HOUSEHOLD DEBT MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE COMMUNITY FUND MANAGEMENT CENTER, BAN NONG BUAB HOM, TAMBON NONG BO, AMPHOE SONG PHI NONG, CHANGWAT SUPHAN BURI

Abstract

This research article aimed to examine household debt management by the Ban Nong Buab Hom Community Fund Management Center, with the objective of enabling community members to become debt-free or repay their debts without adversely affecting their daily lives, in accordance with the guidelines of the Community Development Department. A qualitative research methodology was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 14 key informants selected through purposive sampling, consisting of five center committee members, three community development officers, and representatives of households that had successfully become debt-free and those that had not yet become debt-free, with three participants in each group. The data were analyzed using content analysis of interview transcripts, focus group discussions, and relevant documents.
The findings revealed that the center managed household debt by consolidating debts from multiple sources into a single contract per household under the “One Household, One Contract” approach. This reduced duplication in debt repayment and enabled repayment plans to be tailored to the capacity of each household. The committee played key roles in management, counseling, repayment monitoring, and promoting financial discipline through savings, household accounting, and appropriate relief measures. Government officers supported the center by providing knowledge, assisting with database management, and conducting monitoring and evaluation. Households that successfully became debt-free were able to apply financial knowledge in practice, plan principal repayments, control expenses, and increase income through supplementary occupations. In contrast, households that had not yet become debt-free continued to face constraints arising from family burdens, unstable income, and external economic factors. The center also faced limitations in data management and the use of technology. The findings indicate that effective household debt management should be implemented alongside the promotion of financial discipline, enhancement of repayment capacity, and continuous monitoring and support.