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Debt consolidation is a way to collect all your individual debts and lump them into a single loan. It works well to combine overdraft, credit card, and automobile loans. By consolidating your debt you only make one payment to one creditor. Usually, you can negotiate better terms, a lower interest rate, and quicker payoff times. But is debt consolidation always the best idea for you? More importantly, do lenders have your best interest in mind?

Debt consolidation is growing very quickly. It takes the form of balance transfers on credit cards to official 'debt consolidation' issued by lenders. There are literally billions and billions of dollars of debt being transferred from one account to the other.

The positive aspects of debt consolidation make sense. Who wouldn't want lower interest rates, a longer payback term, while paying more towards your principle the whole time? But be careful of a few things.

Secret One:

Is your loan going to be unsecured or secured after you consolidate? Debt is usually extended because lenders expect you to pay them back. An unsecured loan is like a signature loan or a good will loan from a friend. They don't make you put anything on the line in the event you don't pay. Instead they loan you the money solely on your ability to repay the loan. On the other hand there are secured loans. A secured loan means that you offer a piece of collateral and the bank will lend you the money. That collateral could be your house, your boat, or a sum of money in an account. If for any reason you default, or don't pay the loan back, the bank has every right to take your home, your boat, or the sum of money you have deposited. When you consolidate your debt make sure you know if it is an unsecured or a secured loan.