商務禮節美語第198期:Getting Out of Debt 還清債務(下)

Jane向上司Vincent和財務專家Anna請教，如何才能擺脫信用卡債務。Anna建議說：

A: You have to freeze everything and reevaluate your position. Figure out exactly - to the dollar - how much you owe and who you owe it to.

J: How can I get the credit card companies to stop calling me a hundred times a day?

V: (Chuckles) They can be quite persistent, can't they?

A: They need to be convinced that you're serious about getting your finances in order. You will probably need to go down and speak with a bank representative.

V: Your bank should be willing to reduce your debt if you can work out a repayment schedule.

Anna建議Jane "freeze everything and reevaluate your position", 凍結一切財務活動，對現狀重新評估，看自己到底欠誰錢、欠多少錢。

要想讓信用卡公司別沒完沒了地打電話催債，stop calling me a hundred times a day, 就要讓他們相信，你真心想把債務付清，get the finances in order。 Anna還建議Jane去找銀行，work out a repayment schedule，就如何分期分批還清債務達成協議。

J: I think I made a bad decision with my car as well. I chose the five-year payment plan, but with the interest, it's actually much more expensive than the three-year plan.

A: It's very important that you do the math before you sign any papers. Can I be blunt with you?

J: Yes. I can take it.

A: You can't be financially healthy if you're lazy. Many people make really bad decisions just because they're too lazy to really figure it out.

V: I'm sure guilty of that.

J: Yes. I agree. I'm going to start paying better attention.

沒錯，在任何貸款協議上簽字之前一定要do the math，把帳算清楚。Anna說，很多人在財務上犯錯誤都是因爲懶得去算這筆帳。Vincent承認，他就是這樣的人，I am sure guilty of that. 言歸正傳，Anna要還清債務，具體有哪些步驟呢？

V: So let's see if I can summarize the plan. One: Stop spending. Two: Talk to the banks and work out a deal... and three: Pay closer attention to the fine print.

A: That's pretty much it. Becoming a financially healthy person is possible, but it takes exercise.

J: So basically my brain needs to go to the gym.

A & V: (mild chuckle)

J: Thank you both very much. I appreciate your good counsel.

第一：不能再隨便花錢。第二：跟銀行談，work out a deal設法達成還錢的協議。第三：以後務必注意財務協議的細則。Anna打比方說，要做一個財務上的健康人是可能的，但需要練習。 Jane也開玩笑，說要讓自己的大腦去健身房去鍛鍊。