Four Ideas for Student Loan Consolidation

Four Ideas for Student Loan Consolidation


To consolidate or not to consolidate? Hamlet might have asked this question if he had graduated from college with student loans. If you're considering a loan consolidation, you'd be wise to follow a few simple tips.

The great thing about graduating from college is that you don't have to worry about homework hanging over your head. On the flip side of the coin, you may have something far worse to be concerned about-a student loan payment.

Many graduates consolidate their loans to lessen the pain of repayment. But no financial transaction should be taken lightly. Not only must you carefully analyze your current situation and goals, you need to consider what types of student loans are on the market. Here are some student loan consolidation tips to keep in mind.

1. Shop until your payment drops

You don't have to stick with the same lender if you're going to consolidate your loans. Shop around and look at different opportunities. Rates may not vary, but you could find that different lenders offer different discounts (see next tip). You may also find that the lender that you're currently with has included extra charges that you don't need to pay. It's always wise to comparison shop, no matter what your purchase.

2. Go discount shopping

As you're shopping for the best consolidation package, ask about discounts. Lenders today offer them for a variety of items, including everything from making a payment on time, to using automatic withdrawals from your checking account. Lenders highly value graduates who can make their student loan payments on time, primarily because so few of them do. Discounts for on-time bill paying might include reducing your payment by one full percentage point if you can rack up a 36-month consecutive payment streak.

3. Tame the terms

By extending the repayment term of your loan, you can lower your monthly payment. For most graduates struggling in an entry-level job, that's a very enticing prospect. But don't judge a payment book by its cover-an extended loan term can be as frightening as term papers. Those lower payments don't come cheap-you're going to get whacked long-term by higher interest costs. Ask your lender to tell you the difference in long-term interest costs for loans with different repayment terms. The results will startle you.

4. Do a reality check

Most importantly, don't choose a lower loan payment just so that you can buy a really cool car. Unless you've landed an exceptionally high-paying job out of college, you'll probably have to choose more of a utilitarian vehicle until you can afford a nicer ride.

As a graduate, it's great to be free from the constraints of endless exams and required reading. Unfortunately, the financial equivalent to academic pain is waiting in the wings. Repaying a student loan will be a concern of yours for a long time to come. Make sure that the debt isn't with you one day longer than necessary by carefully shopping for the right consolidation loan.