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What Are the Risks of Debt Consolidation?

Published

5 years ago

October 17, 2019

If a debt relief strategy seems too good to be true, it probably is. Every approach has its own unique set of pros and cons — there’s no way to wave a wand and watch your debt disappear.

Eliminating your debt requires commitment and willpower no matter which method you use, including debt consolidation. There are always certain risks involved; your job is to figure out whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks, and how you can avoid the adverse effects of these risks.

At this point, you’re probably wondering; what are the risks of debt consolidation?

Keep reading to learn more.

How Debt Consolidation Works

First, let’s cover a brief primer on debt consolidation. The basic idea is taking out one loan to pay off all your high-interest debts. This allows you to focus on making a single loan repayment each month rather than trying to manage a handful of accounts. When successful, this strategy can also lower how much interest you end up paying.

The possible rewards of debt consolidation are simplifying repayment and reducing interest. But there are possible risks to consider — like these three in particular.

Risk #1: Your Debt May Keep Growing

Bankrate compares debt consolidation to gastric bypass surgery: “You get a new lease on life and you can lose weight, but it’s not a permanent fix if you don’t change your eating habits.”

Think about how you got into debt in the first place. If you take out a consolidation loan to wipe out $15,000 in credit card debt but continue using these cards, you’re at risk of winding up exactly where you started — or in an even worse financial situation.

You’ll also forfeit the potential benefits of debt consolidation if you start missing monthly payments, as this will cause your interest rate to rise and your credit score to drop.

Risk #2: You Pay More in Interest Over the Life of Your Loan

One of the major aims of debt consolidation is to reduce how much you’re paying in interest. If you can qualify for a loan with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 10 percent, you’ll likely pay less than if you were trying to repay five lines of credit with APRs ranging from 15 to 25 percent.

But you should crunch the numbers before signing up to be sure you’re actually saving money. If you opt for low monthly payments stretched over a longer timeline, you may end up paying more in total.

Risk #3: You Fall for a Debt Consolidation Scam

It’s in your best interest to vet your consolidation loan provider thoroughly before signing anything. Unfortunately, there are opportunistic scammers looking to take advantage of consumers seeking debt relief. Make sure you’re working with a reputable partner like a bank or credit union — or an online lender with a proven track record of legitimacy. Do your due diligence before making a decision so you can avoid scams.

Here are a few red flags to avoid when you’re comparing your options for consolidation:

The organization charges fees up front
The organization claims to have access to a special government program
The organization makes guarantees about the outcome of consolidation
The organization fails to disclose the terms of the loan clearly

Knowing the risks of debt consolidation will help you make an informed choice on whether it’s a viable strategy for your situation — and avoid common pitfalls, like the three mentioned above, along the way. Consolidating your debts can help you get on top of them, but it’s up to you to keep developing good financial habits along the way.

Blog

6 Reasons to Try Cannabis Edibles

Published

1 year ago

February 21, 2023

Jimmy Lerner

Are you looking for a reason to try cannabis edibles? If you’re wondering if there are benefits to edibles that you can’t get with other forms of cannabis, the answer is yes. Here are some of the best reasons to try cannabis edibles.

Some edibles are boosted

When you smoke cannabis flower, you’re only getting cannabis. That’s not a bad thing, but there are brands that sell edibles that have been boosted with other ingredients. For instance, you’ve probably seen capsules with added herbs to help you sleep – the same is true for edibles.

One of the newer enhanced cannabis edibles are the Bits adaptogen-boosted edibles. These new cannabis edibles contain just 5mg of THC per Bit so you don’t overdo anything. Each flavor is packed with a unique blend of adaptogens like ashwagandha, reishi, elderflower, lemon balm, ginseng, guarana, and rose hip.

Why adaptogens? Adaptogens have been proven to have a positive impact on the central nervous system by decreasing sensitivity to stressors. In other words, adaptogens reduce stress and anxiety and contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing. When you consume cannabis edibles boosted by adaptogens, you’re going to feel more relaxed.

Edibles provide precise and consistent dosing

One of the best reasons to try edibles is for precise and consistent dosing. When edibles are made, the cannabis is thoroughly and evenly mixed in, so each serving has the intended dosage when the final product is made. In addition, premium cannabis brands like Verano lab test each batch to ensure quality and consistency with all of their products, including cannabis edibles.

When you smoke flower, you won’t always get the same amount of THC. It’s nearly impossible to know how much THC or CBD you’re getting from smoking flower. Even when you smoke the same strain in the same amount, the THC and other cannabinoids are distributed unevenly throughout each bud.

If precise and consistent dosing is important to you, then edibles are going to be your favorite cannabis delivery method.

Edibles are tasty

Edibles taste good, so why not try them? It’s just like eating a snack or a treat, but with a purpose. If you’ve avoided trying cannabis tinctures or oil because you don’t like the flavor, that’s understandable. Edibles are different because the taste of cannabis itself can be easily masked.

Brands go out of their way to come up with recipes that taste good because they know some people don’t like the strong flavor of cannabis. Edibles like brownies, cookies, and chocolate bars usually just taste like any other cookie, brownie, or chocolate bar. Premium cannabis brands will also use quality ingredients to produce the best cannabis-infused gummies, hard candies, and baked goods.

Edibles are easy to carry

If you want to carry your cannabis around discreetly, that’s easiest with edibles. They usually come in smaller packages that you can fit into a pocket or bag, and edibles are easy to eat without anyone suspecting you’re consuming cannabis.

When carrying edibles, be smart about where you bring them. Make sure you know where you can and can’t have them. If you’re headed to the airport of a government building, for example, you’ll want to leave your edibles at home.

The effects of edibles last for a long time

Smoking flower is great when you need relief quickly, but when you want the effects to last a long time, edibles are your best option. When you ingest cannabis, it takes longer for the effects to kick in, but those effects will last for a much longer time. You also don’t need to consume as much cannabis to get these long-lasting effects.

Everyone is different, and the timing depends on a multitude of factors like our metabolism and whether you’ve eaten or have an empty stomach. However, in general, it takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours to start feeling the effects of edibles. From there, the effects can last a few hours or even up to twelve hours. This is why many people take edibles before going to bed – getting that full impact while they sleep makes them wake up feeling incredibly rested.

Edibles are a great alternative to smoking

Although smoking cannabis is probably the most popular consumption method, it’s not for everyone. Edibles won’t expose you to the potentially harmful effects of smoking. If you’ve been avoiding trying cannabis because you thought you had to smoke it, edibles are the perfect opportunity for you to try cannabis.

Already familiar with edibles? Try something new

If you’ve been consuming cannabis edibles for a while, maybe it’s time to try something new. If you’ve always been into baked goods, branch out and try some beverages, chocolate bars, or even an adaptogen-boosted cannabis gummy for example. There are plenty of edibles to choose from so you can be sure you’ll find something new that you can enjoy.