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Do it yourself debt negotiation is difficult but only because you do not know how to do it. There are several success stories of people who have reduced their debts on their own and you could be one of them if you just give it a try. However, the key to succeeding is to know what is at stake. What you know of negotiating debts will get you that financial freedom that you have been dreaming about.

All debt situations are unique so there is no one formula to negotiate. Not to mention the fact that you will be dealing with creditors from different types of debts. There are, however, general tips that you can keep in mind to provide the debt relief success that you are aiming for.

On top of the list is to always mention bankruptcy. When debt negotiation or debt settlement is considered, it also means you are in dire financial situations. If you fail at this, your only option is bankruptcy. Creditors are scared of bankruptcy because this means there is a chance that they get nothing at all. They will be more likely to accept a settlement as it is a promise that they will receive even a small percentage of the debt owed. That is better than getting nothing after a bankruptcy judge rules it to happen. They will be powerless to come after the debtor once the court passes judgement. This is especially true for unsecured creditors.

The next tip is to aim for 50% or more in terms of debt reduction. Begin with a very low offer – like 20% or 25%. The creditor will offer a higher percentage for sure. Just be firm and do not agree to an amount that you cannot afford in the first place. Keep negotiating and explain that you cannot afford payments if they are higher than what you can pay for.

It is also important that you have cash on hand to offer your creditors. All debt settlement companies will ask you to stop paying your creditors and put that amount in a safe account instead. As you go through the negotiation process, you will grow that amount so you have something to offer once the negotiations are in full swing.

Through all of this, keep your eye on the bigger picture. Not all debts can be negotiated and this is usually limited to unsecured debts. Secured debts may be more difficult to reduce but here are tips that you can use if you have to negotiate with various creditors.

Credit Card Companies. These are practically the easiest and most negotiated debt among the others. They are more inclined to accept a settlement because they are the first to be discharged when the debtor files for bankruptcy.

Other Unsecured Loans and Personal Loans. This can be approached in the same way as credit card debt.

Debts with Local Merchants. If you have debts with any merchant, you can approach your debts just like your credit cards. These are among the first debts to be discharged during bankruptcy.

Mortgage Lenders. While debt reduction is usually not possible, you can negotiate for a loan modification. This will get you lower monthly payments but that is because you will be extending your term. If you have a loan with a small or local bank, your chances of getting an approval is more likely. A home refinancing can also be an option instead of opting for a foreclosure.

Other Secured Loans. Similar with mortgage lenders, it is usually easier to negotiate if you have a loan with a small bank. Bigger banks make it next to impossible to get a loan modification. But with a smaller bank, you can follow the usual techniques as those done with a credit card company.

Student Loans. This is one of the loans that cannot be discharged by bankruptcy so a debt reduction negotiation may not be possible. There are government programs that can help in reducing their monthly payments and sometimes, cancel the entire loan. However, you need to be qualified to avail of that privilege.

When you are in doubt, it is always best to get the aid of a debt professional. You may also consult a bankruptcy lawyer to give you advice on the right path that you should take towards getting rid of your debts.

For most people, the thought of delivering a formal presentation; be it in a work or study situation, will strike dread, fear and general foreboding. All too often the perception is that a formal presentation will be boring. This doesn’t need to be the case, especially if the presentation you are delivering forms part of an interview assessment or assignment. It is important to remember that a presentation is given to a audience (that is evident from the mere meaning of the task), and so audience engagement is paramount to the success of the presentation delivery.

So how do you successfully engage an audience? Well, it is a case of balancing content with the need to captivate! As Constance Lamb from Zenon Consulting has suggested; “You may have the most scintillating content but the presentation can fall flat if the audience is forgotten”. To manage this balance, consider three key things when preparing your content:

Number one – What do you want your audience to remember?
Number two – How can you motivate, persuade and influence them to take action?
Number three – How will they remember your message?

When planning your presentation try to remember that the first 30 seconds are crucial to hooking your audience’s attention. If you don’t get the opening right your might end up losing them and it can take a lot of effort to get them back again! So in the preparation for your presentation, really focus on your opening comments and slides; spend time crafting bold opening statements and aim to create a punchy style of writing and speech whilst keeping your language simple.

Some handy tips to help you deliver a punchy opening presentation statement include;

- Go straight to the heart of the presentation or subject issue
- Open with your thoughts; tell the audience what you believe
- Ask them a question to get them engaged from the very beginning
- Use opening slides with sentences so punchy, that they only contain three words
- Think about colour, design and pattern in your slides and handouts

Once you have caught your audience’s attention you need to maintain and retain it! Repeat your content regularly, ask them to participate periodically and go back to key points from earlier on in your presentation. This should keep them engaged. It also aids recall- don’t forget that most people will remember five key points from a 40 minute presentation (if you are lucky!).

If you want to avoid making your presentation tedious, never read from the slides. Put the key words up and expand on them during the presentation. The audience can then make their own notes and what you say can be backed up in the pack that you hand out at the end.

As your presentation draws to a close, don’t rush through your conclusion. The beginning and end of a presentation are the most important sections, and the most memorable. If your presentation forms part of an assignment, assignment or job interview, you need to concentrate on getting the close to be just as punchy as the opening. Use unusual metaphors, imagery and visuals to stimulate an exciting and captivating close. Then breathe a sigh of relief and smile!

Meditation is great for having peace and calm throughout the day. But what about when you want to be in the moment (like during meditation) for everyday activities? Many people call it being present.

I used to be a worry wort all the time! I would be thinking about the future, making myself guilty about the past, and rarely thinking about the moments I was getting involved in. There were a few times where I was present, and in the flow of my work. Those times were when I was listening and playing to music. But I wanted to be able to have this feeling of peace all throughout my day. Here are the techniques I used based on my discoveries.

1. Every time you get lost in your thoughts, think to yourself, “The past already happened, and the future is a result of my current actions. Focus on what I am doing RIGHT NOW.” This will help you get into the present mindset

2. You could also set a trigger. Sometimes people put a rock in their pocket to touch when they start getting angry. You can have any trigger – a deep intake of breath, a word/mantra you say, or every time you see a stop sign. Anything that will regularly bring you back into the present moment.

Over time this will become easier. Meditation takes practice, but what takes even more practice is being present. It requires you to not getting worried about stuff, get involved with your thoughts too much, or have meta-thinking (thinking about thinking).