Five Things You Should Know About Debt Consolidation

When tasked with paying off large amounts of unsecured debt, specifically credit cards, many people turn to debt consolidation. While this can be a great way to save money and speed up your debt payoff, there are several important things you should know before you do so. From what it helps you accomplish, to the different types of debt consolidation options, to the fees, here are five things you should know about consolidating your debt.

1. Even if you consolidate your debt, you are technically not “debt-free”.

The term “debt consolidation” gets thrown around very loosely, and most people are not sure exactly what it means or entails. If you consolidate your debt, it does NOT mean you are out of the woods with regard to your debt. Your debt doesn’t magically disappear. All it means is that you convert several different loans into one single loan with one monthly payment. For example, let’s say a person has five different credit cards they are paying on each month. With a debt consolidation loan, you would pay off those five credit cards, and then pay on the one loan you just obtained. Most debt consolidation plans take 2-5 years to complete. It is only after you make all of your payments in the given term when you can officially consider yourself “debt-free”. When paying off your credit cards using a debt consolidation loan, it is imperative to refrain from using those same credit cards while you are paying back the loan. Some people will pay their cards off and proceed to charge them back up again. Then, not only do they have a substantial loan to pay off, but they also have newly charged credit cards to pay as well. This can cause a serious financial hardship, so be responsible, pay your cards off, and don’t use them again.

2. The goal of debt consolidation is to lower your monthly payment and/or interest rate.

Most people look to consolidate their debt because their monthly payments have become somewhat of a stretch. A rule of thumb is that on average, your credit card minimum payments will equal 2-3% of your total debt. So, on $20k in credit card balances, you can expect to pay $500 per month in just minimum payments.  With the average credit card interest rate being about 19%, it can be prudent to pay your credit cards off and pay a new loan with a significantly lower interest rate. Paying the minimums will get you nowhere when it comes to getting out of debt. Debt consolidation can help lower the minimums, lower your interest rate, and have you debt-free in five years or less. If you have good credit and have the opportunity to lower your interest rate from 19% to 7%, this is a wise decision. Not only will you save a few hundred dollars on a monthly basis, but more importantly, it gives you a concrete finish line as to when you know you will be debt-free. By law, credit card companies now have to indicate on your credit card statement how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you pay the minimum. If you happen to have a large balance and have ever looked at this section of your credit card statement, you know that it can be terrifying. If you pay just the minimum, it will take you well over 10 years to clear the balance, sometimes closer to 20. In addition, you will end up paying double, sometimes triple the principal balance. This is why debt consolidation can be a life-saver, not only do you save money, but you can be debt-free in four years as opposed to twenty years.

3. A loan is not the only way to consolidate your debt.

When it comes to consolidating your debt, If you don’t have an excellent credit score, it can hinder your ability to lock yourself in at a favorable interest rate. In addition to a debt consolidation loan, there are options such as credit counseling and debt settlement that can help you accomplish some of the same goals. With credit counseling, you are put on a debt management plan with the credit cards you wish to pay off. The agency will charge a relatively low monthly fee, and the goal is to have the debt paid off in around four years. While it will indicate on your credit report that you are enrolled in a debt management plan through a credit counseling agency, there are no long term negative impacts to your credit score. On the other hand, with debt settlement, you enter into an agreement with a company who will attempt to negotiate the balances on your debt so you can pay back a fraction of what you owe. During the program, you halt payments to your creditors, and they are forced to mark the accounts as past due. After roughly six months, the company you are working with negotiates settlements on your behalf so you can be debt-free in 36-48 months. Debt settlement is more geared toward people who simply cannot continue making their payments or else they may need to file bankruptcy. This option will have a negative impact on your credit score, so be sure to know the pros and cons before you proceed.

4. There are fees associated with debt consolidation.

No company is going to lend you money or work on your behalf for free, so it’s good to know the fees involved with consolidating your debt. For a debt consolidation loan, in addition to the interest rate, you will also pay a loan origination fee, which could be anywhere from 3-5% of the loan amount. With a debt management plan offered by a credit counseling agency, you can expect to pay a $50 initial setup fee along with a $20-$50 ongoing monthly fee. With debt settlement, the fee is typically 15-25% of the original debt amount, or the amount of the settlements. If a company does NOT charge a fee or offers some type of money back guarantee, you should be wary of doing business with them. After all, every company on Earth is in the business of making money. While you may balk at the thought of paying any of these fees, just know that it is much better to pay a small fee to consolidate your debt than to continue to make minimum payments and pay 19% interest on your current credit cards. Whether you consolidate your credit card debt through a loan, credit counseling, or debt settlement, just be sure you’re aware of the fees you will be paying. The last thing you want to do is get blindsided by fees that you didn’t know about.

5. Debt consolidation won’t do you any good if you aren’t disciplined with your finances.

In the end, maintaining a debt-free life comes down to living within your means. Many people obtain a debt consolidation loan, and then manage to rack up their credit card balances yet again. This is a recipe for disaster, as you now  have a loan as well as credit cards that you must pay. If you do consolidate your debt, toss away your credit cards. Put them in a shoebox under your bed, or cut them up. The only way to remain debt-free is to refrain from using the cards that got you into this situation in the first place. If you haven’t already, you should begin to keep a monthly spreadsheet of your income and expenses. This is a simple, easy way to know if you are overextending yourself. If your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income, you know that you need to change your lifestyle so you are in the green each month. There are only two ways to increase your monthly cash flow, increasing your income, or decreasing your expenses. If you can manage to do both at the same time, you will be that much better off. In today’s gig economy, there are a plethora of ways to gain additional income through side gigs and part-time jobs. Decreasing your income is probably easier and more practical, as you can cut out many things you don’t necessarily need from your budget, such as cable, your morning cup of coffee from Starbucks, or eating out every weekend. The bottom line is that debt consolidation is simply a vehicle to get to where you want to go, which is a debt-free life. After that, it’s up to you to live a financially responsible, disciplined life and avoid the same pitfalls that previously put you in a difficult financial situation.

Key Takeaways:

• Only consolidate your debt if you’re able to successfully lower your monthly payment and/or interest rate. This is the purpose of debt consolidation, saving money and creating a finish line as to when you know you will be debt-free.
• If you can’t get approved for a loan at favorable terms, there are other options such as credit counseling and debt settlement that you should look into. Just be sure to know the fees associated with any of these options. If a company does not charge any fees or offers a money back guarantee, you should probably stay away.
• Consolidating your debt isn’t a substitute for being disciplined with your finances. Debt consolidation can be a smart financial move to accelerate the payoff of your debt while saving money in the process. Once you are finished, it doesn’t mean you can go back to the lifestyle that got you into debt. Keep track of your income/expenses, and be sure that you have a net positive cash flow at the end of each month. Find ways in which you can increase your income or decrease your expenses. Maximizing your cash flow is ultimately how you will be able to build wealth for you and your family.

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