Being deep in debt can make almost every aspect of your life more challenging. Not only can it make it hard for you to gain control over your finances and afford the things you need, but it can also impact your personal life and relationships as well as your own self-esteem. So when you’re given an option like debt consolidation, it might seem like the best or only option you have.
But unless you have a plan to fund your debt consolidation, doing this may not actually be helpful to you. So to ensure that you’re able to use the opportunity to consolidate your debt to actually get you out of debt, here are three scenarios when debt consolidation might make sense for you.
If The Interest Rate Will Be Better For You
Usually, people choose to consolidate their debt in order to simplify their lives and have an easier time paying off their debt. Ideally, consolidating your debt should help you to save money. One of the best ways to know if this is going to work out for you, according to Amrita Jayakumar, a contributor to Nerdwallet.com, is if you’re able to get debt consolidation zero interest or at least a lower interest rate than you’re currently paying on your debts. If that’s the case, debt consolidation could be a great option for you.
If You Don’t Have Trouble Controlling Your Spending
Another reason you may be interested in consolidating your debt is to quickly get it all paid off from just one lump sum that’s all in one place. However, this plan likely won’t work for you if you haven’t yet figured out how to control your spending. According to Lauren Barret, a contributor to Money Under 30, if you’re still spending at an unsustainable rate and adding more and more debt as you try to pay it off, debt consolidation won’t be beneficial for you at all. Until you can address the root of your problem, you’ll likely keep yourself in debt even with consolidating everything.
If You Have A Plan For Repayment
To give yourself the best chance for success of getting out of debt with debt consolidation, the staff of U.S. News and World Report recommends that you come into this transaction with a plan for repayment and a budget that you’re determined to stick to. Lay out exactly how much you’re planning to pay each week or month and how long it will take you to pay off your loan completely. Keep to whatever schedule or plan you make so you can ensure that you are able to finish paying off your debt and not make any missteps along the way.
If you’re thinking that debt consolidation might work for you, consider using the tips mentioned above to learn if this option will actually make sense for your situation.