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, which entails combining two or more outstanding balances into a single debt product, is the preferred choice to get out of debt for several reasons. Below are some of the of this approach. Streamlined payments
It can be overwhelming to keep track of payment due dates when you owe several creditors. But when you consolidate outstanding debt balances into a loan or credit card product, you’ll only make one payment to a single creditor per month. This minimizes the chances of making late payments that result in excessive fees or damage to your credit score. Lower interest rates
Consumers with good or excellent credit scores generally qualify for competitive interest rates on debt consolidation loans. As of June 10, 2022, the average credit card interest rate was 16.53 percent, compared to between 10.3 percent and 12.5 percent for personal loans for borrowers with excellent credit. Even if you have good credit, the average rate is still between 13.5 percent and 15.5 percent, which is lower than what you’ll find with most credit card products. And the less you pay in interest, the greater the amount applied to the principal balances each month, making it easier to get out of debt faster. Fixed repayment schedule
gives you a set payment schedule and predictable monthly payments. Plus, it’s far easier to work the payments into your budget since there won’t be any guesswork regarding how much the minimum payments will be each month. Credit boost
When you apply for a debt consolidation product, your credit score may drop a few points due to the hard credit inquiry. However, you could see improvements sooner than later for a few reasons. Each time you make timely payments on your debt consolidation loan or credit card, positive payment history is added to your credit report. Payment history accounts for 35 percent of your credit score, so you’ll likely see an increase over time. Your credit utilization, or the amount of your credit limit currently in use, will also improve if you consolidate and refrain from using the cards you pay off. It’s a component of amounts owed and makes up 30 percent of your credit score, and keeping this figure at or below 30 percent gives you the best chance at a solid credit score. To illustrate how it works, assume you have five credit cards with $1,000 limits. You owe $500 on each, bringing your utilization to 50 percent. If you take out a $2,500 loan and pay off the balances, your utilization will drop to zero, boosting your credit score. But if you choose to use a balance transfer credit with a credit limit of $5,000, your utilization will decrease to 25 percent ($2,500 for the amounts owed / $10,000 total credit limit). Faster debt payment
If you’ve been stuck making the minimum payments on your credit card each month, repaying what you owe could take several years. To illustrate, assume your credit card balance is $5,000, and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is 18.9 percent. Only paying the minimum of $200 each month will cost you $3,109.16 in interest, and you’ll spend 137 months repaying what’s owed. However, a debt consolidation loan helps fast-track your debt payoff efforts by giving you a fixed interest rate, loan term and monthly payment. Using the example above, if you take out a $5,000 debt consolidation loan with a 3-year term and 11 percent fixed interest rate, you’ll pay $164 per month and $892.97 in interest over the life of the loan. When not to consolidate your debt
There are also instances where consolidating your debt may not be a good idea. If your credit score is low, you’ll likely find it challenging to secure a debt consolidation product with a lower interest rate than you currently have. You should also steer clear of debt consolidation if you don’t have a realistic budget. The same applies if you’re not yet disciplined with your spending. Both issues put you at risk of racking up even more debt, mainly if you take out a loan to pay off credit card balances and use the credit cards again if you spend more than you earn and need fast cash. It’s equally important to confirm that you can afford the payments on a debt consolidation loan. Otherwise, you risk damaging your credit rating if the account becomes delinquent. There’s also a greater likelihood of resorting to other debt options to stay afloat financially. Bottom line
You could get more affordable, predictable monthly payments and possibly eliminate the balances faster by consolidating your debt. Plus, there’s a chance your credit score will increase. But you’ll need to assess your situation to ensure debt consolidation makes sense and the option you select works for your spending plan. SHARE: Aylea Wilkins is an editor specializing in personal and home equity loans. She has previously worked for Bankrate editing content about auto, home and life insurance. She has been editing professionally for nearly a decade in a variety of fields with a primary focus on helping people make financial and purchasing decisions with confidence by providing clear and unbiased information. Related Articles