5 Ways to Reduce Your Loan Installments

When you initially apply for a loan – be it a mortgage loan, car loan, personal loan, or credit card – the lender informs you of the advance conditions. The terms of a loan are essentially the amount you are borrowing, your borrowing period, and the interest rate. When you combine all of these terms, you’ll end up with the total regular payment you have to make. 

If you’re comfortable with the amount you have to pay, you sign a contract before the lender releases the money. Some people assume that the amount they need to pay regularly is set in stone. However, this is not always the case. There are several ways you can reduce your loan installments without burying yourself in more debt.

Combine all your debts.

Combining all your debts and taking care of them using debt consolidation can get you a lower regular installment payment. Average the financing costs on your present balances and search for an advance that comes with a lower interest rate in contrast to your current average. Once you meet all the advance requirements, you can utilize them to pay off your current debts. You can then focus on paying a single regular installment on the most recent loan.

Debt consolidation loans are not the only solution for combining debt. Also, consider a cash-out refinance, a personal loan from online lenders, such as CreditNinja.com, or a home equity loan. Be cautious about getting a loan that basically brings down your installments by lengthening the repayment period. You’ll probably wind up paying more on interest over the long haul than you would on your current terms.

Pay off high-interest debts first.

Settling credit card debt with the highest financing cost will help you save money over the long term. You’ll also save more if the card with the largest balance has the highest interest rate. 

In case you’re keen on setting aside cash over time, start paying off high-interest rate debts first. Settling debts with high-interest rates lowers the total amount of finance fees you need to pay off and it also helps improve your credit score over time.

Opt for prepayment.

Prepayment is another approach to lowering your monthly payments and getting a good deal on interest. By paying a bigger sum than the due amount, you’ll cut down the principal you need to pay off. Distributing the smaller residual principal by the payment dates left on your advance will amount to a lower installment each month. Put in any cash surpluses, like inheritances and bonuses, directly toward your credit to reduce regular installments over time.

Before opting for prepayment, verify whether your loan incorporates a prepayment fee that will apply once you try to pay off your debt early. After you confirm that there is no prepayment penalty, try to pay at least a bit more than your regular installment. Your extra payments don’t need to be enormous; even a small additional sum can make a difference. By paying more than the amount due, you can cut down the capital balance and settle the interest faster.

Repay your loan using your credit cards.

Suppose you have a good repayment history and have a decent credit rating. In that case, there are low-interest or interest-free balance transfer credit cards available that move cash directly into your account. You can then use this method to repay loans and overdrafts.

However, this alternative typically comes with a fee. So you’ll have to work out whether opting for a super balance transfer is cost-effective considering your situation. Ensure that you are capable of paying off the advance before the low-interest or interest-free rate ends. Moreover, ask your lender the amount you have to pay to settle the entire debt.

Opt for refinancing.

Another way to reduce your monthly installment is to apply for refinancing that lengthens your term length or loan repayment period. However, note that the total sum that you need to reimburse and your overall borrowing cost will increase when you extend your repayment term. If you prefer not to lengthen your reimbursement term, there is still another alternative.

You can opt to refinance your credit, which can help guarantee a lower financing cost and a conceivably smaller regular installment. If you have a decent credit score, you can refinance your current loan and save a considerable amount of money. You can run an easy calculation using online calculators and see exactly how much 1% means over the credit’s existence. In the event that you do choose to refinance, ensure you pick a lender that has low fees.

Takeaway

At some point in our lives, we’ll need to take out a considerable amount of loan. Whether it is for a big purchase or  bills payment, sometimes debt is inevitable, and we get stuck paying off regular installments for years. Fortunately, through research, you’ll find that there are several ways to reduce your obligations.

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.