155471 53 Business & Finance Personal Finance Debt true Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:47:51 -0800 /system/videos/1/71/54/15/155471.flv debt, interest, rid, smaller, reduce, get out, money, finance, loans, credit How To Consolidate Debt http://www.howcast.com/videos/155471-How-To-Consolidate-Debt http://www.howcast.com/videos/155471-How-To-Consolidate-Debt/edit approved 124 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=155471"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=155471" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 10 bencheek http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/consolidate_debt_hd1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 1457 false false false 60821 1 20 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/20.jpg Avoid debt-consolidation firms Stay clear of debt-consolidation firms. They can’t do anything for you that you can’t do yourself.

]]> 60822 2 26 Tip Remember: Debt-consolidation firms that advertise themselves as “nonprofit” are not necessarily free.

]]> 60823 3 33 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/33.jpg Call your creditors Call your credit-card companies and try to negotiate lower interest rates. Be persistent – if they say no, ask to speak with someone else, or call back in a few weeks and ask again.

]]> 60824 4 44 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/44.jpg Investigate new cards Check around to see if you can get a new card with a promotional rate of six months to a year of no interest.

]]> 60825 5 50 Tip Read the small print! Don’t sign up for a card that reserves the right of “no-reason rate increases” or “universal default,” which means the company can raise your interest rates simply because you owe money to other creditors.

]]> 60826 6 62 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/62.jpg Transfer balances If your lowest-interest credit card has available credit, consider transferring other balances to that card. But do some number crunching first: Exorbitant transfer fees might make debt transfer pointless.

]]> 60827 7 76 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/76.jpg Apply for an unsecured loan Shop around for an unsecured debt-consolidation loan with a lower interest rate than that of your lowest-interest credit card. If you qualify for one, pay off your credit cards with the loan. Just be aware that they are nearly impossible to obtain in a tough economy.

]]> 60828 8 92 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/92.jpg Apply for a home-equity loan If you own a home, consider applying for a home-equity loan or line of credit; the interest you pay is often tax-deductible. Just make absolutely sure you can make the payments so you don’t put your home in jeopardy.

]]> 60829 9 105 Tip Make sure the loan doesn’t come with a prepayment penalty.

]]> 60830 10 108 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/155471/108.jpg Stop spending! Put the brakes on unnecessary spending so you don’t incur more debt while paying off what you already owe.

]]> 60831 11 115 Fact The U.S. national debt reached $10 trillion on September 30, 2008.

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