Debt changes the way every other money decision works, from the size of a monthly payment to the way a lender reads your credit history. This category collects guides that explain those effects in plain language, so you can see what a move such as consolidating loans or transferring a credit card balance is likely to change before you make it.
What you will find here
The guides here look at what happens after a debt decision, not only at the decision itself. They cover how a debt consolidation loan can change a mortgage application, what happens to an old credit card once its balance has been transferred, and how payments, credit history and new accounts fit together.
How to use these guides
Lender rules, interest rates and credit scoring differ by lender and by person. Treat the guides as background for the questions worth asking, and confirm specifics with your lender or card issuer before you act.