Most
of us can run up credit card debt without even knowing exactly how we did it.
We look at that statement with the big numbers and
try to remember where the money went. A few dinners here, some clothes there,
a short weekend getaway, late charges and, finally, over-the-limit fees. Then
add lots of interest that your parents used to be able to deduct from their taxes
but you can't. What makes it worse is that when you're on
a fixed paycheck, it's difficult to pay off that debt incurred in good times past.
The best solution is to get a clean break by rolling that debt into a home equity
loan. Why tap home equity?
Most home equity loans are
taken either to: Make improvements that add to the value and
enjoyment of the home, or
Refinance the good life that you incurred on the
plastic you carry in your wallet. If you are borrowing to
build a new kitchen, you feel OK about the borrowing, since you know you're adding
value to your home. And if you end up with a new kitchen, perhaps you'll spend
less money in the long run on eating out. However, when you're
borrowing to refinance credit cards and consolidate your other loans, the decision
gets more difficult. A lot of people find themselves with
far more credit card debt than they can handle. If you're in this situation, start
arranging to refinance the debt into a home equity loan. In
fact, if you're really feeling financially daring, add enough money to get that
boat that you couldn't get when you were maxed out on the credit cards. That's
a joke, but this isn't: Remember that you're already in debt with the credit card
companies. Refinancing's many benefits
Refinancing your
debt into a home equity loan doesn't increase your debt. It doesn't add a dime
to what you already owe. It just moves the debt. By refinancing,
you're shifting the debt from various credit cards with differing due dates to
one lender at a lower interest rate with a fixed repayment plan. In addition to
the convenience of consolidating payments and payment dates, you create a tax
benefit like your parents had before 1987, when they could write off credit card
interest on their taxes. The major downsides to this strategy
are that it leaves you with refreshed credit limits on the plastic that you carry
in your wallet and puts your home at risk if you don't pay. If you're not careful,
you will wind up facing the same problem down the road. Actually,
many years of practice tells me that most people will wind up in the same place,
since we don't change our ways. However, at least by refinancing you've given
yourself a break and have for a period the psychological benefit of knowing that
you're credit card debt-free. In addition, you'll have the
financial benefit of paying a lot less interest, not to mention the cash you'll
save by making the interest expense tax deductible. And you'll
also probably think harder about what you charge on your cards, so you don't have
to face this decision again. When you get set to refinance
you'll want to find the right loan and also set a timetable for having the loan
paid off as soon as possible. When I say getting the loan paid off as soon as
possible, I mean at least paying off the old debt before you rack up another round
of credit card debt that you'll need to refinance. Article
continued at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/loan/20010824b.asp?prodtype=loan | 
