Debt can be confusing and scary and choosing the right strategy to escape it feels overwhelming — especially when you’re not confident in your money-management skills.
Before you commit to a debt solution, comparing all your options is a great way to build your confidence. A clear side-by-side view helps you pick the plan that matches your needs, timeline and tolerance for risk.
Compare Your Options at a Glance
- Debt consolidation options, combine several balances into one more manageable payment; some options can shorten your repayment timeline and reduce the impact of interest.
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy erases many unsecured debts but may require liquidating non-exempt assets.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy creates a court-approved repayment plan and locks you into fixed payments for three to five years.
- Making only minimum payments keeps accounts current but can stretch repayment for decades and magnify interest costs.
How Consolidation Options Can Help
Debt consolidation options roll multiple debts into a single, often more manageable, monthly payment through debt consolidation loans, balance transfers or debt resolution programs.
Flexible by Design
Depending on the specific option, it can offer benefits such as a lower interest rate, a reduced monthly payment, a shorter repayment term or the potential to pay less overall. While no single option guarantees all these benefits simultaneously, you can often customize a solution to your unique needs.
Through consolidation loans or balance transfers – Combine existing high‑interest debts, such as credit card balances, into a new product like a personal loan, balance transfer card or home equity loan. These options can simplify payments, potentially lower interest rates and establish a fixed repayment term.
Through debt resolution – Work directly with creditors or hire a company to negotiate on your behalf to reduce the total balance owed. The goal is to lower monthly payments and your overall debt, often with a fixed repayment term.
Bankruptcy Can Be Extreme and Inflexible
Bankruptcy is a major financial decision with strict qualifications — and not everyone qualifies.
Depending on the type, it can force you to liquidate assets or adhere to a strict repayment plan that gives you no control over your monthly payment amount.
It also comes with legal fees, and unless it is sealed, bankruptcy is a public record and can affect your reputation and creditworthiness for 7-10 years.
- Chapter 7 basics: quick discharge, possible asset sale, high attorney costs, severe credit impact, stays on credit for 10 years.
- Chapter 13 basics: three-to-five-year court plan, no say in payment amount, fees still high, high credit impact, stays on credit for 7 years.
Minimum Payments Are Slow and Expensive
Minimum payments are the smallest amount you can pay toward a credit card balance each month to keep the account current. They are usually 1-4% of the balance owed.
When you have high-interest debt (anything over 20% APR) minimum payments are usually too small to make a dent of the principal. Every month, most of your minimum will go toward interest owed instead of paying down the principal balance.
Watch for these red flags:
• Interest outweighs principal in your statements
• Balance seems frozen despite on-time payments
• One emergency charge can erase hard-won progress
Debt Consolidation vs. Other Options
| Strategy | Timeline | Flexibility | Credit Impact | Up‑front Cost |
| Debt consolidation loan | Varies usually 24–60 months | Low | Moderate, improves with on‑time payments | Possible origination fee |
| Balance transfer credit card | Usually a 12–18 month promo period | Low | Moderate; initial hard inquiry then improves | 3–5 % transfer fee |
| Debt resolution | 24–48 months (typical) | Moderate to High | Significant short‑term drop, recovers after completion | No upfront fees |
| Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | Immediate discharge | Low to Moderate | Severe, 7–10 years | Legal fees |
| Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | 3–5 years | Low to Moderate | Severe, 7–10 years | Legal fees |
| Minimum Payments | 5–20 years+ | Low | Ongoing | Possible annual fees; high interest is costly long-term |
How We Measured Flexibility
Flexibility reflects the control you have when using a debt solution and factors in things like payment amount, payment date, repayment term and the ability to approve or deny offers. For example, high means you have a lot of influence over your payment amount or date and have decision making power as is the case for debt resolution offers. Low means you have little or no control, as is the case for court ordered bankruptcy repayment plans or rigid repayment terms on loans, minimum payments or balance transfer credit cards.
Don’t Wait to Say Goodbye to Debt
Struggling with debt takes a toll — the longer you wait, the heavier and more unmanageable it feels. Speaking with a professional about your options is a great way to stop the negative cycle and move forward in a positive way.