Finance Information Center

If you are having trouble balancing your income and expenditure because of large debts then read on and discover your options in credit card debt consolidation. Debt consolidation can be an excellent option when you find your finances getting out of control but before you go out and sign up for a debt consolidation loan there are a number of factors you must take into account.

1) Why are you looking to consolidate debt?

The basic principle of debt consolidation is that you take out a single loan and use that loan to repay all your existing credit card debts, loans and overdrafts.

This normally results in lower payments generally spread over a longer term. Before you proceed with debt consolidation you should first consider whether there is a better alternative.

2) Sell assets to clear your debt

Rather than rescheduling your debts see if there is any way you can repay some or all of your debts yourself. Sell unwanted valuables and other items.

Depending on the item you can sell to dealers, advertise in local classified ads or through Ebay. Sell unwanted books through Amazon. If your debts are very high and you own your own home consider downsizing to release equity.

3) Pay more than the minimum off your credit cards.

If you can pay more than the minimum monthly payments you should seriously consider continuing with your existing credit cards and clear the debts over the next 12 to 18 months.

While it may mean restricting your spending in other areas it will be the cheapest option long term. Of course you may still opt for debt consolidation to make managing your debt easier.

4) If you are currently only just managing to pay the minimum monthly payments on your credit cards, or your total credit card debt is increasing each month then debt consolidation may be the right choice. There are a number of options when considering debt consolidation:

5) A mortgage or re mortgage

If you own your own home the lowest interest rates are obtainable by taking out a new mortgage to pay off your existing mortgage (if any) plus enough funds to repay you other debts.

If repaying your existing mortgage will result in penalty charges consider a 2nd mortgage with your existing lender. The interest charged will probably be slightly but not significantly higher.

6) Take out a secured loan with another lender

If you have already missed or been late with any payments, and as a result your credit score is too low for your mortgagor, consider a secured loan with another lender.

Secured loans in these circumstances are more expensive and the lenders are quick to repossess your home if you miss payments. Only take this route if you are certain that you can make the repayments.

Depending upon how bad your credit history is, so long as you maintain all your payments for the following 1 to 3 years, you can replace this loan with a mortgage or re mortgage once your credit score improves. There will be penalties however if you repay a secured loan early. Ensure you read the fine print.

7) A loan secured on other assets

If you have an expensive car, boat or plane you will probably be able to obtain finance using these assets as security. The rate of interest will be higher than a loan secured on property. If you do not have property or it is fully mortgaged securing a loan on other assets may be an option.

An unsecured loan

If you do not have property or other assets an unsecured loan is often a possibility. An unsecured loan is usually over a shorter term, normally up to a maximum of 7 years but occasionally longer. As a result the monthly payments will be higher but the debt will reduce quickly.

As the lender has no security your property and assets are less at risk if you default. The lender could, however, send in the bailiffs if they obtain a court order.

Because there is no security expect to pay a higher interest rate, particularly if you have a poor credit history.

9) 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 balance 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. If however, there will still be a substantial debt at the end of the balance transfer period go for a permanently low interest rate.

Be aware there may be a 2 - 3% charge on the balance transfer. To ensure you don’t slip back into debt cut up all your credit cards and close paid off accounts.

10) Check all the options before making a decision.

As you research all the options it will quickly become clear if there is one obvious solution. For many individuals there will be more that one option so it is essential check them all out before makuing a final decision. Go to a range of different lenders and mortgage or loan brokers and obtain the best package for you. Remember you have the final say and just enquiring does not commit you to any course of action.

For a great many people debt consolidation provides an ideal solution to excessive credit card debt. Sorting out debt problems takes a little time, effort and determination. Once you’ve sorted your debts you will find life more enjoyable and relaxing and, with no debt collectors calling or contacting you by post or phone, much less stressful.

Have you every been in the frustrating situation where you need to buy something for your business and don’t have the money? Maybe one of the following techniques will be the answer you’re looking for. You’re probably aware of the credit card industry for purchases. Did you know you can actually “buy money” with credit cards? You can withdraw the money no questions asked, assuming you have available credit of course.

Not only can you use your card, many credit card providers also can send checks that you can write against your credit limit.

If you have five credit cards you can cash a check or “draw money” (cash advance) of $1000. That makes $5000 if you use this method on all five cards. Cash the credit card check at the bank or institution that provides the credit card.

Many banks also offer overdraft protection these days. Using this method a check can be cashed for higher than the amount in the bank account. The check is processed even though the funds are there. The bank honors the check, therefore , as a benefit, no overdraft fees for you or the person whom you issued the check. This method is actually “revolving” credit.

Another method is using your home equity to borrow money. If you have $25000 equity in your home You could take out a loan using the equity in your home. Many astute people use this method in order to start or expand a business.

The next method, which has been used very frequently is borrowing from friends and family. For example if you have 10 friends that each loan $100, that’s $1000 right there. Imagine the possibilities if have hundreds.

Even though you don’t realize it you probably have cash laying around. I’m not talking about finding money in the pockets of old jackets. Old furniture, dolls, antique items can all be sold to raise funds. Almost anything in your bedroom, attic or basement stored away has the potential to generate funding. You could even have a yard or garage sale as a fund raiser.

There are many more methods that can be used. Use your imagination to see the endless possibilities. They are out there, spend a little bit of time contemplating and less time worrying. The world is full of endless opportunities for anything and everything. Be prepared to use any or all the methods when the need arises.

If any of these methods work for you, you’re well on your way.

If you are searching for a loan to cover the current mortgage owed, you may want to consider a few options before you settle on any one option. The bank lenders will often repossess or foreclose contracts if the borrower cannot pay for the mortgage loan. Thus, if you are searching for equity loans to refinance your home, you may want to consider selling your home to make profit and then purchasing a foreclosed home. Read the rest of this entry »

With home equity loans, the interest varies from lender to lender. For the most part, each lender stays within the interest guidelines setup by the loan officers. Home equity loans are sort of a cash in advance loan, since many lenders will provide the loan with no closing costs, fees, or other upfront costs. Most loans require that the borrower pay origination fees, title costs, arrangement fees, stamp duty, and closing costs, while the home equity loans often require nothing down supposedly. Read the rest of this entry »

Equity is the value of a home vs. the value of the loan. Many homeowners today are searching for ways to increase the value in their home, payoff debts, buy a new motor vehicle, or else take a long needed vacation and few take out equity loans to accomplish the mission. The loans for the borrower are revenue for releasing cash for extra expenditures. To the contrary, refinancing is the source for releasing cash, while home equity loans are more inteded for providing needed cash to cover expenditures by means of savings. Read the rest of this entry »

Home equity is a give/take arrangement, since the borrower is wagering his home, putting it entirely in the lenders hand in exchange for a large sum of money. Therefore, home equity loans take great consideration. Many borrowers step into loans with a goal in mind, and usually that is to save money, invest in homes, roll debts into one bill, buy new vehicles, and so forth. However, this is often a blind spot, since the borrower may accept any loan offered without considering the long term ramifications of choosing a loan that is poorly tailored to their needs. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting an equity loan is fairly easy nowadays. Many lenders are offering equity loans online that are presented to homeowners with credit problems and so forth. Still, few lenders expect a credit rating around 720; however, few lenders will accept applications from borrowers with lower credit rates. The downside is that the borrower will not receive discounts offered in some loans for outstanding credit ratings, nor will they receive the lowest interest rates or monthly installments. Read the rest of this entry »