Do I Need to Consolidate My Bills?

Which Debts Can You Consolidate?

Not all kinds of debt can be consolidated. At the very least, it is not a good idea to use consolidation for some types of debt. The primary candidates are unsecured debts, meaning they are not backed by collateral (an asset that a lender accepts as security for extending a loan).

Types of debt that can be consolidated include:

• Credit card
• Gas bills
• Utility, cell phone bills
• Personal loans
• Payday loans
• Income taxes
• Back rent
• Medical, hospital bills
• Student loans

Most people use consolidation for credit card debt because it is considered to have one of the highest interest rates. Consolidation is especially useful if you have acquired debt on multiple credit cards. As for lower-interest debts, there are also compelling reasons to use this method. The debts can be consolidated for payment convenience as well as interest reduction.

When it comes to utility and medical bills, you might want to consider whether this method is right for you. These debts don’t have interest rates attached to them, so you can afford to let them stick around longer. Ultimately, you need to get a professional opinion to get your situation evaluated.

Secured debts involve some kind of asset that the lender can take if the borrower fails to repay the loan. These types of debts can be refinanced but are not subject to consolidation. For example, you will need to find alternative options for:

• Mortgages
• Home loans
• Auto, boat loans
• Government loans
• Lawsuits

If you are struggling to repay these types of debt, you will need to find another way. However, there is no reason to be discouraged. There are many other ways to manage your debt, and we will help you find the right one.

Advantages of Debt Consolidation

As with any financial decision, you might have reservations about whether any given method has genuine benefits. Before agreeing to a debt consolidation arrangement, it’s important to examine the topic from all sides. First, let’s take a look at what makes it a favorable choice to manage your debts:

• You may be able to pay less. There are no guarantees that your interest will be reduced, but it is definitely a possibility. In the aftermath of consolidation, you can receive a lower interest rate, especially when it comes to credit cards. This means that you will pay lower monthly installments in the future.
• The amounts of money you save can help you pay off your debts sooner. Since you will probably need to contribute lower amounts of money each month, you can take advantage of this change. Use this spare money to increase your installments, which will subsequently shorten your repayment period.
• Your credit score might potentially get a boost. Timely payments are the second biggest factor in your credit score. Thus, consolidation will have a positive impact on your score. Plus, you can use this opportunity to lower your credit utilization ratio (which also affects the score).
• You get to pay all of your bills in one place. You might have three, four, or even more debts, and you normally need to track all of them. Many people struggle to keep up with multiple payment schedules. With consolidation, you gather all of them into one single bill.
• It provides you with a great deal of emotional and financial relief. When you take control of your finances, you no longer have to worry about unpaid bills, different interest rates, etc. Once you put everything into one structured plan, it will affect how you feel and behave.

Overall, many people choose to consolidate bills into one monthly payment to simplify their financial issues and reduce interest. If you have a lot of different debts, you might get overwhelmed and fail to follow your repayment schedule. With only one structured bill, you are unlikely to let it slide past you.

Disadvantages of Debt Consolidation

Having considered the main advantages of debt consolidation, it is reasonable to identify the drawbacks. It is not a magical cure for all your financial problems, and there will be consequences.

It is for you and your financial advisor to decide what to do with the following disadvantages:

• A consolidation loan does not always come with favorable rates. Depending on your credit score and some other factors, you will get a new consolidation loan on different terms.
• There might be additional fees. Banks are not always willing to accept early repayment on your terms. They normally expect you to repay loans in a specific amount of time. If you repay your debt earlier, banks miss out on the interest you would have paid. So, they may present you with a fee.
• You expose yourself to bigger risks. A new loan is still a loan – you need to handle it responsibly. However, if you’re just going to load your cards up, there’s no point. You might even find yourself in a worse situation.

Debt consolidation might slightly reduce it and streamline all of your debts. But it does not get rid of your debt or eliminate a large portion of it. The most important part is what you do after you consolidate your debts. If you’ve gotten into unmanageable debt in the past, you need to make a lot of changes to not get into unmanageable debt again.

How Can I Consolidate My Bills with Bad Credit?

Even with bad credit, you still have an opportunity to receive a consolidation loan. However, you should expect to pay more. If your credit score is below 650, a lender might not be willing to offer you a good interest rate. The reason is that they might view you as an unreliable borrower.

Before you apply for a consolidation loan, check your current credit score. If it is below average, you might face high-interest rates, which will prevent you from getting out of debt faster. If you have time, work on your credit history, on-time payments, utilization, etc. You can also ask a family member or friend to co-sign and make sure they understand the consequences.

If you need a solution more quickly, consult with a specialist. They should know and recommend how to get out of your situation even with bad credit.

When Is Debt Consolidation a Good Idea?

The question of whether you need to consolidate your bills is not an easy one. There are situations where debt consolidation will benefit you. At the same time, your particular case might need another approach. An experienced credit counselor will be able to recommend the best course of action.

Let’s see if you are a viable candidate for debt consolidation. Here are some scenarios when it will be a good choice:

• You have multiple credit cards as well as other types of debts.
• You are approaching or have already reached your credit card limits.
• You have a consistent cash flow that you can put towards repaying your liabilities.
• You can afford to contribute at least the minimum payments toward your debts.
• The cards you are using have high-interest rates (18% or higher).
• Your total debt (excluding mortgage) exceeds a third of your gross income.

Imagine the following case. You have four credit cards ranging from 20% to 25% of the interest rate. You make timely installments, and your credit score is good. If you decide to get an unsecured debt consolidation loan, there is the chance of receiving around a 7% interest rate.

However, you might create even more problems if you get a consolidation loan at a bad time. Below are several signs that you should postpone it or find a better alternative:

• Your debt is small, and you can pay it off within six months to a year.
• You regularly miss your payments.
• Your credit cards are always maxed out.
• You are already on the radar of debt collectors.

Unfortunately, debt consolidation will not be able to solve your financial troubles. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no way out. It simply means that you will need to explore other available options.

What Are Alternatives to Debt Consolidation?

The decision to reduce debt is very much like any other type of change – the sooner you start, the better. You also need to choose the right path not to sabotage your goals. As we’ve said earlier, debt consolidation does not suit every situation. Let’s take a look at some alternatives.

Borrowing from Friends and Family

If you feel comfortable asking your family or friends for money, you can negotiate the terms of the loan. Although it is not advisable to get financially involved with your loved ones, the option is still there.

Borrowing from a Life Insurance Policy

It is a lesser-known option, which is why we include it on this list. Some insurance companies allow you to borrow up to the cash value of the policy, which you can use as financial aid.

Debt Settlement

This is a process of negotiating a better payment plan or settling/reducing your debt. A credit counselor can also ask for a lump-sum payment so that the lender will agree to adjust your debt.

Bankruptcy

This involves legal proceedings initiated when a person or business has outstanding debts that they can’t repay under existing circumstances. After evaluating all of the debtor’s assets, the bank uses them to cover a portion of the outstanding debt.

Summary

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Do I Need to Consolidate My Bills?

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By the end of 2019, U.S. consumer debt has risen by 3.6% to $4.17 trillion. More people are turning to credit cards in an attempt to pay their bills. Plus, there are also many issues revolving around crushing student loans, auto loans, and many other types of liabilities.

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DebtQuest USA

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DebtQuest USA

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