consolidating bills

Submitted by ROSS on Sun, 12/05/2010 - 15:14
Forums

1. What are the advantages of consolidating bills? 2. How does this affect my credit? 3. Can I still use credit cards?

Bill consolidation can benefit you in many ways: i) monthly cash flow, ii) total savings, iii) interest deductibility, and iv) your credit rating.

However, all forms of debt consolidation are not the same. You need to consider your specific situation, including if you own or rent your home, your monthly debt to income ratio, and your credit rating. A program like a debt consolidation loan may lower your monthly payment, get you a lower rate than most credit cards, and the interest is tax deductible. Alternatively, a program like negotiated debt settlement may lower your monthly payment, get you debt free fast, save half of what you owe, but it could negatively impact your credit rating.

Sun, 12/05/2010 - 15:29 Permalink