Bitter truth is that a divorce means greater financial pressures, simply because the debt and monthly payments that were once handled by two will then be piled on one. This can be a very hard-to-handle financial blow, add to the mental torment of divorce. Debt consolidation can relieve you from these stupendous monthly bills. Here are a few things you may consider doing to tame your finances and start afresh.

1. Talk your creditors into lower rates on your outstanding debt amount. People often fail to realize that negotiations work. Instead of shying away, just explain your situation to your creditors. What do you have to lose, anyways? They often agree to lower the rates because they want the money, which they won't get if you declare you're bankrupt.

2. Do a bit of budgeting, which doesn't necessarily mean complicated calculations and accounting. Just have a fair idea of your monthly earnings and expenditures. This will help you cut down on unwise expenses, thereby stopping you from getting into more debt.

3. Go for a debt consolidation loan. This will help you lower your monthly payment on bills. The outstanding debt amount which you have against your name is clustered into one single loan. You can always reorganize your monthly payments and accommodate them into your budget to make life easy.

A very good advantage of having a debt consolidation loan is that you have only one lender to remember. So you don't run the risk of missing payments and hurting your credit ratings. You can keep paying your monthly bills with just a single loan. And this actually fosters your credit rating.

A debt consolidation ensures that there are no wavering interest rates. Therefore, your monthly payments are fixed.

Debt consolidation loans are of two types: secured and unsecured. The first demands collateral like a home equity loan, home equity line of credit or a cash-out mortgage refinancing. This kind is the most affordable of loans because it has the lowest of interest rates. The latter, on the other hand, has higher rates, includes personal loans and do not need collateral.

Divorce is in itself quite traumatic even if you keep aside the financial crisis bit. But to manage your life well at such an acute situation, debt consolidation is the best way out. So reduce your monthly debt payments with that, get control of your finances and move ahead.