by Eric K Frey
Taking out a debt consolidation loan can be a responsible decision when you realize that your debts are getting out of hand. However, you will want to also consider other options before you do so. Here are 8 possibilities to consider before taking a consolidation loan.
1) Selling assets to pay debt should be done first. There may be a way for you to pay your debt without a consolidation loan if you can create more money. This additional money can come from selling assets that you already have and don’t need anymore. Amazon, Ebay and the local newspaper classified ads are a great way to make a few extra bucks from items that you can sell. If you are a homeowner with a large debt, you may even consider selling your house or renting out a spare room.
2) Don’t settle for making a minimum payment on your credit cards. When possible, you should start making larger payments on your existing credit cards above and beyond the minimum payment. Doing so will make a large impact over the course of a year. Although this may mean tightening up on your current spending, it could be a better option and cheaper option than a consolidation loan. However, if you are struggling to make the minimum payments, a debt consolidation loan could make controlling your debt easier.
3) If you are a homeowner, you may be able to save on your mortgage. Interest rates are historically low and by refinancing your current mortgage you may be able to save hundreds of dollars ever month. Additionally, you may be able to obtain additional money that can be used to repay other debts. However, be aware that there may be a prepayment penalty imposed by your current lender when doing this. If so, a second mortgage may still offer a reasonable interest rate while achieving a similar affect.
4) Consider a secured loan from a different lender. Missing and late payments can have a very negative affect on your credit score. This can potentially make your mortgage company hesitant to give you a second mortgage. However, by getting a new lender and using your house to secure the loan, you will likely be able to receive a loan at a decent rate. However, only use your home to secure a loan if you are positive that you can make the payments. If you miss payments, the lender will quickly try to repossess your home.
5) Use other assets to get a secured loan. Although the interest rate on a loan secured by an asset other than real estate is typically higher, it may still be worth it. If you have a car, boat or other expensive asset, you can uses these as security for a loan. This is a possible option if you don’t own any real estate or if your home is fully mortgaged already.
6) Go for an unsecured loan. An unsecured loan might be a good choice if you don’t have any valuable property or do not want to use it as security for the loan. Unsecured loans a generally repaid quicker than secured loans and usually have higher interest rates as well. Therefore you will have to make higher monthly payments on the loan, especially if you have a low credit score.
7) Don’t forget the credit card option. If your debts are relatively low and you still have a reasonable credit history, applying for another card with a 0% or low interest rate could be an alternative to a debt consolidation loan. Go for a 0% balance transfer if you can realistically repay all or most of the debts in the 0% balance transfer period.
Learn about the options. The best thing to do before reaching any decision is to thoroughly research each possible choice. One option may be clearly the best, but for many people the various possibilities can be confusing. So, check them all out as best you can. Call different banks or mortgage companies to see what they can do to help you and ask for solid numbers that you can compare. Just asking doesn’t commit you to anything, and they may help you decide the best solution for you.
It will take some time, a bit of determination and considerable effort to get out of debt, but the debt free life will be worth it. Simply not worrying anymore about unpaid bills phone calls from collectors will make life much more enjoyable. There are many solutions to the problem of debt and debt consolidation it one of them. Just keep in mind, that where there is a will there is a way and you’ll find your solution.
About the Author:
Eric Frey is a MBA student who is very interested in the topics of debt consolidation and debt reduction. If you are in debt and want to learn how to
Reduce Your Debt, the secrets that Eric discovered may interest you. Eric says that a military strategy is the solution to being debt free. For more information visit
Your debt reduction Guide and you can learn more.