Is debt consolidation right for you?

There are several ways to consolidate debt, including opening a credit card with a balance transfer, getting a consolidation loan, and using home equity in your home. Despite the significant differences between these methods, the general concept is the same. You can combine several financial obligations into one, which will save you money and time.

Debt consolidation can be a powerful strategy, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision.

When should you consolidate your debt?

There are several circumstances when you should consider debt consolidation:

• Are you having problems processing a large number of invoices?. Debt consolidation can be a good idea when dealing with multiple creditors becomes too difficult. When bills arrive at different times and have different due dates, it’s easy to get frustrated and miss payments. Your stress level can be greatly reduced with just one lender paying each month.
• You overpay for financing. Some loan products have very high interest rates, making them too expensive to repay within a reasonable amount of time. If you can combine them to get a lower average rate, the merger will reduce your overall funding costs. The less interest you pay, the faster you can pay off your debt.
• This will improve your credit.. If you’re late on payments or your credit card balance is too close to your limit, debt consolidation can boost your credit. You may be able to get back on track by meeting all future maturities and lowering your credit utilization rate. As your credit score improves, you’ll have even more options for borrowing, from low-cost loans to premium credit cards.

Is debt consolidation right for you?

While debt consolidation may be immediately attractive, it should also make sense for your situation. Consider the pros and cons:

Benefits of debt consolidation

• One account is easier to work with than multiple.
• You will save money with a lower overall interest rate.
• You can get out of debt faster.
• You can improve your credit score.

Cons of debt consolidation

• You do not qualify for consolidation.
• This can put you in a worse position if you miss any payments.
• Payouts may be higher than what you currently have.
• You can exchange unsecured debt for secured debt.

Consolidation is a serious financial step. Payments must be within reach, not just in the short term. Review your budget and make any necessary adjustments. If you don’t, you will fall behind and your credit will be negatively affected.

You also don’t want to put yourself in a more dangerous position than you are now. Depending on the option you choose, you can trade unsecured debt for valuable property-backed debt.

In addition, you will need to meet the qualifications of the lender. There may be limits on credit score, income and net worth. If you don’t meet them, this won’t be an option for you.

Debt Consolidation Options

There are several options for debt consolidation. Here are the most common and when each can be the right choice.

Credit cards with balance transfer

Balance transfers allow you to move an existing credit card debt to a new card. Most of them offer zero interest introductory periods, which are usually 12 months, but can be longer. During this time, no financing fees will be added to the transferred debt, although the balance transfer fee is typically between 2 and 5 percent. A balance transfer credit card can be great for debt consolidation when your credit score is good enough to qualify, you have the funds to pay off the debt before the regular rate kicks in (which is usually a little lower than the annual interest rate average credit card in the country). per annum), and the new card will take on the bulk of your obligations.

Consolidation loans

A consolidation loan is a type of personal loan where the lender takes on the debt you currently have. You will repay the loan in even monthly installments, and the terms are often from one to five years. However, interest rates usually range from low to high, so make sure you don’t switch from a lower rate to a higher one just for convenience.

Refinancing Cash Out Equity

If you own a home, you can apply for cash refinancing and use the money to pay off your other debts. This will leave you with a higher main balance. This method can offer valuable relief because mortgage rates are low, but it has some drawbacks. This can cost 2 percent or more of your outstanding mortgage, and you’ll need enough equity in your home to qualify. Lenders often limit the amount you can borrow to 80 percent of your existing capital. This, too, comes with serious risks. If you can’t make payments on your new refinanced loan, it puts your home at risk of foreclosure.

Real estate loans and lines of credit

Another option if you are a homeowner is to take out a home equity loan or line of credit. Both allow you to convert some of the capital you’ve created into cash that you can use to pay off other debts with higher interest rates. As long as you have good credit, a loan or line can have a significantly lower interest rate. However, the disadvantages are the same as with cash refinancing. You must have sufficient capital, and you can lose your home if you are too late in payments.

bottom line

Debt consolidation can work in your favor, but you need to be sure you are making a wise decision. Think carefully and plan accordingly. When you use the right option, you will feel in control of your money and be able to see the light at the end of the debt tunnel.

Dan Rafter has covered personal finance for over 15 years in publications ranging from The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune to Wise Bread, HSH.com and MoneyRates.com. His work has also been published online by Motley Fool, Fox Business, Huffington Post, Christian Science Monitor and Time.