| Make a success of your commitment to become | | | | company by careful research and homework. |
| debt free. Choosing free debt consolidation | | | | Analyze several companies thoroughly. |
| requires financial discipline, proper | | | | |
| guidance and making a choice of the right | | | | 3. Provide accurate information to protect |
| debt consolidation company. | | | | your credit rating |
| | | | |
| How To Get Started? | | | | 4. Use budgeting tools to manage your |
| | | | finances |
| Start by seeking free debt consolidation | | | | |
| help. Some non-profit organizations and debt | | | | What Are The Various Budgeting Tools? |
| consolidation companies provide you this | | | | |
| help. | | | | Some of the budgeting tools that can prove |
| | | | handy to you are: |
| What Constitutes A Good Debt Consolidation | | | | |
| Program? | | | | 1. Price comparison calculator (Compare |
| | | | prices of various products and services) |
| Look out whether the free debt consolidation | | | | |
| program provides you the following: | | | | 2. Savings calculator (Allows you to |
| | | | calculate how much you can save) |
| A simple and workable payment schedule. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Work sheet planner (A good way to assess |
| A lower interest rate than what you are | | | | how much you can spend) |
| currently paying | | | | |
| | | | 4. Debt to income calculator (An important |
| A consolidation of all your debts including | | | | ratio that measures what you owe against your |
| credit card debt consolidation | | | | income) |
| | | | |
| Effective coordination by the debt | | | | You will come across many advertisements that |
| consolidation company with your creditors. | | | | claim offering free debt consolidation |
| | | | programs. The newspapers and the internet are |
| It is also worthwhile to check out the | | | | flooded with scores of such ads. The benefits |
| credentials of your credit counseling agency. | | | | these ads claim are sometimes too good to be |
| Find out whether they: | | | | true. Remember when companies advertise debt |
| | | | consolidation, it generally means free |
| Provide customized solution to your debt | | | | counseling or advice at the first instance. |
| problems | | | | All subsequent services will have to be paid |
| | | | for. Many payments will be cloaked under |
| Guarantee confidentiality of their services | | | | various heads such as voluntary |
| | | | contributions, application fees, hidden |
| Are having certified counselors | | | | percentages, one time fees, etc. So look out |
| | | | and tread carefully before you hook on to any |
| Are accredited by a well known agency | | | | company for debt consolidation. |
| | | | |
| Educate you on various loan options | | | | Opt for free debt consolidation to avoid |
| | | | falling into a debt trap. However, if you are |
| Handle and protect your funds properly | | | | already in a debt trap for any reason, take |
| | | | help from a debt consolidation company and |
| Other Handy Tips | | | | make a disciplined commitment to become debt |
| | | | free. Some companies even offer free debt |
| 1. Free debt consolidation may require that | | | | consolidation help although such genuine |
| you do not take out any additional credit. | | | | companies are one in a dozen. But nothing is |
| This is generally an essential part of any | | | | impossible if you put your heart and soul |
| debt consolidation program. | | | | into it; find a reliable company for yourself |
| | | | via the internet to get credit card debt |
| 2. Converge on your final debt consolidation | | | | consolidation loans and become debt free. |