More Credit Card Debt Than You Care to Carry?
For many, debt caused by rising credit card balances and high-interest rates is a common stressor. It can feel as though you’re up to your eyeballs in debt with multiple payments on several cards – and getting nowhere when you can’t make more than the minimum payment. Using a personal loan to refinance your existing debt can make your debt more manageable. You’ll have one monthly payment at one interest rate instead of many smaller bills due on different days of the month.
But, will a personal loan work for your situation? Ask yourself…
Have I fixed the debt problem?
Think about why you’re in debt. If a medical bill, job loss or some other temporary hardship describes your situation, the fact that you have a job or have paid the medical bill means you’ve solved the problem that caused the debt in the first place.
If, on the other hand, you accumulated debt by overspending on credit cards, a debt consolidation loan may not be the answer just yet. First make a budget you can stick to, learn how to save and gain responsibility in your use of credit. Getting a debt consolidation loan without doing those things first is a temporary solution that can make matters worse.
Can I commit to a repayment plan?
If you’re struggling to make minimum monthly payments on bills, a debt consolidation loan can only do so much. It’s possible the lower interest rate will make repayment easier, but bundling all of that debt together could result in a higher monthly payment over a shorter period of time. Consider how much you can realistically put toward getting out of debt – payment wise. Your member advisor will figure out terms, interest rate and total amount borrowed, which will define your payment amount. Knowing what your budget looks like beforehand can help you determine if consolidation works for you.
Is my interest rate the problem?
For some people, the biggest chunk of their debt is a student loan. Debt consolidation for student loans, especially subsidized PLUS loans, may not make a great deal of sense. You’re better off negotiating the repayment structure with your lender if the monthly payments are unrealistic.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with credit card debt, the interest rate is definitely part of the problem. Credit card debt interest regularly runs in the 20% range, more than twice the average rate of personal loans. Refinancing this debt with a personal loan can save you plenty over making minimum credit card payments.
Will a personal loan cover all my debts?
If you have more than $50,000 in credit card debt, it’s going to be difficult to put together a personal loan that can finance the entire amount (the average American household has nearly $15,000 in credit card debt).
It’s worth prioritizing the highest-interest cards and consolidating those instead of trying to divide your refinancing evenly between accounts. Get the biggest problems out of the way, so you can focus your efforts on picking up the pieces.
Debt consolidation doesn’t work for everyone, but it can do wonders for many people. The ability to eliminate high-interest debt and simplify monthly expenses into one payment for debt servicing can change your entire financial picture.
Call us today to speak to an HFCU representative!