Friday, 10 April 2009

Consolidating Debt Can Save You Money and Headaches

By Denzel Abintenk

Are you drowning in debt and finding it hard to pay your bills on time? If so, you are not alone. Millions of Americans are in the same situation as you. This is for the simple reason that we live in a society that wants things before we can pay for it. People are willing to pay interest (sometimes more the 20 percent) on purchases which get them further in debt.

Even if you don't feel you're "drowning" in debt, the reality is that one unexpected expense can put you behind in bills. If you pay a bill or two late then late fees will be incurred and that may make your next payment difficult. This can make you get behind and start the downward spiral. You want to have some leverage in your finances so you're not just skimming by.

Debt consolidation can be the answer you're looking for. You probably have a few credit cards that are at or near their limit and maybe a student loan. You might even have some personal loans that have been put on the backburner but still eat at your conscience. Consolidating debt will take all of your debt and give you one loan at a lower interest rate and pay off your debt. You will then have one payment to make at a lower interest rate. You will not only have more manageable payments but you'll end up paying less in the long run as well.

There are quite a few ways to get advice about debt consolidation and debt management in general. The best way is to visit a credit counseling service which should offer a free face-to-face consultation. They will not only help get your current debt under control but will help you with managing a budget. Some are backed by the government so they are either non-profit or not-for-profit and are not in it for their own financial gain. There are also services from private organizations but it's important to understand what they offer and the fees involved. If they promise to erase bad credit then don't use their service. It's possible to improve your credit but nothing that you legitimately did can be erased.

You can also find debt consolidation advice online or in books. There is a lot of information available that's free so you can consolidate your debt without the assistance of a service. This is not recommended however since you need to have a good knowledge of lending and finances. If you need debt consolidation then chances are you are not good at financial planning.

So if you're drowning in debt or close to drowning in debt then you should look for help with managing your finances. Don't let your accounts get behind and go to collection agencies. It will lead to a tarnished credit history and unwanted phone calls.

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