Getting into debt is easy but getting out of it really a difficult task. This holds good for any kind of debt and includes credit card debt too. Credit card debt reduction needs planning and discipline in the way you spend money.

Credit card debt reduction starts with reduction in the expenditures you make using your credit card. So, the first trick for credit card reduction is to go for shopping without your credit card (carry some small amount of cash). This credit card reduction technique isnt asking you to stop shopping, instead its just asking you to seriously evaluate the need of anything you want to purchase and not just purchase it on the spur of the moment. So, if you really-really need to buy it, you will go back to your home to fetch your credit card thus introducing a delay that is instrumental in killing spur-of-the-moment purchase (and hence helping in credit card debt reduction). It gives you time to evaluate if its really worth going back home and getting the credit card for purchasing that item. So, in this case, credit card debt reduction is achieved by preventing the debt from building up further. Its a very effective credit card debt reduction measure.

The other effective way of credit card debt reduction is debt consolidation i.e. consolidating debt from high APR credit cards to a low APR one. So this credit card debt reduction measure works by reducing the rate at which your credit card debt grows. Moreover, this way of credit card debt reduction also gives you a breather in the form of a short initial period when the APR is 0%. Besides credit card debt reduction, debt consolidation also brings some additional benefits which are basically in terms of rewards etc offered by the new credit card supplier. Thus this method of credit card debt reduction is really more than just a credit card debt reduction method its a benefit provider too. If you are not comfortable in taking forward this method of credit card debt reduction, you can seek the help of a credit card debt assistance company.

Besides these two credit card debt reduction measures, which are really the most important credit card debt reduction measures, there are other methods too for credit card debt reduction. Another one is to ask your current credit card supplier for help in credit card debt reduction i.e. by lowering the APR. It might work out for you (as it does for some people).

Also remember, that there are people (professionals) out there who provide advice on credit card debt reduction (just in case you need them).

Bad debt credit card is basically a credit card that the credit card suppliers offer to the people who have bad debt. Did that astonish you? Well, dont let your thoughts run just yet.

You can classify bad debt credit cards into 2 categories based on what you understand by bad debt credit card. The first category of bad debt credit cards is those credit cards that are secured (and are also known as secured credit cards). These bad debt credit cards require a security i.e. you have to open (and maintain) a bank account with the bad debt credit card supplier. The credit limit on your bad debt credit card is calculated as a percentage of the balance you hold in the bank account you have opened with bad debt credit card supplier. Generally, this is 50-100% of your bank account balance. So, this bad debt credit card enables you to spend the amount you hold in your bank account; only the way you spend it changes (i.e. instead of spending that as cash you spend it using your bad debt credit card). So bad debt credit card lets you enjoy the convenience and other benefits that are associated with credit cards, even with a bad debt. This security is as such important for the bad debt credit card supplier; after all how can you trust someone who has a bad credit rating.

The other category of bad debt credit cards are nothing unusual, they are the same cards that we know of most commonly; the only difference is in the way you get them and the objective behind getting them. Here, we are talking about the credit cards that you use as a debt consolidation mechanism i.e. consolidating bad debt (as such any debt is bad). So we can call them bad debt credit cards too. These operate by transferring of the balance you owe on your current, high interest credit cards to these bad debt credit cards that have a lower APR (at least for some initial period). Hence, these bad debt credit cards help you in consolidating your debt and getting some relief from the higher APR that you were experiencing on your current card.

Some people accept both of the above categories of credit cards as bad debt credit cards while others tend to go with one or the other. So, what you regard as a bad debt credit card is really a matter of personal choice.

With Consumer Debt at a National high, many Americans are faced with increasing credit card interest rates, minimum monthly payments, etc. It is becoming harder and harder to meet our monthly obligations each month and many consumers are looking for answers.
This article will give you a brief run-down of the options that are available today to help make the decision a little easier.

The first option is to keep doing what you are doing now. Make your monthly minimum payments, pay increasingly high COMPOUND interest and lose thousands of dollars over the course of several years doing so. According to Bankrate.com, the average household has approx. $30K in unsecured debt. Did you know that paying the minimum monthly payments will cost you $112K in interest and it will take you approx. 59 years, yes you heard correctly, YEARS to pay off? That is a definite financial choice that will put you in the poor house quicker than anything else. When you are paying interest like this, it does not even benefit you to save your money in a savings account, because the interest would not gain fast enough to offset the interest you are paying on your credit cards. So, what should you do? Consider the other options!

The next option is a Debt Consolidation. This is a generic term now being used but true debt consolidation is taking your current debt load and rolling it into a new loan, with interest over a longer period of time. You will either need some security like a home or bank account. You will pay interest that is non-compounded, which is definitely better than compound interest; however, you will spread your debt over a longer period of time and therefore shell out more cash than necessary. If you have a small debt load, under $10,000, This may be a good option for you if you dedicate yourself to making larger monthly payments than are required, paying off early if possible.

Another option is Consumer Credit Counseling . You will recognize these companies because they usually have a non-profit status. They are actually sponsored by the credit card companies themselves and they have what is called a fair share arrangement, meaning the credit card companies pay these companies to keep you paying them. Your money is not dispersed into an escrow account, but the cccs companies disperse it evenly amongst your creditors how they see fit. You will not experience any relief from your monthly payment since they will stay pretty much the same. Interest rates are lowered most often, but are not completely eliminated. I have heard many complaints that payments are skipped and facts show that most enrollees in this type of program quit after the first 12-24 months. The reason being is that your credit report is negatively affected closely to that of a bankruptcy. When lenders and loan companies see an account managed by CCCS, they view it the SAME as a BANKRUPTCY. These types of programs usually take about 5-7 years to complete. Once the program is completed, the creditors release comments about CCCS on your credit report. To Sum it up, you have no monthly savings relief, you still pay your entire debt plus interest and your credit is negatively impacted for 5-7 years.

The last option I will outline is Debt Settlement. This type of program is becoming increasingly popular because of its many benefits to consumers. Debt Settlement Companies are experts at negotiating your debt down, on average for all cards/accounts, to 40% to 70% of what you owe. One card may settle at 80%, even 100% in some cases, the next card could be 30%. The end result is an overall total average of 40% to 70% of all the cards. This will be based on who your creditors are and their criteria. Creditors are directed to speak only to Certified Debt Mediators once enrolled and the process begins. Enrollees are set up on monthly payment plans, usually at a savings of 50% out of pocket providing immediate cash flow. You will be set up with one monthly savings amount, which will be deposited into a secured trust account at a Bank. Savings amounts are YOUR money. Settlement Companies have no access to it, beyond their fees, and neither do the creditors. It is a secure, protected trust account. This is the money, as it accumulates, that will be used to settle your debts. The consumer will have control of their own funds throughout the whole process. The average time a consumer is in the program is 12-36 months. During this time, the creditors will be reporting late pays on the consumer’s credit report while this process is going on. As settlements are reached with each creditor, the creditors will report a settled in full, paid with a zero balance. So, ultimately, at the end of the program, then your debt to income ratio will have improved and your credit will begin to heal itself for the future. In addition, you will not have the long term effect of a public record as you would with a bankruptcy.
Debt Settlement Companies do charge fees for their service, because creditors are not in alliance with DSC’s and do not give them kick backs for payments like in Consumer Credit Counseling programs. The fees average 15%-18% depending on which company you choose and the quality of service they provide. Most established firms will offer an online back office in which you can track your payments and settlement activities. Often times, fees are looked at in a negative light. But if you actually do the math, the savings still add up to substantial amounts and your credit gets back in shape pretty quickly. For instance, for $30K in debt and fees at 15% or $4500.00, you will still have an average savings of approx. $10,500. That is nothing to sneeze at! If your credit is a concern, then you must weigh your priorities.

Becoming debt free will give you many more advantages in your long term financial path, then two years with some late marks on your credit report. You may even consider credit repair after you are out of this type of program.

It is important to understand right in the beginning that credit card spending is the most common cause of debt. This is mainly because credit cards offer you convenience while spending your money. However, the negative side of credit cards is that they charge you an interest rate which is very high. Moreover, right from the moment you use your credit card, the interest meter starts running. It is similar to sitting on a potential debt time bomb which is waiting to explode, as soon as you miss your credit card payment.

Defusing this crisis is only possible by either following a strict financial discipline or avail the services of credit card counseling centers. Most people believe that they can pay their credit card firm only on monthly basis. However, the fact is that you can pay them as often as possible. So go ahead and pay your credit card company on regular intervals. We recommend that you pay them on weekly basis. Paying every week means that you pay a lesser interest rate and this is because, every time you pay the remaining balance is reduced. Also, small payments on weekly basis are easier to make as compared to bigger monthly payments. The above approach will help you manage your credit card payments in a better manner. However if you find yourself in a serious problem due to your credit card debt, we advise that you consider approaching Credit Card Counseling Centers for guidance.

These organizations include Consumer Counseling Centre of America (CCCA) which are non-profit organizations and have their presence all over the country. These centers assist consumers in getting out of debts which are unsecured in nature like credit card debt, personal and medical loans. You should not confuse CCCA with a consolidation loan agency. The major difference between the two is that while a consolidation loan agency gives you a loan CCCA does debt consolidation and negotiation of interest rates for you with your credit card company. CCCA works for you by receiving a consolidated monthly payment from you. Then, it uses that amount to pay off the creditors to whom you owe the money. You will find that availing the services of counseling centers like CCCA helps you gain your peace of mind. This is because of three main reasons, firstly, the creditors are no longer harassing you, secondly, your accounts are being updated regularly and thirdly your payment is current.

On top of this, since someone else is managing your payment schedules and logistics, no payment is missed and no late fees or delinquency charges are imposed on you. It is natural for people to feel disappointed when their application for a debt consolidation loan is not approved by banks. At the same time it is important that they accept the fact that a credit card debt is a loan which is unsecured in nature. Since an unsecured loan like credit card debt is not attached to any collateral, most of these banks will ask you for a mortgage. For example they may ask for your house to be mortgaged. We do not advise this as in case of a default on payment, the bank has the right to auction that asset. So, the best way to get out of a financial crisis like credit card debt, you will require a lot of self discipline and a little assistance from a counseling service.

All a homeowner has to do for getting a secured home loan of required amount and interest rate is to give his home as a collateral to the lender for the loan repayment duration. This collateral ensures lender that his loaned money is well secured. The lender knows he will sell the collateral to raise the money even if borrower fails to pay off the loan. So it works well for both the sides.

Under secured home loans, one can borrow anywhere in the range of 3000 to 75,000. For higher amount the lender goes through the equity of the collateral and a lot other aspects of the loans. Lender will evaluate how much equity is there in the home placed as collateral. Equity is value of home minus borrowings. Higher the equity higher the amount the borrower will get as secured home loan.

Secured home loans can be paid off in 30 years but instead one should keep the repayment term shorter to lessen the loan burden. Higher duration may increase your total monetary outgo on the interest rate.

Interest rate on secured home loans remains lower because the loan is taken against home, one of the largest assets. The interest rate, however, can be reduced further if borrower applies for secured home loans online and chooses the suitable one from numerous loan offers.

Interest rate on secured home loans is mainly of fixed and variable types. A variable interest rate may be lower at the time of taking the loan but may escalate later and increase the total outgo on the interest rate. Fixed interest rate is considered better option as the rate is constant through out repayment duration and borrower knows before hand the interest to be paid.

Often bad credit history of borrowers comes in the way of availing loans. Since the loan amount is secured, lenders normally do not hesitate in offering secured home loans to such borrowers. However, they should pay off easy debts and then get their credit report updated from a reputed agency. Lenders consider a credit score of 620 and above as safe for lending money while a score below this mark is read as bad credit.

Secured home loans are an easy option for homeowners. But one should make efforts to take the loan at cheaper rate of interest and should take advantage of the competition amongst lenders.

If you’re like most people, chances are you’ll have to rummage through bins and bins of collected shopping “litter” which you’ve accumulated through the years, just to be able to see that once precious scarf. You may still be in a state of denial by saying “Fashion goes round and round and that scarf will have its shining moment once again.”

Unfortunately, many people fall into this mode of impulsive buying that they really can’t afford and before they realize it they become saddled with debt. If you fall into this category, you’ll soon need to learn a thing or two about debt settlement which can assist you in extracting yourself out of that self-imposed state of financial trauma and begin to start rebuilding your life bit by bit. And the time to start is now! Of course, you have to be honest with yourself, admit that you’ve got a serious debt problem and then humble yourself enough to seek the help you need to pull yourself out of this devastating ordeal.

First things first, a lot of people may actually think that they only have a few choices when it comes to solving their debt problems. The two most common options for those who are burdened with enormous amounts of debt are either to consider declaring bankruptcy or debt consolidation. Unfortunately, if you take the easy way out by declaring bankruptcy, it will leave an embarrassing and indelible mark on your credit report for up to 7 years, which will result in higher interest rates, less credit and if you try do qualify for a mortgage (some lenders do give loans immediately after bankruptcy) you will most likely not be able to get a loan to cover 100% of the financing you need. Normally, an 80% first mortgage and if you can get a second mortgage, it will be at much higher interest rate and probably only 10% of the loan value for a total of 90% of the loan to value and you’ll have to come up with 10% down.

Clearly, everything will come with a higher price for a period of time but you’ll have to weigh that with a straight debt consolidation solution in which you pay off your debt. However, in many cases you can negotiate with the collection agency and it’s realistic to get 25% – 50% of the debt forgiven, if you can show that you’ll continue to make monthly payments until the remainder is paid off.

Many of the debt settlement / debt consolidation companies were actually established by the credit card companies themselves. Why, you ask… because it only makes sense for the credit card companies to help you pay off your debt because they can either forgive some of the debt or reduce the interest rates, lower the monthly minimum payment requirements or some combination and get paid a portion of the money owed or receive nothing if you declare bankruptcy. What would you do if you were in their shoes? The answer is obvious. This is why a lot of people who have been saddled with debt are now being offered debt settlement. Of course, not all debt consolidation service companies are owned by credit card companies but many are.

Some groups offer debt settlement programs through arbitration. The “selling point” when it comes to these kinds of solutions is that debt settlement will actually help end your debt problems, without having to go through declaring bankruptcy, without having to pay overcharged debt consolidation program fees as well as helping you avoid getting caught in the debt consolidation trap that a lot of people have fallen victim to.

In many cases, what the organizations do that offer debt settlement services is negotiate your debt down with the collection agencies that have been given your case. I would encourage you to contact a number of companies to ensure you feel comfortable and that you are working with a quality company that doesn’t over-charge you for their services.

On the other hand, if you would really like to save money, which only makes sense since you are already heavily in debt… then negotiate with the collection agency yourself. It’s not difficult, rather than getting upset when you get called night after night simply tell the collection agency rep that you would like to pay off your debt but you can only do it if you can get it reduced and then ask them that you would like to get the debt you owe reduced by 50% – 60%, even 75% and ask them to see what they can do. Ask for a lot up front because as in any negotiation there’s always a give and take. Believe me, they will go to work for you and your offer will be seriously considered because they only get paid when they collect and it’s better to get their percentage on a smaller amount than “diddly squat” on the full amount.

Of course, you’ll have to decide what route you want to take… bankruptcy versus debt settlement but shop around and realize that you do have options. The internet is full of companies offering their bankruptcy or debt settlement services, but be careful and don’t let them push you around and never work with anyone you don’t feel 100 percent comfortable with.

First, let’s get our definitions straight. The scheme I’m describing here should not be confused with Debt Consolidation or Debt Settlement (also known as Debt Negotiation), both of which are legitimate and ethical methods for debt resolution. The easiest way to distinguish the Credit Card Debt Termination scam from other valid programs is based on the central claim that you really don’t owe any money!

With Debt Consolidation, you pay back all of your debt balances. With Debt Settlement, you pay back a lower amount (usually around 50%) while the creditor agrees to forgive the remaining balance. However, with the bogus Credit Card Debt Termination program, promoters claim that you won’t need to pay anything at all (except their outrageous fees, naturally). They make the surprising claim that you can legally wipe away your debts simply by using their super-duper magic documents. Based on some legal mumbo-jumbo, the claim is made that you really didn’t borrow any money from your creditors!

In order to understand this scam, a little background is necessary. Remember the tax protest movement back in the 1970s? People were claiming that the IRS tax collection system was unconstitutional, and based on their misinterpretation of the tax code, they refused to pay taxes. The IRS came down hard on the tax protest movement, and through the court system, they blew holes in all the legal arguments put forth by the protesters. The Credit Card Debt Termination scam is a lot like the tax protest movement. In fact, among collection professionals, it’s called the “monetary protest movement.”

Just like the tax protest movement, there is a common theme that runs through all of the promotional materials issued by the monetary protestors. The basic idea is that our Federal Reserve monetary system and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) do not permit banks to loan out their own money. Therefore, according to their interpretation, the credit card banks are the ones running the scam on the American public.

Stay with me here, because the logic is pretty strange. If a bank cannot lend its own money, how does a credit card bank extend credit? The claim here is that your credit card agreement itself becomes a form of money (known as a promissory note) the moment you sign it. The idea is that the bank “deposits” your agreement as an asset on their books, and then any credit you use is offset as a liability against that asset. In other words, the core concept here is that you literally borrowed your own money from the credit card bank.

So let’s say your balance with ABC Credit Card Bank is $10,000, which you borrowed against the card to make everyday purchases. The scam promoters say all you need to do is notify the bank that you want your original “deposit” back. However, you will permit the bank to offset the amount you borrowed against the amount you have on “deposit.” Presto! You don’t owe the balance anymore!

Now, as you can imagine, the banks don’t take kindly to such tactics. Many of the consumers using this technique are getting sued by their creditors. But the scammers have more tricks available, as if the “smoke and mirrors” financial nonsense wasn’t enough. One of their techniques is the use of bogus “arbitration” forums. Arbitration is of course a legitimate system that allows businesses and individuals to resolve disputes without going to court. What do the scammers do? They coach people on how to set up a fake arbitration forum, for the express purpose of making a dispute against their creditors! Naturally, the creditors will not send representatives to some non-existent arbitration forum, so the consumer gets to rubber-stamp their own arbitration award. If they get sued in a regular court, they present their bogus award to the judge in the hopes that the creditor’s lawsuit will be dismissed.

There are other techniques used by promoters of this scheme, but the key point to remember is the central claim that your credit card debt does not really exist. Of course, it’s all nonsense based on a misinterpretation of our monetary system, and if you step back and think about for a minute, the truth seems pretty obvious. What these scammers are saying is that the entire $700 billion credit card industry is operating on an illegal basis! Even if the legal theory used by the promoters were true (which it isn’t), do you think for a moment the government would allow this giant industry to go under? That’s exactly what would happen if the promoter’s claims were proven true and used on a widespread basis.

The Federal Trade Commission, which has jurisdiction here, hasn’t stomped on these con artists yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Unfortunately, in the meanwhile, consumers are being bilked out of millions of dollars for a worthless program that will only get them into deep trouble with their creditors. If you are approached by someone offering to wipe away your debts using this system, I strongly recommend you run in the other direction while you hold on tightly to your wallet or purse.

Remember, you can eliminate your debts if you take a disciplined approach to your finances, make a budget and stick to it, and don’t use your credit cards unless you can pay off new balances in full each month.

People, who use overdraft facility that is provided by the banks, for a long time and do not pay their required dues can be subjected to following:

They can be charged with heavy fines.

There can also be heavy sanctions imposed on them.

Their credit cards can also be held and destroyed

They can also be categorized as people with bad credit history.

Keeping all these possible outcomes in mind, it is advisable to take the help of credit card debt management. Credit card debt management is a series of techniques that a credit card holder can use to get his credit card debts reduce and eventually eliminate his debts.

Credit Card Debt Management techniques that are available to any credit card holder are:

Debt consolidation it is the most famous of all the techniques of credit card debt management. In this, the credit card holders take a loan to settle all their accumulated credit card debts. In addition, the interest rates on the loans are also lower than what the holders have been paying until now.

Debt negotiation in this, what the borrowers need to do is try to negotiate a deal that could benefit both the holders and the main bank, which provides the credit cards. This technique will help both the parties in a win win situation.

Debt management consultation in this, what the borrowers are required to do is to go to a consultancy and try to find a way by which they can get out this situation of credit card debts.

A person with credit card debts can properly manage his credit card debts with all these credit card debt management techniques. All these techniques are available to all the people i.e. both the people with good as well as with bad credit history. So, people who have credit card debts, the advice would be to go for debt management rather than letting things go out of hands.

Before you consolidate, first you need to recognize why you want to consolidate. Are you looking for lower interest rates? Do you need lower monthly payments? Do you simply need to stretch out the term of your loan? If you answer yes to one of the last two questions, you should beware.

If you really just want to get out of debt, you need to understand how you got into the mess. Then you can fix the mess. Simply solving the problem with debt consolidation often makes the problem worse. Too many people consolidate and then charge the cards back up again.

If you know that you need to reduce the number of credit cards you have open, start with determining how much credit you need. How do you use your cards?

If you have several department store and gas cards that you never use, you should go ahead and close them. You also shouldn’t need to pay a yearly fee for a credit card that earns you gifts, like cash back or frequent flier miles. Pay attention to whether you use the miles or not. You may find that what you are paying isn’t worth what you are receiving.

You really only need one or two credit cards. Ideally, you need one card that is only used in emergencies. There are several steps you can take to start consolidating your balances into fewer cards.

Start by paying off all of the low balance cards that you plan to cancel and then close the accounts. Then, transfer your remaining balances onto the card that has the best interest rate. You can’t use this card or the other cards until it is paid off.

Now you need to have one or two cards that have high enough balances to cover your charging needs. Make sure that they have the lowest interest rates you can find. These should be the only accounts you have open. IF you charge to them, make sure you pay off each balance in full every month.

When it comes to balance transfers, there are some questions you should definitely ask. Find out how long the transfer rate lasts. Sometimes you can be given a rate for balance transfers that only lasts a few months. Find out if the rate is just for balance transfers, or is it for transfers and new purchases?

You need to find out about the fees that apply. Is there an annual fee? Find out what the late fees and over-the-limit fees are. Some institutions will charge balance-transfer fees as high as 4%. The higher the balance, the higher the fee. Just add it up: 4% of $5,000 is $200!

Read through your credit card offers very carefully. A lot of information is hard to understand (and find). Some offers waive the fees for the “initial balance transfer” only. This could be your first transfer and not the additional ones.

Each additional balance transfer will be treated like a cash advance and charged cash advance fees, which are very expensive.

If you feel comfortable with the terms offered to you, fill out the balance transfer form carefully. Mistakes can mean that the transfer won’t go through. Keep making the minimum payment on your old card until you are absolutely sure that the balance transfer has been completed. This can take two to four weeks. You don’t want to try to lower your payments and still receive a late fee and penalty.

Even though the new card company will contact you when the transfer is complete, you still need to talk to your old card. Call and verify that there is no balance left on your account. Write down the representative, time, date and what is said every time you talk with a company over the phone.

Have your card company send you a billing statement with a zero balance stated on it. You may need this in order to clear up any mix-ups. Oh, don’t forget to close your old card, you don’t want to accidentally charge on it!

There are some situations that can occur when you are consolidating your credit cards. You don’t want to suffer because you are taking control of your credit. Manage your transfers well and you should avoid errors.

Don’t cancel a card that still has a balance. This causes your rate to shoot up, because they know that they have to get the most out of you now. Don’t even tell a card issuer that you are leaving until you have no balance. Many issuers will raise rates if you cancel with a balance remaining.

Pay all of your cards on time no matter what. It can take one late payment for your interest to go from 9% to 28%. Amazing, isn’t it?

Don’t start canceling all of your cards before you apply for a mortgage or car loan. This can make your chances of approval even lower. Credit scoring is based on many factors, including how much debt you have and how much you have available. If you have cards with no balance on them, it can raise your credit score.

You need to remember, even if you find better terms for your debt, it is still debt. You must be sure that you pay it off before you add to it. If you don’t, then it will never end.

Consolidation doesn’t offer you a new start, just a better path to paying off your debt. If you truly want to get rid of your debt, use consolidation as a way to put all of your debt in one payment. And get out the scissors.

When managing your existing credit cards seems overwhelming, one effective way to ease both the financial and emotional burden of the cards is to consider the option to consolidate credit card debt. There are several ways to consolidate credit card debt, and there are many benefits that arise from the choice to consolidate credit card debt.

First, what does it mean to consolidate credit card debt? One way to consolidate credit card debt is to take out a new personal loan and use the proceeds to pay down your existing credit cards. Another way to consolidate credit card debt is to perform a balance transfer; this involves applying for a new credit card which will allow you to transfer all the balances from your existing cards onto this one new card.

Both of these methods to consolidate credit card debt involve opening an additional unsecured credit account. Another alternative to consolidate credit card debt is to look into borrowing against your home equity. One way to do this is to take out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), which is credit line against the equity in your home. You would then use the proceeds of this to pay down all of your credit cards. Another way to take advantage of the equity appreciation in your home to consolidate credit card debt is to refinance your existing mortgage. As part of this refinance, you would use some of the proceeds to pay off your existing credit cards. This type of refinance is often called a debt consolidation refinance you are consolidating both your old mortgage and your existing credit cards into one new mortgage.

Now that you understand how to consolidate credit card debt, it is important to understand the benefits of this strategy.

Lower Interest Rate: Perhaps the most significant benefit that results when you consolidate credit card debt is that the new account that you are opening will carry a lower interest rate than the rates on the credit cards that you are paying off. This means that it will cost you less over time to pay off your debt. If your credit is strong enough, you may even qualify for a 0% balance transfer, which means that you will not have to pay interest charges on your debt for a set period of time. Moreover, a secured loan (e.g. mortgage refinance, HELOC, etc.) will generally have a lower interest rate than your existing credit cards.

Faster Repayment Period: Along with saving money over the long term by lowering your interest rate, you will also more than likely be offered a lower monthly payment. This may be very attractive given your current financial situation. However, if you are able to maintain your present monthly payment amount after you consolidate credit card debt, you will be able to pay off the new balance much more quickly than you would have with the old credit cards.

Ease of One Bill: Another very important benefit that comes with choosing to consolidate credit card debt is the simplicity of having one monthly bill that comes with the new account that you have opened. With multiple credit cards you are receiving multiple bills, more than likely with different payment due dates throughout the month. Not only is this difficult to keep track of, it also increases the likelihood that you will miss a payment and end up paying late fees and incurring higher interest rates. It is easy to see how one monthly bill can lower your stress level considerably!

These are just some of the many attractive reasons to consolidate credit card debt. Be sure to examine all of the financing options available to you before deciding on the right one. You may be eligible for a loan or credit card with very low interest rate relative to what you are paying.