With more Americans dealing with more debt, debt consolidation looks like a better way out. . So, is debt consolidation a good idea?

If you consider debt consolidation as a solution, there are things you should know about.

First of all, consolidation is an effective strategy just as it sounds. You deal with different debt like credit card balances or personal loans and consolidate them into just one loan. This has an interest rate that is lower compared to the average of what you pay.

Debt consolidation could be a better idea for those who have enough equity in their property.

Combining debt is just buying time. You have to think of whether you want to pay less but for a long period of time.

Is Debt consolidation a better idea on paper? Yes it is. You are getting higher interest credit card debt and making it into a lower interest loan. You’ll just be paying one instead of paying various debts.

But if you apply this, you should be a discipline person or it will just never work.

These are the Mistakes to Avoid:

If you’re planning to consolidate your debt, be aware of the following:

Don't make use of a home equity loan. If you have 5 credit card debt and you combined them into a home equity loan that is not a good plan at all.

That is why credit card debt is an unsecured debt which means there is no collateral to support it. That's because credit card debt is considered unsecured debt, meaning – there is no collateral to back it up. You may offer your home as collateral if you wrap your debt into a home equity loan. If you don’t settle the home equity loan, a lien will be given against your home

One important thing to consider is that if you refinance your credit card debt, you’ll probably have too much available credit on your credit cards. Many people may be tempted to do this.

Another common mistake is consolidating your debt from multiple cards into another card. Most of the time, people are encouraged to these deals that claims "no interest". The main problem there is that the new cards have unseen charges.

If you are already experiencing trouble with your debt, the professionals suggest that you hire a qualified financial assistance that will help you. Debt counselors can help you budget and find better methods to get rid of your debt. You no longer have to ask yourself "is debt consolidation a good idea?