What Is Debt Consolidation, and Should I Consolidate? - NerdWallet When to consider debt consolidationSuccess with a consolidation strategy requires the following: Your monthly debt payments don’t exceed 50% of your monthly gross income. Your credit is good enough to qualify for either a 0% balance transfer card or a debt consolidation loan that has a lower interest rate than your existing debt. Your cash flow can consistently cover regular payments toward your debt. If you choose a balance transfer card, you can pay it off during the promotional period. If you choose a consolidation loan, you can pay it off within one to seven years. Here’s an example when consolidation makes sense: Say you have two or three credit cards with interest rates ranging from 23% to 28%, and your credit is good. You might qualify for an unsecured debt consolidation loan at 15% — a significantly lower interest rate. With less interest accruing each month, you'll make quicker progress toward being debt-free.For many people, consolidation reveals a light at the end of the tunnel. If you take a loan with a three-year term, you know it will be paid off in three years — assuming you make your payments on time and manage your spending. Conversely, making minimum payments on credit cards could mean months or years before they’re paid off, all while accruing more interest than the initial principal.Is debt consolidation a good idea?Debt consolidation is generally a good idea, since it makes high-interest debt, like credit cards, easier to pay off. If you qualify for a low interest rate on a debt consolidation loan, or you transfer your debts to a 0% balance transfer credit card, you’ll save money on interest, which you can then put toward paying down your debt.Just make sure you don’t run up new balances on the cards you’ve consolidated, since that can leave you further in debt, and consider all the pros and cons of debt consolidation before applying for a loan or balance transfer card.How does debt consolidation work?Debt consolidation works by combining multiple debts into one, which you then pay off over time, ideally at a lower interest rate. The specifics of debt consolidation will vary based on the type of consolidation product you apply for. For example, while a balance transfer card means moving your existing credit card balances onto a no-interest credit card, a consolidation loan gives you a lump sum, which you then use to pay off your various debts.» MORE: How do debt consolidation loans work?Does debt consolidation affect your credit?Debt consolidation can help your credit if you make on-time payments or if consolidating shrinks your credit card balances. Your credit may be hurt if you run up credit card balances again, close most or all of your remaining cards, or miss a payment on your debt consolidation loan. » MORE: Does debt consolidation hurt your credit?Can you consolidate debt if you have bad credit?You can consolidate debt if you have bad credit, though your options may be more limited. Debt consolidation loans are available to borrowers with bad credit. Credit unions and online lenders are most likely to accept borrowers with lower credit scores.» COMPARE: Best debt consolidation loans for bad creditWhen debt consolidation isn't worth itConsolidation isn’t a cure-all for all of your debt problems. You may still need to take steps such as seeking low-cost financial advice or lowering your living expenses. It’s also not the solution if you’re overwhelmed by debt and have no hope of paying it off even with reduced payments. If your debt load is small — you can pay it off within six months to a year at your current pace — and you’d save only a negligible amount by consolidating, don’t bother. Instead, try a do-it-yourself debt payoff method instead, such as the debt snowball or debt avalanche. If the total of your debts is more than half your income, and the calculator above reveals that debt consolidation is not your best option, you’re better off seeking debt relief than treading water. » LEARN: What Canadians should consider about debt consolidation Article sources Article sources , Debt consolidation loans are a type of personal loan you can get from a bank, credit union or online lender. You can use these loans to combine multiple unsecured debts into one fixed monthly , Debt consolidation lenders offer widely different loan amounts, interest rates and repayment terms, so it’s important to shop around before you commit to a lender. Pre-qualification is the best .