Top Options to Consolidate Credit Card Debt
Are you paying multiple credit card fees and balances month after month? If your answer is yes, then you should think about consolidating your credit card debt. For doing so, you may need to borrow money to pay off the credit card balances. While this may mean another loan for your credit card debt consolidation, it will reduce your payment to one single payment, which will have a much lower interest rate as compared to holding multiple credit cards.
If you are looking for ways to consolidate your credit card debt, here are some potential options for you:
1. Try out a nonprofit credit card organization
You can look for organizations accredited by the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling) if you wish to get outside help to guide you regarding your credit card debt consolidation. The advantage is that you may easily be able to set up a debt management plan or the program. In some cases, the organization may be able to negotiate better deals for you. However, you should note that the service may come with a small fee, which may be an added expense.
2. Go for a personal loan
Another option to consolidate your credit card debt is by opting for a personal loan. While the annual percentage rate (APR) is high even on personal loans, in all probability, they are much less than credit card rates. Hence, this is a good way to ensure that your credit debt is consolidated with only a single point of payment.
3. Consider a balance transfer credit card
Balance transfer credit cards are available in the market to help you reduce the interest rates. You can take advantage of their introductory 0% interest rate on the balances that can be transferred to the card within a stipulated duration. The most significant advantage of this option is that if you manage to get a good deal, you may be able to avoid extra interest rates entirely.
4. Borrow money from a qualified retirement account
You may have an individual retirement arrangement in place. To clear off high-interest credit card debt, you can borrow from one of these accounts. There is no credit check made when you withdraw from a retirement account. A drawback is that you may have to pay income tax for early withdrawal if you are below 59.5 years. However, it is possible that you would not need to borrow the entire amount and you can simply just take a portion of your retirement savings. This will allow you to gain interest on the remaining amount while simultaneously clearing your debt.
All the aforementioned options can be considered to consolidate your credit card debt. Ultimately, if you do manage to consolidate your debt, it will be a big relief to your finances and you can start saving up for the extra money you spend every month.