Having several loans and juggling with the payments can be a drag on your positive attitude. But you don't need to pick and choose one debt over another if you understand how consolidation loans work. All it takes is talking with a bank or other financial institution and arranging to have all your loans lumped into one loan. This means you only have to make one monthly payment to the lender who made the consolidation possible.

There are many types of consolidation loans available to help you reduce your monthly payments. One of the most common of these is the secured debt consolidation loan. You can get this loan if you can offer the lender enough security against the amount you are borrowing. Mostly the lender will willingly accept the equity in your home to secure the loan. The great thing about such loans is that they come with a much lower interest rate than you are already paying on your other loans. The disadvantage, of course, is you are exposing your home to the risk that you might default on the loan.

However, if you overcome the idea of attaching more risks to your property, you can take advantage of the many good points inherent in consolidation loans.

1. A great benefit about taking out a consolidation loan is that it provides you with the chance of improving your credit history and, in turn improve your credit score rating. Once you have taken out such a loan you need to ensure that you make the repayments at the terms set out by the lending company.

2. This loan allows you to have just one loan so you may pay off many other loans. This means you can secure a much lower rate of interest. Also, it provides you with the convenience of just having one loan to worry about in the future. And you will find that lenders offer such loans at a much lower monthly repayment figure, as they spread out the installments over a longer time period.

3. One possible advantage you can have from using consolidation loans is the interest you pay on this may be tax deductible. Usually, when you add your first mortgage to a new consolidation loan and this amount does not exceed the appraised value of your home, the interest that you are paying on this loan is fully deductible. It is important, therefore, that you should consult with a tax accountant who can advice you on how to apply this tax saving tip.

Usually, when you take out a consolidation loan you are exchanging some unsecured debt for secured debt instead. And since lenders are in the business to make money, you should not expect a bargain. While the unsecured debt you exchanged came with a simple interest calculation, your consolidated loan will have an unfavorable interest calculation. Lenders normally calculate simple interest loans yearly. Your consolidated loan would most likely include compounded interest daily rather than yearly.

So it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of taking a consolidation loan before you decide on one.