No, not necessarily, but there are some inherent problems that must be dealt with before I would ever advise someone to get a debt consolidation loan.

Unless the problems that created the need for a debt consolidation loan are corrected, you may well find yourself worse off in the long run. If the debt resulted from overspending, then a consolidation loan won’t help, rather it will just delay the inevitable. Otherwise, in about a year or so, those little bills will be back again and when they are now combined with the debt consolidation loan payment, may make your cash flow problem even worse.

The other problem is that there is always the tendency to stop worrying once the supposed solution has been found. Many people actually spend more the month after consolidating their debts than they ever did before. Why? The pressure is off and they can now relax. That is a false security created by the temporary removal of financial pressures.

The third problem is people almost always borrow more than they actually need to pay their outstanding debts. Guess what happens next? Here come the entertainment systems, the new living room furniture, the vacation to the Bahamas. Once again, the lack of self discipline ^[2] rears its ugly head.

So, let’s suppose you’ve been on a budget ^[3] for six months (minimum) to one year. You’ve disciplined yourself to resist urges to spend money during that time and you’ve maintained on time payments to your creditors. If those apply to you and a consolidation loan will free up some cash flow to help you create an emergency fund ^[4] or just give you some breathing room, what are some options to get that debt consolidation loan?

1. Peer to peer lending

Perhaps the most preferable of all situations, borrowing from a peer to peer site such as Lending Club ^[5] allows you to get a rate that’s affordable and probably much better than any bank. With Lending Club ^[5], you can get personal Loans of up to $25,000 with rates as low as 7.88% if you have good credit.

2. Credit unions

If you are a member of a credit union, you’ll find that loans are a little easier to get and the rates are a little better than many other sources.

3. Pledged collateral

Many banks will lend at very good rates with in-bank deposits (such as CD’s) used as collateral. Obviously, those needing debt consolidation loans rarely have cash available for collateral, but many times a family member will. This will require a high degree of trust and the person putting up the collateral should monitor the situation very closely.

4. Cash value life insurance

Money in cash value life insurance ^[6] can usually be borrowed at a very good rate. You might not have this type of insurance, but a parent might.

5. Family

Granted, this is a tough situation and many relationships have been damaged by a family member’s failure to meet a financial obligation. If you’re asked to lend, I would only recommend “loaning” money you can easily afford to lose, otherwise that Thanksgiving turkey might have a funny “twang” to it. If you borrow from a family member, make certain you pay back everything you should. Never compromise doing what’s right to do something that’s more convenient.

Loan Options I Would Avoid

• Borrowing from my retirement account – the fees, the taxes, and the loss of growth make this almost as expensive as pay day loans.
• Pay day anticipation loans – with interest rates in the stratosphere, using one of these lenders is financial suicide.
• Borrowing on a credit card ^[7] – they’re probably what you’re trying to consolidate anyway. Don’t make things worse.
• Home equity – with the volatility in real estate, borrowing against it could mean having my loan “re-called” if my home’s value drops too low.

Again, only use a consolidation loan if you’ve been on a budget for at least six months and preferably a full year. It takes that much time to develop the good habits that will help carry you through to the last payment on that debt consolidation loan.

About the author

Ron has written 1082 articles on The Wisdom Journal.

The founder and editor of The Wisdom Journal ^[8] in 2007, Ron has worked in banking, distribution, retail, and upper management for companies ranging in size from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from a top MBA program and currently is a partner in a national building materials company.

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