Consolidate Credit Cards: How to Simplify Debt and Lower Payments

When you consolidate credit cards, combine multiple credit card balances into a single loan or transfer them to one card with a lower interest rate. Also known as credit card debt consolidation, it’s not magic—it’s just smarter math. Most people juggle three or four cards with different due dates and rates, and that chaos costs them hundreds in extra interest every year. The goal isn’t to take on more debt—it’s to break the cycle of minimum payments and rising balances.

People who consolidate credit cards often do it because they’re tired of missing payments or paying high APRs. A typical credit card in the UK carries 18-22% interest. If you’ve got £5,000 across three cards at that rate, you could be paying over £800 a year just in interest. But a personal loan at 7% or a 0% balance transfer card can slash that cost dramatically. That’s not a small win—it’s the difference between paying off debt in five years or three.

But it’s not just about the interest rate. credit score, a three-digit number that tells lenders how risky you are to lend to. Also known as FICO score, it’s the gatekeeper to better rates and approval. If your score is below 650, you might not qualify for the best consolidation deals. And if you keep maxing out cards after consolidating, your score will drop faster than you can say ‘overdraft fee’. That’s why successful consolidation requires two things: a clear plan and discipline. You don’t need to close your old cards, but you do need to stop using them.

Balance transfers, personal loans, and even home equity options are all tools you can use to debt consolidation, the process of combining multiple debts into one payment with better terms. But not all methods are equal. A 0% intro APR offer sounds great—until you realize you’ve got 12 months to pay it off or face 24% interest. A personal loan gives you fixed payments and a clear end date, but it requires a steady income. And if you’re thinking about using your home as collateral, ask yourself: is this really the right move, or am I just trading one risk for a bigger one?

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t generic tips. They’re real strategies people used to get out of credit card debt in 2025—some with loans, some with balance transfers, some by just changing how they budget. You’ll see who qualifies for what, what traps to avoid, and how to make sure consolidation actually works for you—not against you. No fluff. No hype. Just what happens when you stop guessing and start acting.