If you find yourself facing a mountain of monthly payments and see your outstanding loan balances hovering at the exact same amount for months or even years, you may be wondering how to consolidate debt in a way that protects your credit score, that lowers your payments, and still allows you to pay off your debts in a reasonable about of time. While there is no one “best” way to consolidate your financial obligations, there are likely several options available to you. Financial advisor and business analyst Carl Walins tells us that a consolidation loan, probably the most commonly thought of form of debt consolidation, isn’t the only method to bringing loans together under a single payment umbrella.
“People wondering how to consolidate debt probably think of a consolidation loan first, but in reality there are a number of ways that you can consolidate your debt,” Walins says. “For instance, one effective way to lump your loans together and lower your monthly payments and interest is to work with a credit counseling agency. In most cases, these agencies can work with your creditors to lower your interest and payments, while preserving...