What is debt consolidation anyway? Is it a way to miraculously fix all of my financial problems? How can I use it in the smartest way possible? For answers to questions just like these, continue reading this article. It has all of the tips and tricks you’ve been looking for.

If finance planner trying to pay down your debt, try borrowing a bit from your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement account. Be careful with this, though. While finance planner to borrow from your retirement plan for low interest, failing to pay it back as you agreed, losing your job, or being unable to pay it all back, the loan will be considered dismemberment. Your taxes and penalties will then be assessed as for why funds were withdrawn early.

Avoid storefront debt consolidation and major banks. Finding the right lender is as easy as searching on the web. Lenders found on the Internet can offer you a more streamlined process and not bog you down in paperwork and red tape. These lenders do not have to wait on a paper process to get these loans done quickly.

If you own your home, consider taking out a home equity loan. Since the interest on these loans is tax-deductible, you can save money in multiple ways. Provided you are able to get a good interest rate, this is a smart way to consolidate your debt into one monthly payment.

When looking at which debt consolidation agency to go with, you should look at the long term. You want a company that is willing to work with you later on as well as in the short-term. Some offer ongoing exercises that can keep you out of trouble down the road.

Consider borrowing from your retirement account to pay your debt off. Contact the financial institution you opened a 401K plan with to see if you can borrow part of the money you saved up. This is a good way to pay your debt off quickly but you will have to replace the money you took from your retirement plan.

Don’t make any decisions on a whim. Seriously, you’re talking about your personal finances here, something that will affect the quality of your life in many ways. Because of this, real research is needed. Understand what got you here, learn about your options, and fully research the debt consolidation firms you are considering.

Obtain one loan that will pay all your creditors off; then, call the creditors to make settlement arrangements. They may accept a lump sum which is reduced by as much as thirty percent! Your credit score won’t go down when you use this method either.

Think carefully about whether you want to go ahead with debt consolidation. Consider all the facts and consider all the choices you have for paying back your debts. You might find it’s better to go ahead with the debt consolidation, but you may decide it is better to just ask your parents for a loan instead.

With the current low home mortgage interest rates, you may be able to refinance your home and take out some of the equity. Be careful to avoid borrowing as much as possible on your new mortgage. If home values should drop even more, you may end up owning a home that is less than the amount you owe on it.

When you’re filling out the paperwork for a debt consolidation loan, make sure you do it correctly. You must pay attention here. Filling out something improperly will just make it harder for you to get the help you need.

When creating a list of creditors, don’t forget a single company or person. Include your car payments, mortgage, medical bills, overdue library books, student loan, utility bills, phone bills, cable bills, internet costs, magazine subscriptions, and anything else you might owe. Be sure to make a comprehensive list so that you can easily figure out what your next step should be.

If we have answered your questions, we hope you can go forward and use debt consolidation to fix your problems. If we have not, continue reading articles just like this one to find out all you can. The more you know, the better able you will be to decide if debt consolidation is for you.