Why Consolidating Student Loans Can Effectively End Graduate Misery

The costs linked to college education are so high these days that graduates now look forward to beginning their working life on the back foot. This is not a dramatic overstatement, with statistics showing that most 25 year olds emerge from college with consumer debts of $30,000 and educational debts of double that. The answer? In most cases, consolidating student loans is the best method of debt management.The reality is that, with debts of almost $100,000 hanging over them, most graduates need to set about organizing their finances straight away. Re-negotiating repayment schedules is one way to do this, but in seeking consolidation financing to clear debts, they get a fresh start.Understand that this does not mean that student loans, and the obligation to repay them, evaporates away. The debt cannot simply be gotten rid of. Instead, the loan is effectively re-issued but with better terms.What is Consolidation?To explain, consolidation means taking control of existing debt by buying them out with a loan that boasts better terms. WIth regards consolidating student loans, this entails buying out the loans taken out over 4 or 5 years of college living, centralizing them into one loan debt and repaying that debt under one interest rate.The mathematics behind this exercise make it possible for a particular graduate to save money, lowering the monthly repayment sum and, in that way, lift some of the pressure off their shoulders. What is perhaps most important is that turning to this kind of financing to clear debts has more advantages than simply making life easier.There is also the chance to increase credit scores, improve the credit status of the graduate over time, and allow them to concentrate more on building their careers and earning power by clearing their student loans.Advantages of Consolidation LoansAs mentioned, the mathematics of these kinds of loans make it possible to lessen the pressure on a graduate while also offering a brighter financial future. Basically, consolidating student loans means pulling all of the individual loans taken out while in college into one sum, then buying them out using another loan.Because the new loan has one interest rate, the repayments are inevitably lower. For example, one loan of $100,000 will have one interest rate, with a repayment sum of perhaps $1,000 per month over 10 years. But previous to this, the situation was bleaker. Perhaps 4 individual loans of $30,000, $40,000, $10,000 and $20,000, each charged at different interest rates, could mean total monthly repayments of $1,300.Clearly, getting financing to clear debts is the right step to take in such cases, but there are factors that need to be considered before anyone signs up to such a deal. After all, the move needs to be beneficial before the student loans can be bought out.Factors to ConsiderDo your homework properly. There is no point in consolidating student loans if the repayments are higher. The process can be complicated, but try to keep the perspective simple, that way the best decision is sure to be made. Look at the balance due, the term of each individual loan, and the interest rate charged.Before seeking financing to clear debts, it is essential to know exactly where one stands but know what the effect a longer term would have also. For example, a 10-year repayment schedule may mean more in interest is paid, but should lower monthly repayments, making it more practical to clear the student loans.