09/16/2019
As a Financial Coach, I get asked about not so smart ways to pay off debt!
People ask, “Why shouldn’t I refinance my home and consolidate all my debt in one low monthly payment?”
My answer is, “NO, because it’s dumb”
Let’s peel that onion. Why is that dumb?
1. Let’s do the simple math first. If you take $20,000 in credit card debt and consolidate it with your 1st mortgage at 4.25%, you will have paid $15,400 in interest alone over the life of the loan. I would not call that smart.
2. Alternatively, you could have paid off the $20,000.00 loan in a couple of years using the debt snowball method the Dave Ramsey champions and I coach people on.
3. Now the legal. Credit card debt is unsecured debt. If you default on it, the credit card holder cannot foreclose on your home. It therefor makes no sense to convert an unsecured debt to a secured debt.
4. The most important reason: BEHAVIORAL. By consolidating your debt you have not eliminated the debt, but simply changed the nature of the debt, and most importantly, have not changed the underlying behavior that caused you to get into debt in the first place.
5. The cycle will be repeated, and you will not have Financial Peace.
The fastest way to eliminate debt is to pay it off. If you want Financial Peace, contact me for a no obligation, no cost consultation and I will walk with you through the process.
John Isaac
Master Financial Coach
(916)500-8194
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/Isaacfinancialcoaching/