One Debt Payment: How to Consolidate and Simplify Your Debt

When you’re juggling credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, one debt payment, a single monthly payment that replaces multiple debts through consolidation. Also known as debt consolidation, it’s not magic—it’s math. And if you’re tired of chasing due dates and high interest rates, it might be the simplest way out. The idea is straightforward: combine all your debts into one loan with a lower rate and one due date. But here’s what most people miss—one debt payment only works if you stop adding new debt. Otherwise, you’re just rearranging the mess, not fixing it.

People often think debt consolidation is only for those with perfect credit. That’s not true. In 2025, lenders—including credit unions and online lenders—offer consolidation loans to borrowers with scores as low as 580. You don’t need to be rich. You just need to know your numbers. Your debt-to-income ratio, the percentage of your monthly income going toward debt payments matters more than your credit score. If you’re paying more than 40% of your income just to keep up, consolidation isn’t a luxury—it’s a survival tool. And if you’re paying 18% interest on a credit card while your consolidation loan offers 9%, you’re leaving hundreds, maybe thousands, on the table every year.

Some think paying off debt means cutting out everything fun. But the real game-changer isn’t sacrifice—it’s structure. The avalanche method, paying off debts from highest interest to lowest saves you the most money over time. Others swear by the snowball method, paying off smallest balances first for quick wins. Both work. The trick is picking one and sticking to it. And if you’re earning extra cash from a side gig or selling old gear? That money should go straight to your one debt payment, not a new gadget.

You don’t need to refinance your home or take out a second mortgage. There are unsecured personal loans, balance transfer cards, and even nonprofit credit counseling programs that can help you combine your debts into one manageable payment. The key is knowing what you qualify for and avoiding traps—like fees that eat up your savings or loans with hidden penalties.

What you’ll find below aren’t theory-heavy guides. These are real stories from people who went from three payments a month to one. They didn’t win the lottery. They didn’t get a raise. They just changed how they paid. Some cut their interest in half. Others shaved years off their debt. All of them started with one simple decision: stop paying multiple bills, and start paying one.