At a time like this with debt continuing to mount the decision to use a debt consolidation loan may seem like the smart thing to do - or is it ? Certainly the top financial priority should be to pay off all outstanding debt. Unfortunately figuring out how to do this and which debt to pay off first can be difficult at best and even lead to more financially related stress.
A debt consolidation loan can be an easy answer to solve the current financial strain brought on by a large outstanding debt amount but it may not solve the long term issue. The reason is because many consumers obtain a debt consolidation loan and correctly use it to pay off their debt. Unfortunately suddenly feeling good about their new found financial strength they make the mistake of using their credit cards again and again and again - essentially repeating the blunders that got them into trouble in the first place. Compound that with the fact that they now also must pay off the debt consolidation loan they orginally got in order to relieve them of their initial financial burdens. This is a classic example of where using a debt consolidation loan could lead to more harm then good.
A better option would be to pay off their credit cards one at a time starting with the card that currently has the biggest balance while paying the minimum amount necessary to all other cards. Any extra money should be devoted to paying off the card with the highest balance first. Once that first credit card is paid off then move onto the card with the next highest balance. Repeat this process until all credit cards are fully paid off then put all but one in a drawer for safe keeping. Only keep the one card handy for emergency purposes. Now concentrate all money that was previous earmarked as credit card payments towards paying off other bills - perhaps a car or house payment. This option will only work so long as the original credit cards are not charged back up again.
If a consumer has financial strength then a debt consolidation loan can be beneficial for a number of reasons. First it eliminates trying to juggle numerous bills in various amounts all at once and instead allows a consumer to focus on paying one large bill. This saves time, energy and helps to prevent accidentally forgetting to pay one of the many previous bills which could lead to more financial charges and stress. The second reason is that a debt consolidation loan should lower the actual amount of money paid out each month. NOTE - it may lower the monthly amount but will most likely increase the overall amount needed to finally pay off all of the combined bills depending on the terms of the loan contract. Finally it can provide a psychological boost by relieving an individual of many small bills in order to concentrate on one larger bill.
Ultimately the choice as the whether a debt consolidation loan is the right answer lies with the consumer. Every situation is different and must be treated as such. No matter what option a consumer takes to eliminate debt if there is no financial resolve or strength then they will again fall into the debt trap.
Timothy Gorman provides more loan information and free loan quotes that you can research in your pajamas on his website: Military Loans Online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Can a Debt Consolidation Loan Help Your Credit Record ?
Everyone hits occasional financial snags in life. Going to college, buying a home, or having a child can hit a personal budget hard, sometimes setting back the finances several months or even years. When that happens, a person's economic status can quickly spin out of control as one credit card after another gets maxxed out, building a mountain of debt that can be nearly impossible to dig out from under.
Unpaid monthly payments will damage a person's credit history. Even though you may plan to make double payments the following month, the missed payment will show up as a negative, and may compromise your future ability to borrow money or extend your credit limit on existing accounts. That is why it is important to make every effort to pay your bills on time. Sometimes a creditor will let you make partial payments temporarily for extreme conditions, such as disability or unemployment. Still, you will have to find sources of funding that will help you make those credit card payments and either avoid a negative credit history or prevent your financial standing from damaging reports if the bills remain outstanding.
A debt consolidation loan may be the answer to your problem. Although a loan will not automatically reduce your debt load, it can provide smaller payment options that will ease your financial strain and help you stay current with monthly balances. A consolidation loan could provide several benefits toward paying off your credit card debt in a timely manner without defaulting and hurting your credit reputation.
1. Shop around with different lenders to see if you are eligible for a debt consolidation loan. The internet is an incredible resource for debt management and offers a wealth of information if you know where to look. One such resource is http://www.banklady.com. Potential lenders will consider several things to see if you can get a loan of this type, including the amount of debt you currently owe and the monthly payments that are due for each one, your household income, previous credit history, paid items that were financed—like a car or a boat, and your ability to make monthly payments for the proposed consolidation loan.
2. If it appears that you are eligible, you can submit an application for the debt consolidation loan. You may be able to do this from home at your computer. This would be helpful if you need to consult records and pay stubs rather than bring them all to the bank for copying. On the other hand, making an appointment with a loan officer to review some of the necessary records will give you the opportunity to ask questions and clarify information. Make sure the application is filled out correctly and completely, as missing information could delay an answer.
3. After discussing figures with the loan officer, make sure that you can afford the debt consolidation monthly payment. There's no point in refinancing if the new payment will still be hard to meet. Try to get the due-date set to a day each month right around payday, so you can make the payment before spending that money on other things. Payroll withdrawals are another option that will automatically deduct the monthly payment from your paycheck before you ever get a chance to see or spend that amount. Ask your lender if this option is available, and if you use it, be sure to deduct the payment amount from your check register each month.
Should everyone in financial trouble take out a consolidation loan? Not necessarily. There are potential drawbacks to consider, so do your research before making the decision to apply for the loan.
1. How long will a debt consolidation loan extend your current balances ? If your present credit card balances could be paid in full within three years by making regular payments as scheduled, is it advisable to refinance your debt and extend the loan another three to five years? You could end up paying far more over the life of the loan than you would by keeping current with regular debt payments. Compare the two to see if refinancing is in your best interests.
2. What will be your new interest rate? A debt consolidation loan generally is an unsecured loan, which means you may pay a higher interest rate than you might for a secured purchase, like a new car loan, for example. If your current credit card debt interest averages at six percent, and your new loan interest will be nine percent, how much more will you end up paying until the balances are paid in full?
3. Consider upcoming circumstances. For example, if your financial crunch is temporarily due to having a child in college, and he will graduate in a year, is there a way to make regular payments during this time by tightening the household budget rather than by refinancing a loan ? You might be able to use your job's year-end bonuses, an unexpected windfall, or a postponed vacation as a source of revenue to help you meet the present payment schedule, which could save money associated with the costs of a loan application, a longer payment scheduled, and higher interest.
These are some of the issues that typically come up when people think about refinancing their credit card debt to protect or clear their credit records. Give careful thought to the pros and cons of a debt consolidation loan before switching debt balances to a new lender.
This article was written by Katie Morgan . If you have less than excellent credit and are curious about your options, you'll find everything you need to know about credit or obtaining a loan right here in one location. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must contain a link pointing back to http://www.banklady.com
Article Source: http://www.article-submission.net
Unpaid monthly payments will damage a person's credit history. Even though you may plan to make double payments the following month, the missed payment will show up as a negative, and may compromise your future ability to borrow money or extend your credit limit on existing accounts. That is why it is important to make every effort to pay your bills on time. Sometimes a creditor will let you make partial payments temporarily for extreme conditions, such as disability or unemployment. Still, you will have to find sources of funding that will help you make those credit card payments and either avoid a negative credit history or prevent your financial standing from damaging reports if the bills remain outstanding.
A debt consolidation loan may be the answer to your problem. Although a loan will not automatically reduce your debt load, it can provide smaller payment options that will ease your financial strain and help you stay current with monthly balances. A consolidation loan could provide several benefits toward paying off your credit card debt in a timely manner without defaulting and hurting your credit reputation.
1. Shop around with different lenders to see if you are eligible for a debt consolidation loan. The internet is an incredible resource for debt management and offers a wealth of information if you know where to look. One such resource is http://www.banklady.com. Potential lenders will consider several things to see if you can get a loan of this type, including the amount of debt you currently owe and the monthly payments that are due for each one, your household income, previous credit history, paid items that were financed—like a car or a boat, and your ability to make monthly payments for the proposed consolidation loan.
2. If it appears that you are eligible, you can submit an application for the debt consolidation loan. You may be able to do this from home at your computer. This would be helpful if you need to consult records and pay stubs rather than bring them all to the bank for copying. On the other hand, making an appointment with a loan officer to review some of the necessary records will give you the opportunity to ask questions and clarify information. Make sure the application is filled out correctly and completely, as missing information could delay an answer.
3. After discussing figures with the loan officer, make sure that you can afford the debt consolidation monthly payment. There's no point in refinancing if the new payment will still be hard to meet. Try to get the due-date set to a day each month right around payday, so you can make the payment before spending that money on other things. Payroll withdrawals are another option that will automatically deduct the monthly payment from your paycheck before you ever get a chance to see or spend that amount. Ask your lender if this option is available, and if you use it, be sure to deduct the payment amount from your check register each month.
Should everyone in financial trouble take out a consolidation loan? Not necessarily. There are potential drawbacks to consider, so do your research before making the decision to apply for the loan.
1. How long will a debt consolidation loan extend your current balances ? If your present credit card balances could be paid in full within three years by making regular payments as scheduled, is it advisable to refinance your debt and extend the loan another three to five years? You could end up paying far more over the life of the loan than you would by keeping current with regular debt payments. Compare the two to see if refinancing is in your best interests.
2. What will be your new interest rate? A debt consolidation loan generally is an unsecured loan, which means you may pay a higher interest rate than you might for a secured purchase, like a new car loan, for example. If your current credit card debt interest averages at six percent, and your new loan interest will be nine percent, how much more will you end up paying until the balances are paid in full?
3. Consider upcoming circumstances. For example, if your financial crunch is temporarily due to having a child in college, and he will graduate in a year, is there a way to make regular payments during this time by tightening the household budget rather than by refinancing a loan ? You might be able to use your job's year-end bonuses, an unexpected windfall, or a postponed vacation as a source of revenue to help you meet the present payment schedule, which could save money associated with the costs of a loan application, a longer payment scheduled, and higher interest.
These are some of the issues that typically come up when people think about refinancing their credit card debt to protect or clear their credit records. Give careful thought to the pros and cons of a debt consolidation loan before switching debt balances to a new lender.
This article was written by Katie Morgan . If you have less than excellent credit and are curious about your options, you'll find everything you need to know about credit or obtaining a loan right here in one location. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must contain a link pointing back to http://www.banklady.com
Article Source: http://www.article-submission.net
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