When you’re juggling multiple minimum payments, it can feel like you’re not making any headway. With debt consolidation, as long as you stay on top of your payments, you’ll have a clear path forward to financial freedom. By combining your payments into one, you’ll find it much simpler to manage your finances and develop a solid repayment strategy.
How you may benefit from debt consolidation
How you may benefit from debt consolidation
Reduce your monthly expenses and free up cash for other needs
Eliminate the stress of juggling multiple bills and due dates
Reach your savings goals sooner with any extra cash you save
Improve your credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio
FAQs
FAQ’s
What is debt consolidation and how does it work?
Debt consolidation involves combining multiple debts into a single loan, making it easier to manage and keep track of your bills. For instance, if your monthly expenses consists of various types like credit card balances, medical bills, utility bills, and student loans, you can simplify things by applying for a consolidation loan that covers your total monthly debt amount. This way, you’ll replace all those different monthly payments with one straightforward, combined loan, resulting in just a single monthly payment from here on out.
Here’s a simplified version of how consolidation can help you overcome high-interest credit card balances, according to Experian®:
Imagine you have a balance of $10,000 across your credit cards, and your cards charge an average interest rate of 22%. With the minimum payments, you’d need approximately 184 months to wipe out what you owe and end up paying $8,275.44 in interest charges.
But, if you opt for a consolidation loan of $10,000 at a fixed annual interest rate of 11%, and a predictable monthly payment of $217, you’d clear the balance in just 60 months and save more than $5,200 in interest. So, instead of watching the huge interest charges stack up, consolidation can help you pay off your creditors faster and reduce your overall interest costs.
Why should I take out a debt consolidation loan versus other options, such as a credit card balance transfer or home equity loan?
Loan consolidation is an important decision that requires careful consideration based on your personal circumstances. Each consolidation option has its advantages and disadvantages.
For example, home equity loans can offer you fixed interest rates and longer repayment periods. The interest you pay on these loans may also be tax-deductible. But you need to consider the costs for closing the loan, additional fees, the decrease in equity in your home, and the risk of losing your home if you can’t keep up with the payments.
Another option to consider is transferring your credit card balance. This can be appealing because it often comes with low interest rates and rewards programs but be aware that the low introductory rates usually expire after 6-12 months. You may also have to pay fees for the credit card balance transfer, so be sure you are aware of the total cost before going through with credit card balance transfers.
What kinds of debt can I consolidate?
Consolidation loans can be a useful tool for paying off various types of bills. They can help with:
- Credit cards
- Medical bills
- Store cards
- Past-due utility bills
- Auto loans
- Personal loans
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
1APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Monthly payments would be $552.96 on $25,000 borrowed for 60 months at 11.75% APR1. Minimum of $7,000 to be eligible for the 60 month term. Minimum of $3,500 to be eligible for the 48 month term. Minimum of $1,250 to be eligible for the 36 month term. Membership required. Member must be in good standing. Not available to refinance an existing REV loan. All Credit Union loan programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Offer expires 06/30/24. Federally insured by NCUA.