As with any other financial product, credit card consolidation loans require some very careful consideration before you decide whether or not they are for you. The most important thing that you have to consider is how much they are going to cost you. Not just the short term because that will almost all ways be better than the amount you are currently paying. Do you know one of the biggest reasons why people get turned down for debt consolidation? Poor credit isn't the answer! It's because they lied on their application form. It's that simple. Think about it. If you were asked to help someone out would you trust them if they lied to you? Of course you wouldn't and neither will the loan companies. Equally important if someone decides to go ahead is making certain that the loan they are taking out is the cheapest they can get. A great way to do this is to shop around and compares prices and costs exactly the same as for making any major purchase. With the internet available to just about everyone now doing the checking can be a very simple task. Do they have a good record of helping people for example? Have you been referred to them by someone you know and trust? Are they non-profit or a profit making company? As with any other major decision you should do some checks to make certain you are doing the right thing. Ask about them at your church. Most utility services, credit card payments and other payments can be done by direct money transfer from your online savings account to those services. You also have the option to set up auto-debit facilities for the same. If you think about it, the benefits of online savings accounts seem to go on and on. This can be sometimes overlooked in the excitement of making your first investment but it can have a serious impact on your performance. If you are what is called "risk averse" you will probably be a nervous wreck if you put all your money into high risk shares. By learning to manage your risk levels you can ensure that you only select positions you will feel comfortable with over the medium to long term life of your portfolio.