Imagine you’re standing on one side of a drawbridge and on the other side awaits your destination. Between where you are and where you want to be hangs a bridge. The path looks pretty straightforward from here, but you soon find out not every board in the bridge is equally as strong. Getting across will require avoiding the weak spots and keeping an eye out for possible obstacles ahead so you can stay surefooted enough to reach the other side.
If this is a metaphor, then credit card consolidation is the drawbridge — the path that can get you safely to the other side (freedom from credit card debt) but also can cause some missteps if you’re not careful on the journey.
Here are three major traps to avoid when consolidating credit card debt.
Trap #1: Inadvertently Increasing Your Interest Charges
Put simply, going through the consolidation process only to end up paying more interest as a result is counterproductive to your goals.
How can this happen? The two factors that determine whether it’s worthwhile to consolidate using a loan are the interest rate you can get and the loan term — like 12 percent APR on a five-year loan, etc. This will allow you to calculate the interest charges you’ll pay if you take on said loan. Then you can compare these charges to how much you’d pay in interest if you didn’t consolidate. Whichever one is less costly is usually the better plan of attack.
The key to avoiding this pitfall is considering the length of the loan in addition to the interest rate when figure out whether it’s a good deal. If you’re no fan of numbers, try using a free plug-and-play consolidation calculator.
Trap #2: Going with the First Lender You Find
One of the most important credit card debt consolidation tips is also the simplest: Shop around, just like you (hopefully) would before buying a car, house or appliance. Knowing your options gives you power to choose the best fit for you rather than taking the first offer that comes your way.
Potential sources of consolidation loans include credit unions, banks and online lending companies. According to Bankrate, the most important factors to compare are:
- Estimated APR
- Loan term
- Minimum and maximum loan amount
- Credit and/or earnings requirements
You will find yourself able to prequalify for more options and receive lower APR quotes with good credit, but there are lenders out there specializing in bad-credit consolidation as well. A little research goes a long way toward helping you know what to expect from various lenders so you can narrow down your pool, apply and choose the strongest option.
Trap #3: Adding New Debt to Your Existing Debts
Debt consolidation isn’t just something you sign up for and basically forget about until it’s over; it’s a major decision that requires some behavior changes. As one financial counselor mentions for Money, people often need to seek out debt consolidation after their spending gets out of control. This means addressing the root issue is necessary to sustain change and stay out of debt.
If you take on a debt consolidation loan to wipe out your credit card debt, but then end up reloading debt onto those credit cards based on your old spending habits, you’ll be worse off than when you started. Budgeting is a must, and you may even find it beneficial to meet with a professional like a credit counselor for additional tips on staying out of debt.
Avoiding these traps goes a long way toward making your consolidation journey smooth and successful.
