Debt consolidation loans - Advantages and disadvantages

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Debt consolidation loans are the norm these days for people seeking shelter from debt. If you are at a stage where you can't even afford the minimum payments on your credit cards, consider debt consolidation. With a debt consolidation loan from your bank, you will get a low interest loan that can be used to pay off all you other loans and credit card debt. Why is the interest low on debt consolidation loans? Simply because debt consolidation loan is a secured loan. You have been granted that loan against a security, in most cases, your home. A debt consolidation loan is not a loan you can afford to play around with. Remember, your lender can repossess your home if you fail to make payments. Debt consolidation loan is a powerful option to reduce debt but remember, your skin may be in the game.



Debt consolidation - 5 reasons to consolidate loans
Today, the number of people filing for bankruptcy has skyrocketed by 44% in just the past 10 years with numbers continuing to climb. Consumer credit has reached an all-time high, leaving more and more people in debt. While we need consumer spending to maintain and grow the economy, when money and credit are misused, disaster strikes. Unfortunately, people are notorious for abusing money... Read debt consolidation article



Debt consolidation loans - Advantages and disadvantages
If you have multiple high interest credit cards and other financial obligations, debt consolidation or some other debt management strategy may be in order. As you are by now aware, with a debt picture that includes so many high interest obligations, you are soon paying minimum or close to minimum payments every month. This is just to make your interest payment. Little or none of your monthly payment contributes to principal reduction. Your loan or card principal shrinks very slowly. It often takes years to pay off such debts, if they are ever paid off. Many people just keep their cards and other revolving accounts maxed out. If they ever pay them down, they charge them right back up again in short order.

You have several options, one of which is debt consolidation. Debt consolidation entails using a consolidation loan to pay off all your credit card and other high interest loans such as car loans and store charge cards. The consolidation loan has a lower, usually much lower, than the other loans.

You can potentially get several advantages from this debt reduction strategy. This assumes you stop using the credit cards. If you don't stop, eventually you'll have the consolidation loan and new credit card debt to pay off. You now have less or no equity in your home to use as collateral, so you usually cannot get another consolidation loan. Even if you could, you must change your spending or you could end up losing everything. Some of the advantages of using a debt consolidation loan:

You'll pay off your debts and loans more quickly. This is because of the (usually) much lower interest rate on the consolidation loan. You must stop using your credit cards for the faster payoff to work.

You'll have a lower monthly payment. In some cases it could be less than half the original amount you were paying every month on your credit cards. It's because of the lower interest rate your monthly payment will be so much less. Most of your monthly credit card payment is for interest, not principal.

You'll usually pay far less total interest. This depends upon on the combined rate of your credit card debt, the rate of the consolidation loan, and the term of the consolidation loan. If you have a large consolidation loan with a very long term, you could still wind up paying substantial interest over the term of the loan, even if your monthly payment is fairly low. That is because you are paying on the loan for such a long period of time. Make sure your payments are low because the interest rate is lower than your credit card interest rate, not because your loan term is long.

It is much easier to make one monthly payment than many. The convenience alone is a substantial benefit. However, there is another benefit too. The more payments you have to make, the greater odds you will misplace a bill or not be able to pay one. Many people wind up being late or missing a payment because they have so many credit card bills they lose or forget one of them. The late payment can trigger a clause in your credit card agreement that allows the lender to raise your interest rate. This creates another problem when your interest rate is raised, causing your monthly payment to rise yet again. In addition, the late payment can affect your credit score. Other lenders can use the change in your credit score to raise your interest rate on some of your other credit cards. You could wind up paying substantially greater interest rates on many of your cards.

These are some of the reasons a consolidation loan can be beneficial. They are not the right solution for everyone however. There are many different lenders with many different consolidation loans. You need to evaluate your situation thoroughly and look at all the many alternatives. You can then determine if one of the different consolidation loan products is the correct solution for you.

Steve writes about a multitude of topics from home theater and automation to credit, business and finance. See his website, The Debt and Loan Consolidation Guide for more information.

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Prevent bankruptcy by reducing and consolidating debt

You can prevent bankruptcy by consolidating your debt with the help of a loan or debt consolidation agency to reduce your monthly payments and quickly pay off your liability. But before signing final paperwork, you should develop a financial plan and research your options.

Goal Of Consolidation

The goal of consolidation is to lower your monthly payments so you can pay off your debt and avoid bankruptcy. However, consolidation only works if you make it part of a larger financial plan. You have to be committed to reducing your liability and saving for financial emergencies.

Once you have consolidated your loans, it is a good idea to build a financial cushion of six months worth of cash reserves. This ensures that you can pay cash for the inevitable financial emergency and not increase your credit load.

Your next goal should be to make extra payments. The sooner you can pay off your principal the less you will pay in interest payments.

Types Of Debt Consolidation Loans And Programs

The two types of debt consolidation loans are mortgage loans and personal loans. Mortgage loans are ideal since their interest is tax deductible. However, you need to be sure that you have enough equity to borrow against and that you can recoup the cost of up front fees.

The other option is to use a personal loan. Personal loans are based on your credit score and income. Personal loans typically have lower interest rates than credit cards, but are usually higher than mortgages rates.

Instead of a loan, you can also use a debt consolidation service. These companies will negotiate lower interest rates with your creditors. There are no fees involved since these companies are usually non profit. They also provide credit counseling, offering financial advice and guidance.

Debt Consolidation Providers

Depending on what type of loan or program you choose, debt consolidation providers are relatively easy to find. If you are planning to use your home equity, then you will want to search for a mortgage lender. Many lenders offer free quotes online for easy comparison.

Personal loan lenders also can be found online. As with any financing company, you need to research rates and terms to find the best deal. Requesting a quote from a lender does not lock you into a loan. Legitimate lenders will be more than willing to provide this information to help you make a wise financial choice.

You can also get connected with debt consolidation services online. Some directory sites will help you find an agency in your area or you can work with a national agency.

To view our recommended debt consolidation companies online, visit this page: Recommended Debt Reduction Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.


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Debt consolidation loans - Advantages and disadvantages
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