Notes On Debt Management Strategies Essay

Avoiding debt is a popular concept among younger population, and it is a very reasonable personal decision. However, most of us will need a credit at some point in life – to get a mortgage, for instance.

Whenever the topic of the American Economy is mentioned the first thing that pops in our heads is,”debt”. The debt of the U.S. has been a controversial topic for years now, especially in our politics. The U.S. debt as if now is 18 trillion dollars, but we didn’t always have this debt.

The debt in the United States has been growing for decades and has accumulated all the way up to 19.9 trillion dollars. This amounts to 61,036 for each person living in the U.S, 157,735 for each household, 104 % of the U.S gross domestic product, and 546% of annual federal revenues. Tackling debt and deficits is a national security issue that affects our ability to compete in the international system. The proportion of U.S. government debt held by foreign entities has significantly increased.

This problem can be explained more on the basis of the “Iceberg Theory”, according to which we only see a part of something on the surface but the reality remains that much more exists beneath the surface which we are oblivious of. This menace of loan debt has a similar nature in terms of our understanding and awareness of its enormity; that its diagnosis was much delayed than its conception.

Principal and interest obligations are known accounts which can be planned or predicted. Interest on the debt can be deducted on the company’s tax return, which lowers the actual cost of the loan of the company. Raising debt is less complicated because the company is not required to comply with state and federal laws and regulations. There are also some disadvantages of Lowe’s using debt. The debt must be at some point repaid. Interest is a fixed cost which raises the company’s break-even point. High interest cost during difficult financial period can increase the risk of insolvency. It might difficult for Lowe’s to grow because of high cost of servicing the debt. Debt instrument often contain restriction on the company’s activities, preventing management from pursuing alternative financing options. The larger a company’s debt-equity ratio, the more risky the company is considered by

This arrangement is known as a trouble debt restructuring. According to FASB ASC 470-60-20, “a restructuring of a debt constitutes a troubled debt restructuring if the creditor for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor's financial difficulties grants a concession to the debtor that it would not otherwise consider.” According to, FASB ASC 470-60-15-9, a troubled debt restructuring may include, but is not necessarily limited to, one or a combination of the following:

In spite of the fact that a few individuals are hesitant to touch their reserve funds, there is some rationale to trading in for spendable dough bank accounts with low rates of return so as to pay off obligation gathering high rates of interest. By and large, the rate of interest being accumulated on loans far out paces the rate at which the bank account develops notwithstanding when considering new deposits being added to the investment account. Borrowers may have the capacity to determine their troubles with the loan specialist and pay off obligation before installment histories begin to have a genuine negative impact on their credit

Mr. Paul Mackay, a sole proprietor, has approached the Commercial Bank of Ontario in order to obtain an additional $194,000 bank loan and a $26,000 line of credit. Paul owns and operates a general merchandising retailer in Riverdale, Ontario named Lawsons’. The bank loan is needed for Mr. Mackay to reduce his trade debt that has a sheer 13.5 per cent interest penalty. The line of credit is needed for sales seasonal downfalls so that Mr. Mackay could properly manage those tough months. Jackie Patrick, a first time loans officer, has been appointed to Mr. Mackay’s request. Although anxious to finish her first loan, Ms. Patrick knows that this particular case is a difficult one.

The emotional stress caused by overwhelming debt can have a devastating impact on the wellbeing and health of an individual. The body reacts to stress with a “fight-or-flight” response, releasing adrenaline and cortisol, major hormones associated with stress. In situations of persistent stress, the body adapts to adverse conditions by establishing a new state of equilibrium, and the elevated levels of these chemicals can cause significant physical harm to vital bodily systems such as blood pressure, heart rate, memory, mood, and immune functioning

How many sources of debt do you current have, and what are the balances owed on each?

     The documentary Life and Debt portrays a true example of the impact economic globalization can have on a developing country. When most Americans think about Jamaica, we think about the beautiful beaches, warm weather, and friendly people that make it a fabulous vacation spot. This movie shows the place in a different light, by showing a pressuring problem of debt. The everyday survival of many Jamaicans is based on the economic decisions of the United States and other powerful foreign countries.

Jamaica is not just white sand beaches and mimosas. Behind the thin veil of paradise lurk corruption, violence, and inequalities. Life & Debt illustrates the daily realties of Jamaica following IMF structural adjustment programs. IMF reforms have perpetuated a cycle of debt that Jamaicans have little hope to escape. Although IMF conditionality claims to develop nations so that they can grow and re-pay their lenders, Jamaica is still indebted $4.5 billion dollars and has little development to show for it. Measures of austerity coupled with devaluation, high interest rates, and drops in local wages results in greater unemployment, increased violence, and widening inequality. The bulk of the film focuses on how global integration has undercut

The advantage of debt financing is that interests paid on such debt are tax deductible. If a company has the intention of maintaining a permanent debt, the present value of the tax shield can be obtained by discounting them by the expected rate of return demanded by the investors who hold the debt (this is a perpetuity, where in reality would be the maximum possible present value for the tax shield). This tax shield value reduces the tax bill and increases the cash payment to investors, increasing the value of their investments.

Another measure of a company’s ability to pay back loans, this time over a long period, measures solvency. Coca-Cola’s debt to total assets ratio is 35% in 2004 and 33% in 2005 compared to PepsiCo’s less attractive ratio of 52% in 2004 to 55% in 2005. Coca-Cola’s debts represent a healthy percentage of assets and in this case the lower the number the better. Coca-Cola’s debt to total assets ratio decreased by 2% from 2004 to 2005 while PepsiCo’s ratio increased by 3%. Were a potential lender or investor to look at these numbers alone they would prefer the performance of Coca-Cola over PepsiCo but there are still many calculations to be made and factors to consider.

6. Yes, we think that it is better for the society if companies use debt. This allows people who have extra funds and need to invest it to earn interest revenue on their funds. Debt is generally less risky than equity investing because as we know debt has certain maturity date and