The right debt consolidation plan is a great way for you to eliminate your debt. Although it doesn’t solve financial problems, having just one payment to make does make things easier. If you are finding yourself falling behind and tough to catch up each month, continue on for some excellent tips on debt consolidation.

Before starting any debt consolidation program study your credit report. It is important to figure out what happened to get you in the position you are in now. This helps you avoid making the same mistakes again.

Don’t go with debt consolidators due to them claiming they’re “non-profit.” Being non-profit doesn’t mean that they are the best agency to help you with your needs. Check with the BBB to learn if the firm is really as great as they claim to be.

Consider the long term effects of your debt consolidation decision. Clearly, you need help fast, but make sure the company provides longer-term assistance as well. Some companies are able to help you with financial issues now and in the future.

While you’re in debt consolidation, think about the reasons you got into this position to begin with. You don’t need to run into this again five years down the road. Do some soul-searching to find out how you got into this situation, so that it never happens again.

Understand that your credit score will not be affected by a loan for debt consolidation. Although certain debt reduction strategies will negatively impact your credit, consolidation loans simply assist you in reducing your bills and interest rates. This can be a powerful tool if you follow the plan carefully.

Retirement Fund

Did you know that your life insurance can prove beneficial when considering how to pay your debt? It is possible to cash that in and then take care of your debts. Call your insurance agency to see if you can cash in your policy. Sometimes you can borrow a small part of your policy investment to help cover the debt.

You might consider drawing money out of your retirement fund or 401K to pay your high interest loans. Only do this if you can pay it back into the retirement fund. You must pay penalty and tax if you can’t.

When consolidating your debts, make sure to consider which debts are worth consolidating and which should be kept separately. For example, it makes little sense to consolidate loans with zero percent interest onto higher interest loans. Look at each loan individually to ensure you are making the best decision of whether to include it in your debt consolidation.

Figure out if you’re dealing with people that are certified to counsel you when getting debt consolidation. You need to check with the NFCC in order to find good companies that hire reputable counselors. That way, you can be more secure that you are doing the right thing and dealing with the right people.

When considering debt consolidation, you need to research the consolidation companies through consumer reviews. If you do this, you can make a more informed decision so that you know you’re going to be in a good place with the professionals you’ll be working with.

Find out what their privacy policy is. You should find out how the company stores your sensitive information. Find out if encrypted files are used by the computer system. The more secure the system, the less chance your identity will get stolen.

To get rid of debt quickly and simply, check out debt consolidation. Given your new knowledge of this topic, nothing should stand in your way when it comes to paying off debt through consolidation. Take what you’ve just learned, and let it help you take control of your financial situation once and for all.