate your debt load is by figuring out your debt-to-income ratio.
This number compares your monthly debt payments toy our monthly income. You can calculate your debt-to-income ratio including good and bad debt, or you can leave out good debt (student loans, mortgage payments). If you want to gauge your debt overload, it’s typically better to calculate the ratio considering only bad debt. On the other hand, if you want a total picture of your debt, include both good and bad debt.
As an example, let’s say you want to gauge your debt overload (bad debt only). Simply add up the amount you spend each month on bad debt, e.g. credit cards and loans, and divide it by your total monthly income. Multiply that number by 100 to come up with a percentage. The result is your debt-to-income ratio.
For example, assume you make $3,000 a month and you spend $300 on credit card payments and $450 on an auto loan. Your ratio calculation would be $750 / $3,000 = 0.25. Multiply that by 100 for a debt-income-ratio of 25%. In this example, you spend a quarter of your income on bad debt.
When it comes to debt, whether good or bad, the lower the debt you have, the better. A bad debt ratio beyond 10% is too high and often is a sign that you are overloaded with debt. In this scenario, you would have too much bad debt.
There will be times when you want to evaluate your total debt picture, including both good debt and bad debt. The calculation is the same as in the previous example; the only difference is that you include all your debt rather than just bad debt.
To calculate your total debt-to-income ratio, add up your total monthly debt expenses. This includes payments for credit cards, student loans, mortgage or rent, child support or alimony, and other loans or credit cards.
Next total your monthly income, including take-home pay, alimony or child support, bonuses, or dividends.
Divide your total debt payments by your total income (don’t forget to multiply by 100) for your debt-to-income ratio.
Your total debt-to-income ratio, considering both good and bad debt, is best at 36% or lower. A ratio lower than 30% is excellent, while a ratio over 40% is a red flag for a potential financial disaster.
If you determine that you have too much debt, you can put together a plan to lower your debt. Not only will that make your finances easier to manage, it will improve your credit too.
Do You Have Too Much Debt
One of the easist ways to calculate your debt load is by figuring out your debt-to-income ratio.
This number compares your monthly debt payments toy our monthly income. You can calculate your debt-to-income ratio including good and bad debt, or you can leave out good debt (student loans, mortgage payments). If you want to gauge your debt overload, it’s typically better to calculate the ratio considering only bad debt. On the other hand, if you want a total picture of your debt, include both good and bad debt.
Calculating Debt Overload
As an example, let’s say you want to gauge your debt overload (bad debt only). Simply add up the amount you spend each month on bad debt, e.g. credit cards and loans, and divide it by your total monthly income. Multiply that number by 100 to come up with a percentage. The result is your debt-to-income ratio.
For example, assume you make $3,000 a month and you spend $300 on credit card payments and $450 on an auto loan. Your ratio calculation would be $750 / $3,000 = 0.25. Multiply that by 100 for a debt-income-ratio of 25%. In this example, you spend a quarter of your income on bad debt.
When it comes to debt, whether good or bad, the lower the debt you have, the better. A bad debt ratio beyond 10% is too high and often is a sign that you are overloaded with debt. In this scenario, you would have too much bad debt.
Understanding Your Total Debt
There will be times when you want to evaluate your total debt picture, including both good debt and bad debt. The calculation is the same as in the previous example; the only difference is that you include all your debt rather than just bad debt.
To calculate your total debt-to-income ratio, add up your total monthly debt expenses. This includes payments for credit cards, student loans, mortgage or rent, child support or alimony, and other loans or credit cards.
Next total your monthly income, including take-home pay, alimony or child support, bonuses, or dividends.
Divide your total debt payments by your total income (don’t forget to multiply by 100) for your debt-to-income ratio.
Your total debt-to-income ratio, considering both good and bad debt, is best at 36% or lower. A ratio lower than 30% is excellent, while a ratio over 40% is a red flag for a potential financial disaster.
The Result
If you determine that you have too much debt, you can put together a plan to lower your debt. Not only will that make your finances easier to manage, it will improve your credit too.