ORLANDO, Fla — With many Americans struggling with debt, Action 9 is partnering with experts to help our viewers deal with money struggles. Debt counselors with the non-profit group Money Management International (MMI) joined Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal live in studio to help consumers during on a live chat session.
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Average unsecured debt for MMI clients this year is now more than $40,000. During the live session Thursday, the counselors from Money Management International were able to answer questions and help consumers make plans to get out of debt.
Before the session, Gloria Shay of Lake County told Action 9, “In 2018, we had a tragedy. My daughter died, and it just sent me off the rails.”
Shay was already having medical issues, and applying for disability when that happened. Living off credit cards on everything from groceries to Christmas gifts while raising two grandkids, consumer debt started piling up.
“I was paying usually double the minimum up until it got to be where I could only pay the minimum. And it was just like it was taking everything I had,” Shay said.
While watching television, she saw an Action 9 story profiling a man who turned to Money Management International for help getting out of debt.
“There’s a huge financial strain on the population right now. Inflation is really impacting folks,” said Emanuel Rivero, Vice President of Operation for Money Management International.
MMI is a non-profit financial counseling agency, that helps consumers create budgets and, in many cases, get a plan to pay off the debt. It says right now people are struggling with debt similar to what they were before the great recession. As we approach the holidays, 30-to-40% percent of those they’re helping now are still paying off last Christmas with debt surpassing a billion dollars and average credit card debt of $40,200.
Even though Gloria Shay never paid late her debt topped $26,000. But, Money Management International worked with her creditors to consolidate debt at lower interest rates and she’s on a path to pay it all off.
Shay said, “And I’ll have it paid off in four years. What would have took me 51 years paying at the minimum.”
She’s more than a year into it so, she should be done sooner.
If you were not able to get help during the live chat with Action 9 and Money Management International, here’s a link to MMI’s website where you can help: Money Management International
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