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If you were rich, you could just sell one of your mansions to raise money quickly to pay off existing debt. But like most of us, you don't have a spare mansion lying around to sell. How can you raise cash quickly and safely, without being taken for a ride in a big expensive car and getting the living daylight beaten out of you?

Here are the five mistakes to avoid when raising cash: 1. Don't take your valuables to a pawnshop. They won't give you the amount you paid for something near and dear to your heart. It's kind of like a garage sale where people say, "I'll give you a dollar for that watch." The pawnbroker can sell your treasured items for more money. Ask your Church for help. They can ask parishioners to donate money for your cause. 2. It's very tempting to take low interest credit card offers you receive in the mail. Tear them up and throw them out! When you have numerous credit cards you will have numerous monthly payments to make. Put all of your credit cards onto one credit card offering the lowest interest rate. This way you can keep track of one bill easier than many, and you won't feel so overwhelmed. Credit counseling services are available on the Internet. 3. With predatory mortgage lending on the rise and with millions of people foreclosing on the homes they worked so hard for, you don't want to become another statistic. Believe it or not, there is help. HUD,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers free counseling programs. You can call them at 1-800-549-4287. Here's some helpful advice to avoid being ripped off by predatory mortgage lenders: Don't borrow more money than you can afford to pay back. If the deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Interview several real estate agents before deciding on just one. Have a licensed home inspector do an inspection of the house before you purchase it. 4. Get rich quick scams are everywhere. They are advertised on the Internet and on TV. Unless you win the lottery or have rich relatives, you will be tempted by these get rich quick schemes. Be protected from rip-off artists. Read the fine print, ask a lot of questions and don't sign anything without a lawyers consent. Get in touch with the Better Business Bureau to find out if a company is reputable at www.bbb.org. 5. Unsecured loans are when the lending company doesn't use your property as collateral. This type of loan seems great when you need money fast, but be wary. The interest rates are usually much higher on unsecured loans than on secured loans. The interest rate will skyrocket when payments are late and various fees will be added if payments are missed. To avoid this problem, take out a secured loan that has a lower interest rate, with a reputable financial institution. The sad fact is that almost anyone can lend you money, and rip you off in the end. You can pay a lower interest rate secured loan off faster, and get out of debt sooner. Credit counseling agencies are available to help and can be found online. Numerous sources are available for assistance, so you don't get into more debt problems. You don't have to go it alone. Financial resources for college students; www.uscollegesearch.org/bankin g. For victims of cancer's financial burden; www.ascocancerfoundation.org.

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