If you're faced with a good deal of debt from a number of creditors, debt consolidation can ease the stress of the situation by combining your debt into one easy-to-manage loan.
By simplifying the process of repaying money you owe, you can begin budgeting and spending properly, and pay off your debt sooner than you thought possible.
The real question is: will it save me money? The answer depends on the person, but it can save you money each month in many different ways.
Debt consolidation doesn't reduce the amount you owe immediately.
With consolidation, however, the savings in your monthly payment build up over time.
If you look at all the ways that companies penalize you for your debt and missed payments, you quickly realize all the ways you could be saving money by consolidating your loans.
First, you guarantee that the creditors can't raise your rates anymore.
If you've been the victim of rates that jump up seemingly unpredictably, having someone negotiate a lower, fixed rate for you can lead to paying off the debt (which will make the lender happy) and save you money every month percentage points at a time (which will make you happy).
Also, you avoid the hassles of fees and charges that companies can charge for late or missed payments.
These add up quickly on accounts in bad standing, and as long as you maintain your one streamlined payment, you will avoid these penalties altogether.
Finally, you can manage your budget much easier, which could lead to a quicker payoff.
If you know exactly the amount to budget for every month, you can start to manage your spending that keeps you from using your credit too often.
Once you have an idea of the amount you can afford to pay off each month, you may even be able to increase the payment.
And, as you've found out, interest can add up very quickly, so every month you aren't accruing interest on your debt is money you're saving in the long run.
By simplifying the process of repaying money you owe, you can begin budgeting and spending properly, and pay off your debt sooner than you thought possible.
The real question is: will it save me money? The answer depends on the person, but it can save you money each month in many different ways.
Debt consolidation doesn't reduce the amount you owe immediately.
With consolidation, however, the savings in your monthly payment build up over time.
If you look at all the ways that companies penalize you for your debt and missed payments, you quickly realize all the ways you could be saving money by consolidating your loans.
First, you guarantee that the creditors can't raise your rates anymore.
If you've been the victim of rates that jump up seemingly unpredictably, having someone negotiate a lower, fixed rate for you can lead to paying off the debt (which will make the lender happy) and save you money every month percentage points at a time (which will make you happy).
Also, you avoid the hassles of fees and charges that companies can charge for late or missed payments.
These add up quickly on accounts in bad standing, and as long as you maintain your one streamlined payment, you will avoid these penalties altogether.
Finally, you can manage your budget much easier, which could lead to a quicker payoff.
If you know exactly the amount to budget for every month, you can start to manage your spending that keeps you from using your credit too often.
Once you have an idea of the amount you can afford to pay off each month, you may even be able to increase the payment.
And, as you've found out, interest can add up very quickly, so every month you aren't accruing interest on your debt is money you're saving in the long run.