Debt consolidation loans are available for people who want to take a number of outstanding debts and consolidate them into one. This means taking a number of bills and turning them into one bill. Besides simplifying many debts and bills into one easy loan, debt consolidation can also help reduce interest rates and to secure a fixed rate for one loan.

The first most obvious advantage of a debt consolidation loan is that the individual may take many monthly payments and turn them into one easy payment. This not only makes it easier for the borrower but it also avoids the problem of having some bills paid late or forgotten about altogether. Another advantage is that debt consolidation may reduce interest rates. With a number of different debts, all with different interest rates, the cost of interest can accumulate very quickly, leaving the individual feeling overwhelmed with the amount of debt that they have to pay off. With just one payment, and one interest rate, the rate is sure to be reduced and will be easier to pay off.

Debt consolidation has one more way to reduce interest rates. The interest on these types of loans is generally much lower than the interest rates of other loans. For this reason, it makes good financial sense to combine high interest credit card loans with one low interest debt consolidation loan. This helps the individual save more money and pay off the loan faster.

There will be no negative impact to a person's credit rating for using a debt consolidation loan to pay off many existing loans. If used properly, a debt consolidation loan can actually improve the credit rating as debts will be paid off sooner and on time. Lower interest rates will contribute to this as will paying all the bills on time.

The major disadvantage to using a debt consolidation loan is that it is often required that collateral be put up against the loan. This could include a house, a car, or any other liquid assets. If the individual does not pay the loan back, these things can be taken to pay for the loan.

Another disadvantage is that some people think of debt consolidation as a way to get rid of their money problems. While it can offer a solution for debt problems, the individual will still be in debt, it will just be paid to a different creditor than the old debt. Although the interest rate has been reduced and a number of bills have been reduced to one bill, there will still be a large payment that needs to be paid every month. Because debt consolidation is most often entered into by individuals that had trouble paying off old debts chances are that they will have trouble paying off the new one as well.

The individual's financial situation needs to be carefully examined and compared against the advantages and disadvantages of debt consolidation before a decision is made to enter into a debt consolidation agreement.