Should you find yourself overcome by debt, you might want to consider debt consolidation loans. These loans are designed with the person in debt beyond their means in mind, allowing for repayment of the outstanding debts while combining multiple payments into a single affordable monthly payment. Debt consolidation loans can be applied for at most banks or lending institutions, with some even specializing in debt relief and consolidation. Debt consolidation loans consist of a loan that is equal to the either the total amount of your outstanding debt or to a significant portion of it, and allow you to pay off that debt so that you have only a single debt remaining? the loan itself. Collateral and considerations Since applying for debt consolidation loans means that you have some amount of debts that you wish to consolidate, there's a good chance that your credit is less than perfect. If this is the case then you're probably going to need some form of collateral, or property that you put up against the loan that the lender will be able to sell to get their money back in case you don't pay the money back. Collateral for debt consolidation loans can be a clear automobile title, the deed to a house or other real estate, or other forms of valuable property (though cars and houses are the most common forms of collateral. )