If you have been in a situation in which you feel that you are simply living from one paycheck to another, the notion of living a life that is free from debt may seem too impossible at the moment. However, you should not feel helpless but rather take a proactive approach in handling your debt situation. When it comes to debt management, so many options are available out there to help those in need of a clean break. These options may come in the form of debt consolidation loans.

If you feel that this is an option that is suited to your personal situation, we suggest that you clarify the issues to help you arrive at a more informed decision if a consolidated loan is right for you. One way to do so is to estimate your monthly amortization using a debt consolidation calculator.

What is a Debt Consolidation Calculator?

A mortgage calculator can help you to accurately determine your monthly loan amortization using a few key information and data that you already have at hand. Sort of like a short cut method, this is an especially handy tool for those who are not particularly adept at manual calculations. What is good about this tool is that you will not only be able to predict your mortgage payment, you will also be able to fully explore your options by substituting a few pieces of information to help you arrive at the best possible terms before you approach a debt consolidation company. Various websites offer free calculator options so that you can start your calculations right away.

What you need to calculate the monthly loan amortization

To get the most out an online debt consolidation calculator, you will need the following information:

-The loan amount- Start with an estimated figure by adding up all your existing debts to arrive at how much money you will need to borrow. This figure will constitute the consolidated loan you will take out. You can either choose to consolidate just your credit card debts, your student loans, or why not consolidate everything so that you can get off on a fresh start.

-The loan term- This is the length of the loan or the loan term you are considering. Depending on debt consolidation loans being offered, you can choose anywhere from 10, 15, 20 or even 30 years. The loan term will also depend on how much you owe. If you have higher debts, a longer term will stretch your debts and result in lower monthly payments but higher accumulated interest. In contrast, a longer term can result in higher monthly payments but with lower interest rates and faster debt payment.

-Interest rate- You can estimate the interest rate by consulting a lending company or their website. Most debt consolidation loans come with varying interest rates depending on the loan term and amount.

-Start date- This refers to the date at which you wish to start making monthly payments.

What You Should Do

Once you have prepared the information above, all you need to do is just hit the “calculate” button to reveal the estimated monthly amortization for your desired loan. By changing the loan amount, loan term and interest rate, you can also determine which factors to change or keep depending on the results.

Author Bio: William F. Gabriel is a Senior Marketing Manager. Through his articles, he gives practical tips on choosing the right debt consolidation calculator and debt consolidation loans.

Category: Finances
Keywords: debt consolidation calculator, debt consolidation loans