What is Debt Consolidation?

Nov 08, 2019

What does consolidating debt mean and how do debt consolidation loans work?

It can happen seemingly overnight. No matter how hard you tried to manage your spending, you’re suddenly faced with credit card debt you can’t pay. You try to pay your cards down, but that taps into the money you’d usually use for groceries and you find yourself using your card, again, to make those purchases. The stress your credit card bills cause is impacting your entire life, and you’re not sure how to make it stop.
 

What is a Debt Consolidation Loan?

If you’ve researched online, you have likely seen advertisements for debt consolidation loans. These can be incredibly powerful tools in helping you to end the cycle of debt but it’s important to understand how they work before you apply. Essentially, a debt consolidation loan is a personal loan that pays off your existing debts. The proceeds you receive from the debt consolidation loan will be used for this, and then you make a single monthly payment on that loan. 

A Nation in Debt


Low Rates, Single Payment, Fixed Interest

There are three main reasons why a debt consolidation loan can help you regain control of your finances.

  1. Low rates. Debt consolidation loans typically have a lower interest rate than most credit cards. This is important because the lower the interest rate, the less money you are spending on interest charges and the more money you can be saving. More of your monthly payment is actually going towards the balance. When you make minimum payments on your credit cards, you’ll notice that your balance goes down the smallest amount and there’s no certainty as to when your card will be paid off. With a debt consolidation loan, though, you’ll have the ability to know exactly how much of your payment is going towards your balance as well as a defined pay-off date.
  2. Single payment. If you are consolidating several credit cards or other debts, you are eliminating the hassle of having to spread your money across several bills and, let’s face it, remembering to pay them all. With a debt consolidation loan, the funds you receive from the loan pay off all of those other balances, leaving you with a single payment each month.
  3. Fixed interest. Credit cards very often have a variable interest rate, meaning that as the prime rate fluctuates, so will your rate. With a debt consolidation loan, you can lock in your interest rate. This is critical because it means your monthly payment will remain the same (assuming you don’t accrue any late charges) which allows you to easily budget for it.

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Estimate your monthly payment with our Debt Consolidation Loan Calculator

It’s important to note that you are not accumulating more debt by pursuing a debt consolidation loan. Rather, you are erasing your other debts by paying them off with the proceeds from your loan.

What do I do after consolidating my debt?

If you pursue a debt consolidation loan, remember that consolidating your debt won’t work if you don’t take steps to manage your finances responsibly afterwards. Avoid piling the credit card debt on again. Practice reaching for cash instead of your card. If you can’t pay off your credit card within a month or two, don’t make the purchase. Falling back into the habit of using your credit card will leave you in a worse financial situation, as you will have new credit card debt plus your debt consolidation loan payment. One of the most effective things you can do to manage your finances is to create and maintain a budget. Using a budget will help you pinpoint where you might be overspending, and how you can adjust your spending to not only stop accruing debt but start building your savings. You can get started by downloading this free budget template. 

Watch our quick video explaining how debt consolidation works.


Don’t wait to consolidate your debt

Don’t wait until your payments are late to consider debt consolidation. Keep in mind that late payments will impact your credit score, and your credit score is a huge component in determining your eligibility for debt consolidation loans. Financial institutions help thousands of people each year manage their debt, so there is no reason to hesitate to ask for help in managing yours. It helps to have copies of your credit card statements and other debts with you when you speak to a representative. This will allow them to see your balances and interest rates and explore your options with you.
 

Applying is easy, fast and can be done online

If you’re ready to consolidate your debt, you can apply right from your phone, tablet or desktop.

Apply Now

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