Gone are the days when credit cards were considered merely as ‘nice to have’ things. In today’s fast paced world they have become an integral part of one’s life. So much so that an average people carries not just one, not two but multiple credit cards. But blame it on the nature of the credit cards or the inability of the people to differentiate between “need” and “want”, credit card debt easily gets accumulated.
That’s probably the reason why there are many people with significant credit card debt. With mounting bills and interest charges getting accumulated, it may seem that they will never be free of credit card debt. But there are way outs, and credit card consolidation can be one of the solutions. Credit card consolidation not only lowers the monthly bills but also saves a great deal of money over time.
There are basically three ways to consolidate your credit card debt. The first way is to transfer all your current high interest credit card balances to one or may be two lower interest cards. It will not only let you save money on interest charges but also help you in paying off your debts quicker.
The second way of consolidating your credit card debt is with the help of a debt consolidation loan, which you can either take from a bank or any other creditor. These loans carry a much lower interest rate than that of the credit cards. In this option too you will be able to save a great deal of money.
The third way is with the help of leveraging your home’s value. In this option the home equity lines or line of credit is used to make
you debt free.
However, going for credit card consolidation, does not mean closing your accounts. The duration of your accounts influences your credit score; it in a way shows how responsibly you can handle credit. Thus, it is always advisable to keep the credit cards open even if you have paid the balance in full.
Studies show that millions of Americans must consolidate debt each year, and the numbers continue to grow. Why? Because many of you are paying sky high interest rates. Exorbitant interest rates and higher debt levels make minimum payments ineffective upon debt reduction, and despair sets in.
