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One Simple Way of Consolidating Credit Card Debt

By: John Frazier


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Obligation is something that has to be managed, and can easily get out of rule if you're not careful. Credit card debt in particular is among the most troublesome financial problems for customers today, and consequently millions of credit card consumers are looking for ways of consolidating credit card debt as a means to better direct their financial responsibilities. While it is essential to get a good handle on your credit card financial records and ensure that you haven't extended yourself beyond your means, consolidating credit card debt itself can sometimes create even more fiscal adversity if you don't take great care in how you approach this significant financial matter.

One very ordinary form for consolidating credit card debt is to transfer the balances of your higher rate cards to a credit card that has a lower annual interest charge. For instance, you may have two or three credit cards with balances of a few hundred (or few thousand) dollars each, and those cards may carry an yearly interest rate of 17 percent, 18 percent, 20 percent, or even more. Obviously you should be able to save a substantial amount of money each year in interest by moving those balances to a card that carries a lower interest rate. For instance, you may be able to transfer the balances of those elevated-rate cards to a another card that carries only a 13.5 percent interest rate. Even on a balance that is currently being charged only a few percentage points higher, such as 17 percent, you will save substantial real dollars -- without doubt enough to judge this as a method for combining credit card debt.

But hold on second. Before you instantly transfer that balance, there are a number of pitfalls that you may overlook when consolidating credit card debt in this manner, and it is important to consider them before you shift your money:

Some credit cards offering lesser interest rates may only be offering them as a "teaser" or preliminary rate. That means the credit card's annual percentage rate may increase at some point in the future, when the teaser rate expires. You ought to check carefully to make sure that you realize exactly what the rate will be in the future as you pay down the balance you transferred from the previous card.

If it turns out that consolidating credit card debt by moving the on hand balances to a lower-rate card will perform well for you, then you certainly need to make sure you have a arrangement to deal with the higher-rate card that will swiftly have a zero balance. Too often people can fall prey to the "empty card" syndrome and find themselves charging possessions again on that newly empty card, simply because it has no balance and it offers a opportune payment method. If you fall victim to this state of mind, then you may find yourself right back where you started in no time. Instead, put that card away in a place where you're not likely to use it, unless faced with a serious emergency. Or else, your judgment to attempt consolidating credit card debt and saving yourself some funds in interest may come back to bother you.

Consolidating credit card debt by moving balances to a lesser-rate credit card is one possible way to avoid money on interest, but take heed the hazardous pitfalls of teaser rates and empty card syndrome. Credit and debt have to be managed wisely, or you may discover yourself in grave financial trouble.

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