Related Financial Services - The following Debt Consolidation Loan Directory listings of companies are offered to assist you with gaining control of your personal finances and the management of your money. Also, feel free to review the rest of the sub-directories on DebtConsolidationLoan.com to shop for other finance products, such as credit cards and mortgage refinancing.

• Debt Settlement Company - High credit card balances making your monthly payments impossible to meet? The negotiation of your outstanding bills with your creditors may be a good debt solution for you. Educate yourself on your options and compare available programs.
• Get Personal Loan - Looking for a smaller loan for the consolidation of debt? Start your search at the directory of personal loans, where you can compare and apply online with different lenders and related companies.
• Credit Card Debt Consolidation - Learn more on how consolidating your credit card debts can work for you and potential pitfalls that you need to avoid. Also, review a list services that offer to help people lower their bills into fewer payments or even one payment.

This section provided by:

Consumer credit is a loan to an individual to purchase goods and/or services for personal, family, or household use. The person who takes out a loan promises to repay the loan in full, usually with interest, at set dates in the future. The "interest" is a charge added to the original amount of the loan to compensate the lender for the use of its money. There are several different types of consumer credit:

• Revolving credit: a line of credit that can be used up to the set credit limit. As soon as payment is made, that money becomes available to use again. Credit cards and credit lines are both examples of revolving credit. They allow the borrower to "carry" a monthly balance up to the pre-established credit limit. Interest is charged at an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the balance until paid in full.
• Installment loan: a loan, sometimes referred to as a personal loan, for a pre-established amount, which is repaid in set monthly installments, plus interest, for the term of the loan. Unlike "revolving" loans, an installment loan does not let you re-use the money you've paid back. It can be secured by collateral or unsecured. You must pay the balance in full by the end of the loan's term.
• Consumer leases: an agreement between you and the lessor that allows you "use" of the item (e.g., apartment, car, furniture, etc.). Much like a loan, a set monthly payment is established. However, at the end of the term's lease, you usually do not "own" the item. You simply pay for the use of it.

Revolving credit provides you the convenience of not carrying cash. Examples of revolving credit are credit cards and lines of credit. They let you charge purchases up to the established credit limit and they allow you to "delay" payment for the purchase for 30 days. You can choose to pay your bill in full when you receive it or to make at least the minimum payment due. However, finance charges are accrued on whatever amount you do not pay until the remaining balance is paid.

Your decision to use credit should be weighed carefully. Your goal should be to spend no more than you can afford. If you are just beginning to use credit, it would be wise to keep your spending within 10-15% of your take-home pay (net income). Your decision to use credit should be based on your current financial obligations and your financial plans for the future.

Installment loans are usually used to buy "big ticket" items like cars, furniture or appliances. Or, they can be used to pay for expensive services such as school tuition or medical care or to pay off accumulated debts. Click here to apply for a CitiFinancial® personal loan.

Leases are an alternative to loans that usually let you afford more than if you purchased an item directly. The monthly payment can sometimes be less than if you purchased the item using credit. However, once you've finished your lease, you do not own the item.

Credit Tips from CitiFinancial:

Copyright © 2007-2009 Citigroup Inc. CitiFinancial is not affiliated with Debtconsolidationloan.com or Infinamic, Inc.

Make sound financial decisions when debt consolidation and financial services shopping. Educate yourself!

Please note that the Debt Consolidation Loan Directory has a constantly growing list of resources for consumers searching for many types of financial services online, such as mortgage refinance lenders, life insurance companies and debt management programs. The best way to make sound decisions concerning your personal finances is to become better educated about how they work. Please feel free to visit our consumer information library or one of the related topics below.

• When Credit Card Debt is "Out of Sight - Out of Mind" - The phrase “Out of sight – Out of mind” becomes reality when one considers how easy today's financial marketplace has made it to obtain and run up the balances of retail and bank credit cards.
• Should You Use Credit? - Everyone wants to build a strong credit history. It enables you to to accomplish a lot of the things you want and need to do in your life, like buying a car or financing a home. It may also affect your chances of employment when applying for a new job.
• Questions to Ask When Getting a Home Equity Loan - What questions should you be asking yourself when considering home equity loan financing? The FDIC has some suggestions.
• Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report - The information contained in your credit report now controls your access and pricing to many financial services, like obtaining loans and even insurance coverage. Under the law, you are now entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three main companies that compile this data: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

DebtConsolidationLoan.com is a service of Infinamic, Inc. All debt consolidation and financial services information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Infinamic, Inc. is not responsible for the content and services, that may be provided to you, by following the links from this web site. Use this service at your own discretion.