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The Pros and Cons of Debt Consolidation Loans


You are swimming in debt. You have 4 credit cards maxed out, a car loan, a consumer loan, and a house payment. Simply making the minimum payments is causing your distress and certainly not getting you out of debt. What should you do?

Some people feel that debt consolidation loans are the best option. A debt consolidation loans is one loan which pays off many other loans or lines of credit.

I'm sure you've seen the advertisements of smiling people who have chosen to take a consolidation loan. They seem to have had the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders. But are debt consolidation loans a good deal? Let's explore the pros and cons of this type of debt solution.

Pros

1. One payment versus many payments: The average citizen of the USA pays 11 different creditors every month. Making one single payment is much easier than figuring out who should get paid how much and when. This makes managing your finances much easier.

2. Reduced interest rates: Since the most common type of debt consolidation loan is the home equity loan, also called a second mortgage, the interest rates will be lower than most consumer debt interest rates. Your mortgage is a secured debt. This means that they have something they can take from you if you do not make your payment. Credit cards are unsecured loans. They have nothing except your word and your history. Since this is the case, unsecured loans typically have higher interest rates.

3. Lower monthly payments: Since the interest rate is lower and because you have one payment vs many, the amount you have to pay per month is typically decreased significantly.

4. Only one creditor: With a consolidated loan, you only have one creditor to deal with. If there are any problems or issues, you will only have to make one call instead of several. Once again, this simply makes controlling your finances much easier.

5. Tax Breaks: Interest paid to a credit card is money down the drain. Interest paid to a mortgage can be used as a tax write-off.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Before you run out and get a loan, let's look at the other side of the picture - the cons.

Cons

1. Easy to get into further debt: With an easier load to bear and more money left over at the end of the month, it might be easy to start using your credit cards again or continuing spending habits that got you into such credit card debt in the first place.

2. Longer time to pay off: Most mortgages are the 10 to 30 year variety. This means that rather than spend a couple of years getting out of credit card debt, you will be spending the length of your mortgage getting out of debt.

3. Spend more over the long haul: Even though the interest rate is less, if you take the loan out over a 30 year period, you may end up spending more than you would have if you had kept each individual loan.

4. You can lose everything: Consolidation loans are secured loans. If you didn't pay an unsecured credit card loan, it would give you a bad rating but your home would still be secure. If you do not pay a secured loan, they will take away whatever secured the loan. In most cases, this is your home.

As you can see, consolidated loans are not for everyone. Before you make a decision, you must realistically look at the pros and cons to determine if this is the right decision for you.

Wesley Atkins is the owner of http://www.credit-cards-advisor.com- which aims to get you fitted with the best credit cards to suit your situation. With numerous credit card articles and easy online credit card applications you will never choose the wrong credit card again.


MORE RESOURCES:

DebtConsolidation.com Helps Over 100000 Consumers Choose the Best Debt ...
MarketWatch (press release)
NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- DebtConsolidation.com, the top-ranking debt consolidation company, today announced that the company, in conjunction with quality debt relief companies, has helped over 100000 consumers deal ...
Will consumers take on personal credit card debt to make business purchases?Debtmerica Relief

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Debtconsolidation.com Affirms Its Lead in Providing Credit Card Debt Relief ...
PR Web (press release)
Debtconsolidation.com, an information and referral source for debt management and credit counseling, cements its key position as a top debt management service provider after successfully helping 100000 consumers take control of their financial issues.

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P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program Deal Managed by First Metro ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Manila, May 15, 2012 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) -- The Philippine government's P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program won The Banker Magazine's Deal of the Year 2012 for SSA (Sovereign, Supras and Agencies) Bonds category in Asia Pacific.

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Brenda Shanahan: Four types of debt problems
Montreal Gazette
I am wondering if you know any good accredited debt consolidation company that was reliable and could reduce my debt and stop interest? V Dear V, Yours was one of many emails and calls that I received following my column of May 15 regarding the dubious ...

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Seven Real Tips for Getting Out of Debt and Avoiding Debt Consolidation Loans ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Many Americans continue to struggle with repaying debt and look to debt consolidation loans as the only option. Yet there are many other ways to reduce debt while maintaining credit and the little extras in life. As the numbers for consumer spending ...

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Credit Unions Online

Sinking in Debt? Skip Debt Consolidation Companies and Head to a Credit Union
Credit Unions Online
Musser says that a debt consolidation or management company may help you reach a settlement where you end up paying less than what you owe, but the work done to whittle down the debt may have a negative impact on the consumer's credit score--which ...

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Drawbacks to using debt consolidation companies
WGAL Lancaster
"There is no magic bullet," said credit counselor Richard Musser. "It's going take time. If you got yourself into a debt situation, it's going take time to undo it." Consumers can reach settlements with creditors for less than what they owe, ...



What is a Trustee?
MarketWatch (press release)
CALGARY, ALBERTA, May 15, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Bankruptcy, debt consolidation and consumer proposals are complex financial procedures that require delicate negotiations between creditors and debtors. As such, they should not be attempted ...

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Can debt consolidation stop demands from your lenders?
Think Money
There are several different methods of debt consolidation: for example, loans, 0% interest credit cards, and debt management plans can all bring your debts together so you make just one payment a month. Not all of these will stop your lenders ...
Student Loan Consolidation Program: Is This a Good Option for You?Caribbean Media Vision

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Go Banking Rates

Financial Literacy Series: Guide to Using Debt Consolidation Loans
Go Banking Rates
By GoBankingRates Staff Are you struggling with a mountain of debt, and contemplating debt consolidation to deal with it all? If so, it may be the solution for fixing your situation and getting yourself on the road to financial recovery.


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