Saturday, January 19, 2008

Top Three Debt Consolidation Myths

If you are thinking of consolidating your debts, watch out for debt consolidation myths and bad moves which can lead you further into debt.

Debt consolidation sounds like a magical solution to help solve all your debt problems. It is in fact, quite promising in more ways than one. However, take note that consolidating your debts is not the same as paying off all your debts. This is one of the pitfalls that many people make when consolidating.

More importantly, you should watch out for the false promises that many debt consolidation companies seem to be offering these days. If you have looked around for potential companies to consolidate your debt with, you would surely have encountered attractive offers from credit organizations promising you things like "debt relief within just a click away!" or "slash down your interest rates to zero!" or "cut down your payment by 60% or even more!"

These concepts are surely attractive and for a regular person who is neck-high in debt who is desperate to get out of it can easily fall into the trap of these false promises. It is quite understandable how people in debt will believe anything and do anything to just get out of debt. But remember that if you make the wrong move, you may end up in even more debt than ever before. To make sure you do not fall into this trap. Here are some debt consolidation myths you have to be wary of:

Myth No. 1: Debt consolidation loans are very easy to get.
The Real Score: Many people consolidate their debts because they have already missed out on a few payments and their credit histories have had bad blows. They hold on knowing that they can easily consolidate and breathe a sigh of relief. What makes the situation worse is that if you are in a bad credit risk, many companies will entice you with easy-to-get loans, which actually charge you rates much higher than you regularly pay for with your existing debts - as high as 22%! They usually distribute it over a longer term so you seem to be paying less each month, but you actually end up paying more.

Myth No. 2: Debt consolidators will take care of everything.
The Real Score: Debt consolidation companies usually promise to take care of negotiating to lower your interest rates and reduce your monthly payments. They actually do what they promise, but for a fee which you pay for monthly as well. This amounts to about 10% of what you pay for. If you do not have as much time to do this yourself, it can be worth the money you pay for. However, it is still very important for you to be personally aware and updated about how your credit status is.

Myth No. 3: Low interest balance transfer cards are all-in-one solution to credit card problems.
The Real Score: Though popular as a debt consolidation move these days, remember that the attractive balance transfer card rates only last you a few months. The danger here actually lies in your credit report. At some point, it will start showing up and will look like a bad credit move. So, if you think that a balance transfer card is for you, make sure you personally close all your existing credit accounts or it may look like your creditor closed it, leading to a worse credit standing.


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Thursday, January 10, 2008

How can Debt Consolidation be a Solution to Your Financial Problem

Debt consolidation is a very attractive concept that can solve your entire financial burden. But is it really the right solution for you?

This article can not ultimately answer this question. Debt consolidation has indeed solved a lot of financial problems and has brought many people back right into the right track in terms of finances. However, the answer as to whether it is the best solution for your circumstances is something that you can only decide for yourself.

Debts are now part of the life of a regular adult. With the advent of credit cards, debts have continually been on the rise in the recent years. More and more people have found themselves either living beyond their means or spending more than they can manage. If you are one of the majorities who are in this circumstance, there is hope for financial recovery, and one of that can be seen through debt consolidation.

Consolidating debts is simply the process of borrowing money from one lender to pay off all your other debts. After consolidation, you only need to pay one single lender at lower interests rather than pay a multiple with higher interest rates. This way, you eliminate penalties, accumulated interests, and the headache of noting payment due dates. You also would most likely get some savings due to lowered interests. The only obvious disadvantage with consolidating is that you may be faced with longer payment terms.

To decide whether or not consolidation loan is the answer to your financial problem, you need to evaluate just how your current financial situation is. Know that you have other options such as payday loans which you can get without having to tie yourself down. Look ahead to see if a payday loan will not suffice, and consider debt consolidation if you are sure that you will be able to manage monthly payments for a longer term.

If you think that debt consolidation is the answer to your problem and has given it some thought, then it probably is. At this point, consolidating appears to be simple and straightforward. However, once you delve further, you may find it overwhelming most especially if you have a complicated debt situation. You have to choose the right debt consolidation company which will work with you to achieve your financial goals. With all the companies out there, you have to select one that is reputable and will not charge you unreasonable rates and fees for their services.

Consolidating debts is not for everyone, especially those who can not catch up with monthly payments. It is also not for those who will most likely fall back into the cycle of spending and borrowing, sinking further and further into debt. However, if you work on a good consolidation deal with your lender and discipline your spending, you may be able to get that debt-free lifestyle that you have always wanted. The amount of money you are able to save when you consolidate your debt can create an immense impact to your finances, not to mention that you create a clean slate to start over with.

Is debt consolidation the solution to your financial problem? You can ask and be enlightened through financial advice. But the bottom line is the answer to your financial dilemma lies solely in your hands, literally and figuratively.

Tired of facing your financial problems on your own? You can get sound advice anytime you need one. Visit us at Debt Consolidation Loan or Debt Consolidation and we will be glad to be of service.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

The Pros and Cons of a Debt Consolidation Loan

Before deciding whether a debt consolidation loan is the answer to your debt problems, make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Here are the pros and the cons of consolidating.

Our reality today has made it more difficult to avoid debts. With the advent of credit cards and the busy lifestyle, we find it very difficult to take the time and exert effort to manage our finances. If this trend continues and your income does not fare well relative to your expenses, you will then join the majority who are financially bothered by debts.
What happens then if you have too many debts that you can barely manage? Well, a debt consolidation loan may solve this problem. Consolidating your debt means that you will take on a larger debt in order to pay off all your existing ones. The larger debt will replace all your high interest loans such as personal or credit card debts, and you end up paying only for one single bill every month.

With consolidation, you do not only lower your total monthly payments, but you need to pay only for a bill or two. You can have the chance to pay off your loans much quickly if you manage your monthly savings well. With debt consolidation, you can say goodbye (though temporarily) to the risk of bankruptcy, the creditor calls, and the overdue penalties. On the other hand, a debt consolidation loan usually has substantial tax benefits. You may be able to deduct the interest you pay from your income tax, thus lowering your tax burden.

At first glance, getting a debt consolidation loan may seem like the perfect solution. Your monthly payments get lowered, and you get some extra cash as savings every month. However, note that consolidating is not best for everyone. Depending on how you the loan are structured, you may sometimes end up with a higher rate and longer payment term. Since a debt consolidation loan usually involves collateral, it presents as a greater credit risk than other smaller debts that you have.

Also, consolidating too often creates a false sense of security - you feel like your debts are all gone, when in truth, you still have one that you might need to pay for a longer period. Some people even end up getting lured into the cycle of spending, borrowing, then consolidating, until they have accumulate more and more debts than they can hardly manage. This is not to say that getting a debt consolidation loan is a bad move. This is only to point out that even if it appears hassle-free and perfect, consolidating can lead to unfortunate results if not managed properly.

A debt consolidation loan is an attractive concept if you want to manage your finances well. If you have the discipline to get through the debts without having to incur more, then consolidating may be perfect for you. However, if you think that with a little more effort you can pay off your loan without any form of consolidation, and then by all means, do as much as you possibly can. Consolidating can be a real solution to your debt problem, but should not be considered as the only solution. Instead, you should take it as one of your last resorts.


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