Getting into debt is much easier than getting out of debt. Credit card companies are eager to sell new cards to customers. These days, credit is abundant for those who can get it on favorable terms. However, the people struggling to get out of debt are in the biggest predicament. What are their options? The ideal resolution would be to repay them all and never get into debt again. At the other extreme, bankruptcy, the financial black hole, awaits those who fall into is yawning mouth.
Clearly the first option is better from a financial and psychological standpoint. However, the question remains as to how the debtor accomplishes this objective. The answer may well be debt consolidation. When faced with an array of options, debt consolidation may be considered the least bad one to take. Consolidating debt involves taking out a loan at the lowest possible interest rate, using the proceeds to repay all outstanding debts, and then repaying the consolidation loan.
The goal is to become completely free of debt after repaying the consolidation loan. When it comes to credit cards, the strategy is different. Debt consolidation in this situation is about finding a balance transfer credit card with the lowest interest rate. Transferring all outstanding balances to the low-rate card, closing the accounts, and repaying the low-rate card balance is the ladder to getting out of debt in this scenario.
The above steps notwithstanding, debt consolidation is perilous. In essence, the borrower takes on even more debt to repay existing debt. This may seem foolish. At worst, this represents exacerbating the problem under the guise of fixing it. Many people have no other option to get out of debt. They should use debt consolidation while they still can to get the lowest interest rate possible.
To pursue debt consolidation, the borrower would do well to find a reputable credit counselor. A nation-wide network of credit counselors and credit counseling firms accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling is available at their website. After locating a credit counselor, they may recommend cutting off all interactions with creditors. The counselor will handle all communications and handle the repayment of debts.
Credit counseling can help chronic debtors figure out ways to keep them out of debt once the debtor finishes the consolidation process. Staying out of debt is the only way to avoid getting back into the hole of debt consolidation. Abstaining from spending more money than the borrower earns on a monthly basis will keep the borrower out of debt.
Handling debt through debt consolidation is important because conditions may change at any moment. Under current regulation, credit card companies are restricted in terms of their actions against borrowers. However, if the borrower violates certain standards, such as having too much debt, their interest rates could rise. This would mean the end of their original debt consolidation plan. The borrower would have to get used to paying down the debt at a higher monthly level than they ever anticipated.
This post was provided by Xavier Jonhson, an expert in all matters of debt consolidation. He recommends you get help for debt consolidation Toronto. He personally recommends Killen Landau & Associates Ltd.